The worldwide talent development community is diverse. Our members bring a wealth of experience and insight to their work. We're spotlighting their stories.

Patrice Hatcher has been a member of ATD since 2009.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a corporate leadership development consultant at McLaren Health Care Corporation in Flint, Michigan. I am a registered medical technologist and worked in the clinical laboratory at McLaren for 11 years. I joined the Educational Resources and Development Department in 1995 where I worked with staff and leadership development. In 2002 I moved into the Leadership Development Department.

I serve as president for the Board of Education for the Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools and on several school district committees. I have received the Master Platinum Award from the Michigan Association of School Boards. I am a lecturer for the University of Michigan–Flint and an adjunct faculty for Michigan Association of School Board Members. I also serve on the Board of the Great Lakes Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives and as the Sponsorship Chair. I completed the Certificate Coaching Program through the Association for Talent Development.

I am married to Brian, a microbiology manager. Our son Tony is a graduate from the United States Military Academy and served as an officer in the U.S. Army, and our daughter Alexandra completed an MA in linguistic anthropology and an MA in learning technology at Northern Arizona University.

We spend our spare time running with the Flint Area Year Long Running and Walking Groups in downtown Flint and traveling to visit family members in Virginia and Texas, with occasional trips to Sedona, Arizona for hiking and relaxation.

What challenges have you had to overcome in your career?

Looking back over my career, I remember coming into the education role from a clinical laboratory background. I was wanting more personal interaction in my work environment and I wanted to connect with others more than I could by analyzing laboratory specimens. I was not prepared for the overwhelming "stage fright" of speaking in front of others. My new colleagues made it look so easy. I practiced and practiced so I would feel comfortable with the material. I also started attending a local Toastmasters group, which helped me develop presentation skills. Interestingly, the one thing I did that seemed to really help was signing up for a mom's dance class at my daughter's dance studio. I did it for exercise and social activity, but what I didn't know was we would be dancing in the studio's recital in front of hundreds of people. Once you have been on stage in front of hundreds of people in a silly costume, which is a bit more provocative than what you would wear to work, and you have jumped and shaken and "danced"—standing before your fellow colleagues in your professional attire talking about something you know and understand seems way easier. More recently, I experienced a medical scare; this experience was very humbling and required me to pull back from some of my responsibilities for a short period. I also was given the opportunity to re-examine what was truly important in work and life. I believe this experience, though tough to go through, has made me a much more compassionate and humbled person.

What’s the most valuable thing you’ve gained or experienced during your membership with ATD?

ATD has provided me with a framework in which to think about the work we do in developing leaders. The training programs, conferences, and resources available from ATD help create structure to learning and development as well as tap the experts in the field—both thought leaders and technical experts

Could you share any professional tips, specific to talent development, that you have picked up along the way?

I think one of the challenges we have as professionals is the tendency to judge others and create stories about why they behave as they do. Being able to shift your paradigm to one of curiosity about another person or leader opens your mind to being more understanding of their situations. I believe every leader is trying to be the best leader they can be with what they currently know and understand. Our job is to gently lead them to discovering new and different ways to look at things. Real learning occurs when our learners experience paradigm shifts, and people go back to their environment and do things differently.

Do you have any advice for people looking to further their careers?

My best advice is to be a ferocious learner yourself and read a lot. Read the classics on leadership, read the new material on leadership, and be ready for the next leadership role. I also recommend volunteering for stretch assignments and finding opportunities to serve in leadership roles in the community. Trade associations such as ATD can also be a valuable place to learn new theories and to network with others who are doing similar projects outside your organization.

How do you stay motivated?

I love what I do; I love being able to work with our leaders and help them get better. When our leadership team is at the top of their game, we are providing value to our community, creating an engaging workplace, and most importantly, providing a positive experience for our patients. In healthcare it really is all about the patient, and are we doing everything we can to make our care environment the best it can be. This all comes back to effective leadership. Our leaders make the difference for our colleagues, and our colleagues make the difference for our patients.

I also feel honored and humbled to work with great leaders and to learn with them as we work and process how best to apply new theories, skills, and tools. I pray to God before every class to work through me to give my learners exactly what they need today to be better at our mission of providing value to our community.

How do you find meaning in your work?

I truly believe education allows people to make choices. The more limited your knowledge, the more limited your options. I have a strong calling to ensure people have access to unlimited options through education. This theme runs through all of my endeavors. As a school board president or a university instructor, or in my role as a leadership development consultant, I believe we have a responsibility to share knowledge and to contribute to advancing people through the power of learning and knowledge. It is what will protect our democracy, and it is what will make a difference in the world.