Malaika Hewitt
Q: Where did you attend college, and what degree did you receive?
A: Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science at University of Wisconsin- Madison Medical School: Doctor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine
Q: Did you go to your dream college?
A: My dream college was the University of Miami, which I could not afford. My dream medical school was Stanford, which I did attend.
Q: Do you think your college education was necessary for your success in business?
A: I think my college education was necessary for my medical school education, both of which were stepping stones to be able to one day co-own a successful medical practice (business).
Q: Who or what led you to your current career path?
A: Love and aptitude for STEM courses, passion for healthcare and the drive for career success. I also have a strong family foundation of academic achievement. My parents were both college graduates, and my father earned his PhD at Stanford. All of their siblings, most of my siblings, and my cohort of cousins have achieved college degrees or higher, and many have attended prestigious universities. My uncle (like a second dad) is an orthopedic spine surgeon, and I spent summers working in his office, and dreaming of one day being just like him. The expectation was always for me to pursue these goals at a minimum, and to go even further. My family expected us to work hard and strive for excellence in everything.
Q: Was your current career your first choice, or did you switch?
A: Yes, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. I questioned it a bit during college, and explored other degrees for a short time, but returned to my original plans with renewed enthusiasm.
Q: Was mentorship significant to your business journey?
A: Definitely. Having mentors with experience in the field, and knowledge of how our medical practice is run, has been a major factor in my success as a physician partner in a large and ever-growing medical enterprise.
Q: How do you approach networking and the building of professional relationships?
A: From the standpoint of a student, it is important to find organizations that hold events that are geared towards mentoring and networking. Bringing in speakers, having workshops, pairing professionals with aspiring students, are all ways in which networking can occur naturally. As a professional, I have participated in these events and developed relationships with people who have gone on to pursue and reach their goals.
Q: What is the ratio of males to females in your business?
A: 5:4
Q: Have you observed or been affected by a wage gap between men and women in your field?
A: Yes.
Q: How have you asserted yourself as a powerful woman in your field?
A: I have demanded fair wages, introduced an appropriate maternity leave policy for our practice, and made my mark in the field of otolaryngology / head and neck surgery as a highly regarded surgeon who has proven that women are equally qualified to manage the medical and surgical problems of the head and neck. I have broken glass ceilings by earning the position of financial partner in the group, and we have recruited more women surgeons to even out the gender ratio in our partnership.
Q: What has been your biggest tool in gaining credibility in the business world?
A: Deliver excellence, and people will tell their friends and family how pleased they were.
Q: How does social media, if at all, impact your business?
A: It definitely plays a role with search engine optimization and overall marketing
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
A: Integrity matters above all else.
Q: Lastly, what would be the number one piece of advice you would give to your high school self?
A: Stop worrying so much
