Michelle Fuentes
Episode 30

Narrator:

Welcome friends to another episode of The Story & Experience Podcast. Join your host Japhet De Oliveira with his guest today and discover the moments that shape us, our families, and communities.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Hey, welcome friends to another beautiful episode of The Story & Experience Podcast. I'm so excited about our new guest today. And we're going to introduce you to the guest, obviously, because you're going to get to hear their name because they're nodding... they're nodding with affirmation. You can't hear them because they're silent. They're miming this nodding of affirmation, which is really good.

Michelle Fuentes:

Am I supposed to say my name, Japhet?

Japhet De Oliveira:

You are in a second. We are going to introduce you to second. Absolutely. And so for anybody who's brand new to this episode and to this entire story experience, this is the way it works. I'm going to ask the guests the first 10 questions. They're really easy, just an introduction. And then the guests, who you're going to meet in a second, they get to pick numbers between eleven and a hundred, and they progressively become more vulnerable, more open, more difficult as they share stories and experiences that shape their life into the leader, the phenomenal leader that they are. Without much further ado, we'll dive in and we'll begin with, what's your name?

Michelle Fuentes:

Ooh, my name is Michelle Fuentes.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Well, Michelle, does anybody ever mispronounce that, or do they...?

Michelle Fuentes:

Yes. Not the Michelle part, but I get Fuentes, Quentes.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Huh?

Michelle Fuentes:

I get a number of varying degrees of accuracy.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And do you correct them or do you just smile knowingly?

Michelle Fuentes:

I just smile knowingly. One, it was my assistant. For years, whenever I would buy flowers for someone, she'd call down to the flower store and say it's for Michelle Fuenes.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh no.

Michelle Fuentes:

And I just couldn't get it in my heart to tell her that...

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, no.

Michelle Fuentes:

It was pronouncing it. Because as long as the florist spelled it correctly, it was going to be fine.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It was fine. It was fine. Oh my. Oh my. That's brilliant. That's brilliant. Love that. All right. So what do you do for work, Michelle?

Michelle Fuentes:

I am the president at Adventist Health Sonora.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And how long have you been in that current role?

Michelle Fuentes:

Let's see, three and a half years, and been in this market for seven and a half years.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, okay. All right. Fantastic.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Brilliant. So as we are diving into the basics, so you know, and getting to know you, in the morning, when you get up, what's your morning drink of choice? Is it water? Is it one of those green liquid smoothies? Is it coffee? Is it tea?

Michelle Fuentes:

It is generally a cup of coffee. 99% of the time, it's coffee. Two cups of coffee.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Two cups of coffee.

Michelle Fuentes:

Mm-hmm (affirmative). Followed...

Japhet De Oliveira:

Back to back or do you take a break?

Michelle Fuentes:

Yep, followed by a green and smoothie.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. Good balance. Good balance.

Michelle Fuentes:

It's a good balance.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Do you actually take a break between those two cups of coffee or are they literally just lined up?

Michelle Fuentes:

Good question. They're pretty much lined up.

Japhet De Oliveira:

They're pretty much lined up.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yep. And the mornings that I have early morning meetings and I don't get my two, I feel a little lethargic. So it's good for me to have two cups of coffee in the morning.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's fantastic. That's great. Love it. Your coffee, is it black or...?

Michelle Fuentes:

No. Little cream, little sugar, and I've recently fallen in love with these little pods of Hawaiian coffee.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh.

Michelle Fuentes:

It's become my new thing.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good.

Michelle Fuentes:

So enjoying that very much.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Good. All right. All right. Tell me, where were you born?

Michelle Fuentes:

I was born in Englewood, Colorado. It's a suburb of Denver.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah. You should know, right? You live in Boulder.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I do, yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

So I grew up in, or I was born in Englewood and I grew up in Aurora and I went to school in Denver.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Wow. Fantastic. Small world. When I drive through there next time, I'm Michelle was born in this area. Huh?

Michelle Fuentes:

I know.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It's amazing. All right. Good. And so imagination wise, when you were a kid, what did you imagine you were going to be when you grew up?

Michelle Fuentes:

Ooh, good question. My earliest memory, I remember wanting to be a cardiologist.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Huh?

Michelle Fuentes:

I think it was because my grandfather had open heart surgery and it was at a time in my life when it was really a big deal and... Well, it was a big deal. So I started looking through the encyclopedias and learning all about it and watching videos that I could get my hands on. And for a long time, I wanted to be a cardiologist.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's beautiful.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah. And then that switched into psychiatry.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Close.

Michelle Fuentes:

And I wanted to be a psychiatrist for a little while. Obviously, neither of those two things ended up happening.

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, but you serve in healthcare still, which is fantastic. I mean, I like it how head and heart, both of those, great.

Michelle Fuentes:

Oh, that's a good... I didn't even think about that, Japhet. I like that.

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, that's fantastic. Personality wise, for those who know you, would they describe you as introvert or extrovert, and would you agree?

Michelle Fuentes:

Mm. Most people describe me as an extrovert.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And is it true?

Michelle Fuentes:

It is not true. I am completely an introvert, but when you take those, Myers Briggs assessments, I come out very expressive on the chart. So I'm an extremely expressive introvert.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Huh. I've seen you present at the, recently, at your leadership development program. I was, huh, I would've said you were an extrovert as well, so well done for deceiving all of us.

Michelle Fuentes:

Well, thank you. I go home after all those things and I crawl in bed and I just need to be left alone for five minutes.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Well, it was a great presentation that you did. Oh, fantastic.

Michelle Fuentes:

Thank you.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh good habits wise, are you an early riser or a late night owl?

Michelle Fuentes:

Neither.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, just midday?

Michelle Fuentes:

Have you ever had that answer before?

Japhet De Oliveira:

No. It's beautiful. Love it. I love it.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah. I really...

Japhet De Oliveira:

You're never awake.

Michelle Fuentes:

... like my sleep. And so funny story. I was in an elevator when I worked in Orlando with the psychologist and he was making the statement that you are either a morning riser and a morning bird, or you're a night owl and go to bed late. And I looked at him and I said, "What if you're neither one?" And he just, with this pensive face, looked back at me and said, "Then you're depressed."

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh no.

Michelle Fuentes:

So for years, I was like, "Am I depressed?" And then I realized, no, I just really like my sleep.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, poor chap. It's because you burst his bubble.

Michelle Fuentes:

I did.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, depressed, I like that too. Alright. Leadership question here for you.

Michelle Fuentes:

Okay.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Michelle, are you a backseat driver?

Michelle Fuentes:

A backseat driver? No. I learned something early on in my career. It was a process called tight loose tight. I believe I'm the type of leader who sets the goals, sets the vision, allows my team the flexibility, this is the loose part, the flexibility to go and execute on those plans. And then the tight at the end, to hold our to team accountable to hitting the results we want to achieve. And so I'm a big believer in each person has a different way they want to get things done and we're not all wired the same way, but as long as we get to the goal at the end, I'm okay with however we got there.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's fantastic. Love that answer. Great. When you said that first, I was thinking tighty loosey, and I was thinking…

Michelle Fuentes:

Like righty, tighty.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. I was like, hang on a second, this is really good. This is really good. I like this. I like this. This morning when you woke up, what's the first thought that went through your mind?

Michelle Fuentes:

Hmm. The first thought in my brain is always about my family. So I've got two little girls and I thought, I bet they're having breakfast and I needed to get up and start doing hair and start getting everybody ready to get out the door for the day. So that was the first thought I ended up with this morning.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good. That's good. Beautiful. All right. Well, see how easy that was. That was fantastic.

Michelle Fuentes:

That was easy.

Japhet De Oliveira:

First 10.

Michelle Fuentes:

Was that 10 questions?

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes. I know. It just went by so quickly. That's great. All right. So now the floor is open between eleven and a hundred. A hundred, obviously, is the question. You can go there or not go there, but you can choose any number between eleven and a hundred. Where would you like to go?

Michelle Fuentes:

Number 11, please.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Number 11. Hey, you're not alone. Lots of people choose number 11.

Michelle Fuentes:

Oh, I thought I would be unique, but okay.

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, no, that was great. So tell us about the most adventurous food or meal you ever eaten.

Michelle Fuentes:

Oh, goodness.

Japhet De Oliveira:

This is a hard question.

Michelle Fuentes:

I probably shouldn't have picked that question. So I've been a vegetarian my whole life so I can imagine people saying, well, I... all these crazy foods that they eat.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, there's lots of weird vegetarian food. Mushrooms.

Michelle Fuentes:

Do you think mushrooms are weird?

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, absolutely. It grows in death.

Michelle Fuentes:

I feel the same about brussels sprout.

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, those are brilliant. Okay. So, yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

So perhaps it was a church potluck. There you have it. I think all those foods that at a church potluck are adventurous. So I always need to know which one my mom made so I can just eat that one. But I find myself to be a foodie because I really do enjoy eating good food, but I don't find myself to be very adventurous in that regard. So I'm going to have to go with potluck food as my final answer.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. That's good. That's good. I like it. Good. After 11, you can go only go up.

Michelle Fuentes:

That is true. All right. Let's go to 13.

Japhet De Oliveira:

13. Tell us about a favorite movie or book of all time. What is your favorite movie or book of all time, and why?

Michelle Fuentes:

Hmm. Let's see. So my favorite movie of all time is Beauty and the Beast.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Ooh.

Michelle Fuentes:

I know it seems weird.

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, no.

Michelle Fuentes:

It was the first movie I remember my parents letting me see in a movie theater when I was a kid and it has just been a movie I have loved my whole life. And even as my kids are young and watching Disney movies still, I'll sit and watch that with them. I've seen it way too many times, but I still enjoy it. And so that's my favorite movie of all time.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I like it. I like it.

Michelle Fuentes:

Do I need to answer the book question?

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, it's either book...

Michelle Fuentes:

Okay, book or movie.

Japhet De Oliveira:

... or movie, that's fine. Although, if you want to...

Michelle Fuentes:

Yep, so Beauty and the Beast.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, I like it. It's good. Beautiful.

Michelle Fuentes:

I've gone to see the play. I've gone to...

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh yes.

Michelle Fuentes:

... the whole thing. Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes. You really have. You've taken it to the next level.

Michelle Fuentes:

To the next level.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I've gone to... and I played all the parts, and I've got the costumes. Yeah, I'm with you.

Michelle Fuentes:

I can sing soprano and alto in both of the songs.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And the bass. Oh, yes.

Michelle Fuentes:

Okay, not that crazy.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. I'm impressed. I'm impressed. Good. All right. Where do you want to go next?

Michelle Fuentes:

All right. Let's do 21.

Japhet De Oliveira:

21. Share the best compliment you've ever received.

Michelle Fuentes:

You're the best mommy in the world.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, oh, that's beautiful.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's kind of precious.

Michelle Fuentes:

I mean, you probably meant that to be a work question, but...

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, no, it's about all experiences.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

We're shaped by everything, yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

Bes mommy in the world. And they don't know any other mommy, god bless them, that was a moment that... When they say those things to you, it's very sweet.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes.

Michelle Fuentes:

Little people, in my opinion, are the true mirror to who we are. And they tell you the truth.

Japhet De Oliveira:

They do.

Michelle Fuentes:

In this case, I liked hearing it. There are other moments, but they're less enjoyable.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes. Well, treasure those ones. That's great.

Michelle Fuentes:

That's right.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's great. Fantastic. All right. After 21, where would you like to go?

Michelle Fuentes:

Hmm, let's do... Okay. We'll go up another 10. We'll do 32.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Ooh, okay. If you were featured on the local news, what would the new story likely be?

Michelle Fuentes:

Oh, Japhet, that's a hard question.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Uh-huh (affirmative).

Michelle Fuentes:

Uh-huh (affirmative). And I'm only in the thirties with this question?

Japhet De Oliveira:

I know. It's great. Isn't it? It's fantastic because I... You chose 32.

Michelle Fuentes:

I did. Okay. So 32, a news story featuring me. A news story featuring me. I don't know. I hate that this is happening to me right now and that you've caught me...

Japhet De Oliveira:

It's beautiful.

Michelle Fuentes:

... me without knowing the...

Japhet De Oliveira:

It's beautiful.

Michelle Fuentes:

... answer to this story.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It's beautiful. I love it so much.

Michelle Fuentes:

I would say the news story about me may be about my leadership style and that I talk a lot about love and how love holds our team together, and it holds our team accountable, and it encourages our team to continue facing the challenges that we have every day. And I think, it is my opinion that that is, can be a unique skillset to lead with, the idea that you lead with love. So if someone were going to come and actually spend the time to do a story about that, that would not only be what I'd want it to be about, but what I think it could be about.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I like that a lot. And actually, I mean, you and I both know that that's actually a lot deeper and a lot harder to do and to be than when it's just said. I'm with you.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

There's some rawness that comes with that, where I often wonder how does this job not hurt so much? And I think if you don't lead with love, maybe it doesn't hurt so much. But I love people so I think that's just not truly who I am.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, appreciate that. It was good. Beautiful. Thank you. All right. 32, where next?

Michelle Fuentes:

Gosh. All right. Let's try 43.

Japhet De Oliveira:

43. Tell us about the best gift that you've ever received.

Michelle Fuentes:

Hmm, that is a really good question. The best gift I have ever received. I have a boss, or had a boss, who was very, very good at gift giving. And that's a skill that people have.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes it is. Yes it is.

Michelle Fuentes:

I do not possess this skill. I am the gift giver of gift cards so that they can go buy themselves a great gift.

Japhet De Oliveira:

The gift that keeps on giving.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yes. And he bought me this Christmas ornament that is... He knew my favorite tree was an Aspen, and so it's these Aspen leaves that are kind of embossed. It's hard to explain, but every Christmas, when I hang that on my tree, I'm reminded of Colorado and a place that. That's what it reminds me of.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

Is my home state. And it reminds me of him. And there's just this, I don't know, this sincerity.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes.

Michelle Fuentes:

This person who knew me well, who bought me something so small, but has now, for 15 years, been hanging on my Christmas tree and has meant so much to me.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's beautiful. That's beautiful. That's a good, great experience. Great moment. Shapes the soul. It was great. Thank you. All right. After 43, where next?

Michelle Fuentes:

Let's see. All right. I'm just going to keep climbing the ranks here. So 43 would be 54.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right. If your life were a book, what would this chapter be called? If everybody could see Michelle's face now, it would be fantastic.

Michelle Fuentes:

Well, because I started to realize words matter.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Words matter. Yeah, they do.

Michelle Fuentes:

So my first response will not be the response that I give you, but it's really the way I feel. And I guess we could edit this part out, but...

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, no.

Michelle Fuentes:

Come on, Japhet. This chapter would be called What the Hell? It really would be.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

Because in Sonora right now, we have, in the last couple of weeks, we've had to evacuate our skilled nursing facility due to a fire close by.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Couldn't believe that, yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

We've had some other things happen in our staff where they've ended up in the newspaper with unfortunate stories about arrests that have taken place. There are patients who are treating the staff horribly around this COVID idea. And then there's, of course, still a worldwide pandemic that's happening.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I know.

Michelle Fuentes:

And it's just hard to imagine all of the things that are happening in our world right now and I honestly don't know what's going on. And it reaches a whole new level of, "What the?" when the pandemic becomes your constant...

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes.

Michelle Fuentes:

... and all these other things just creates some chaos. I've had, now, I've had staff members die from COVID.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

Close people in the community, die from it. So I'm in that stage right now where I'm wondering what's happening in the world. And so that's why I named my chapter that. And I'm happy to know it's... I don't believe it's my last chapter or the last chapter of this book.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes.

Michelle Fuentes:

Right? There's something else coming, a good end, a positive outcome, but we are in that stage right now that just feels cloudy and dark.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Well. And Michelle, I think that's why I think earlier, when you talked about how you would be known and how you lead through love, I think that our listeners didn't know everything that you're going through as the leader of this particular hospital and leading in this particular area in the midst of the crisis that is going on in the world and everybody's facing and you're facing, locally as well, just how powerful and how important that is. And so...

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah. And I think it's leading with the optimism, a belief in Jesus Christ, a belief that there is something larger than all of us that we have a faith...

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

... and a belief in, I think, is what studies the ship in these times. And without him being that guide, that person that I can rely on in my prayer and in my day to day work, I think the chapter is much more gloomy.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Michelle, I'm with you. I actually do... I'm with you as well. And I know you've said this in many places and you've written it down and spoken to this as well, and I really do believe that love will pull us through.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, absolutely. And it is the greater good that's going to pull us through. Absolutely. So thank you for sharing that. It is true. It's probably the title of many of us, for all of our chapters for our current chapter right now, but it's good. It's a great point that you said about it's not the final chapter.

Michelle Fuentes:

Right.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Good.

Michelle Fuentes:

Thank God.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It's a good book. It's a good book.

Michelle Fuentes:

It's a big book. It's a good big book.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Yeah. It's a very long book.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right. Where next?

Michelle Fuentes:

All right, let's see. I feel like I'm doing all right here.

Japhet De Oliveira:

You're doing great.

Michelle Fuentes:

So we'll go up again. And that was 54. Was it not?

Japhet De Oliveira:

Mm-hmm (affirmative). Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

All right. So we'll do 65.

Japhet De Oliveira:

65. Share one word that you could use to describe your past. Then, could you unpack that one word?

Michelle Fuentes:

My past? Hmm. Yes. I think that I can't... I think the word that comes to mind is blessed. I look back, and like everyone listening, everyone who's not listening, there are trials and tribulations in life, death and loss and heartache and struggles that come, but when I look back, I see how blessed my life really was by people around me who loved me and who carried me through, who took my hand, who hugged me when I needed it, who sent me that and urging text or that email that just made my day what it needed to be. And I am blessed. I'm blessed to be surrounded by good people with good hearts. I'm blessed to be married to an amazing man and have an amazing family. I'm blessed to have great friends. I just, when I look back on my life, as I've lived it, I'm blessed.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's beautiful. That's a good spirit and good attitude and wonderful.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah, and it doesn't take away the heartache, right?

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, it doesn't.

Michelle Fuentes:

No.

Japhet De Oliveira:

It's become reality in many places, but it's great to see it.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

So it's a good question, actually. I think I might actually go home and ask my husband that question.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And he doesn't say blessed...

Michelle Fuentes:

If he doesn't say blessed, he's in big trouble.

Japhet De Oliveira:

No, that's beautiful. That's good. Good. All right. Where do you want to go next?

Michelle Fuentes:

All right. Let's...

Japhet De Oliveira:

That was 65.

Michelle Fuentes:

70. Yep. 76 then.

Japhet De Oliveira:

76. All right. Tell us about where you feel the safest and why.

Michelle Fuentes:

Where do I feel safest and why? That's a good question. I feel safest when I'm at home. I enjoy the comfort of my home. I enjoy the people in my home. So I would say from a safety perspective, my home.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good. That's good. It is surprising, actually, how many people don't find the home that, and yet that's actually what home should be.

Michelle Fuentes:

Right.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah. Yeah. So it pains me when people can't find the home and as a place of safety, in addition to other places as well.

Michelle Fuentes:

Wow.

Japhet De Oliveira:

But it should be. So that's beautiful. Love that. Good. All right. After 76.

Michelle Fuentes:

All right, you know where we're going now?

Japhet De Oliveira:

I don't know. Could it be 87?

Michelle Fuentes:

It's going to be 87.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Right. I'm very good at math. When you're under incredible stress...

Michelle Fuentes:

Okay.

Japhet De Oliveira:

What helps to ground you?

Michelle Fuentes:

Ooh, so when I'm under incredible stress, one of the things I must do is go on a walk. So I have a tendency to... I'm an overthinker by my very nature and stress creates over overthinking. And so I'll go on a walk and I pop my earbuds in and I generally play some level of piano music, something I can't sing to, because I don't want to end up singing because it's time I need to pray. And so I put in some piano music, I leash up my dogs, and I'll go on a walk and I pray. And sometimes I'll just say to God, I don't know what to do and help me figure this out. And I find that not every time, but almost every time, I'll end my walk and feel like I've got a semblance of a plan to move forward with what's stressing me out. Now, if it gets really stressful, Japhet...

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

... I then put on hiking shoes, and a backpack, and I still leash up my dogs, but this time I take other folks with me and I head up into the mountains.

Japhet De Oliveira:

I was going to say the mountains, weren't they?

Michelle Fuentes:

Yep. And I spend time hiking and finding a lake, and it's a much longer walk.

Japhet De Oliveira:

True Coloradan. All right.

Michelle Fuentes:

Yes. Yes. And so those are the two things that I do when I am under immense stress.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's good. That's good. That's beautiful. Those poor shoes and trails.

Michelle Fuentes:

I've never bought so many shoes as living here.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Too funny. You're too funny. All right. If we're true to form, after 87, are you saying you're going to 98?

Michelle Fuentes:

Yes. And let me just qualify this one.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay.

Michelle Fuentes:

So I listened to Eric Steven's podcast and I agreed with him that choosing a hundred is a little bit showy.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Is it really?

Michelle Fuentes:

Yeah. Yeah. So 99, I remember him choosing 99 and thinking, "Oh, that's a hard question, Eric." And so I am going to land right on 98 and just come in right there.

Japhet De Oliveira:

You do have time for two more. So you have time for 98 and one more. So what would be after 98? Oh, now dilemma.

Michelle Fuentes:

Oh, that is a dilemma.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Oh, I love this.

Michelle Fuentes:

Let's see how hard 98 is, and then I'll answer that question.

Japhet De Oliveira:

98. What is the one great thing that you are capable of achieving?

Michelle Fuentes:

Hmm. What is the one great thing I'm capable of achieving? Ooh. Forget it, I don't want to answer 98 anymore.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Well, yeah. How does it work?

Michelle Fuentes:

Oh, you said this is a one cut. Okay.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah, one cut only.

Michelle Fuentes:

All right. So the one thing I am capable of achieving. I believe that this organization and me are capable of achieving the Malcolm Baldridge award. And it's an award that... It's difficult to explain, but it's an award that is bestowed upon organizations that have amazing processes, they've got great communication with their teams, they are in integrated well with their strategic plan and their vision and their missions, and they've got results that demonstrate that they are one of the top performing hospitals in the nation that are sustained time.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

And our Adventist Health is lucky enough to have two of those hospitals here with us, which is White Memorial and Castle.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

And so that's been a goal of mine since, well, I would say since I lived in Florida, before I even came out to California. It's something I wanted to go on that journey and do. And the reason I want to do it is because the outcome of that means that we have provided the very best care we can to our community, we've provided our staff and our physicians the best place that they can come and work, and we've got financial results to sustain ourselves into the future. And who wouldn't want to work for an organization like that? So I say often, I think this community hospital, tucked up in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains, can be one of the best in this nation. And I believe that that's something we can accomplish.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. I like that. I like that. That's beautiful. Fantastic. All right. So that was really good. That was really good. You do have time for one final question. Which one will it be?

Michelle Fuentes:

All right.

Japhet De Oliveira:

All right.

Michelle Fuentes:

I'm going to go... I'm going to go down.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Okay. Which one?

Michelle Fuentes:

I'm going to land right in the middle. Solid number 50.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Solid number 50. And that is, oh, share about who has influenced you professionally? Oh, that's beautiful.

Michelle Fuentes:

Well, that is an excellent question, and there are two men that stick out in my life.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yeah.

Michelle Fuentes:

I started as a finance person in the basement of Florida Hospital and I was trying my best to be the master at the 10 key calculator. And I was 22 at the time and one of these leaders came and gave me the opportunity to advance out of that role and move into a different type of capacity. But I remember one time he, he took me, it was an early management role, he took me to one of the smoothie shops in Orlando, and he's sat me down and he started to talk to me about, in short, how to dress for the job you want. And so he talked to me a little bit about my hair and how young I looked and the clothes I should be wearing and how they should look. And I was so overwhelmed that he was giving me all of this information.

Michelle Fuentes:

And I remember I went back to my lady CEO at the time and I told her what he had done. I was 25 and she called him up and she let him have it. How dare you tell this woman how to dress and do her hair. And he said, "You know what? I talk to my men about how to press their shirts and how to shine their shoes, and I'm not going to treat her any differently than I treat them because she has the same opportunity and potential." And he taught me... It was through that I realized he cared as much as he did. Right? And through that, he taught me how to understand how a hospital operates and how the financial outcomes tell the story of that hospital operation.

Japhet De Oliveira:

Yes.

Michelle Fuentes:

And so I look back on him as being one of the main people who impacted my life. The second person who impacted my life was a CEO. He was very people oriented. He loved people, and he gave me my first opportunity to be an executive. I remember each day, he would come to work early, he was a more morning person, and he started his day in his Bible. And that really left an impression on me because he loved the Lord. And through that love of the Lord, he led his team. And he would sit with me for hours and talk through situation. And he always had time. And so through these two men in my life, I feel like they've developed who I've become as a leader. And I stay in touch with them still today and they mean the world to me.

Japhet De Oliveira:

That's beautiful. That's fantastic. That's fantastic. Well, Michelle, thank you so how much for taking time to share a little bit about the stories and experiences that shaped your life into the great leader that you are. The secret introvert that actually is a great extrovert presenting and teaching and shaping and leading through love, which is, as you and I both know, it's easy to say, but very hard to do in reality, and yet it's so worthy and so important. Really appreciate that.

Michelle Fuentes:

Thank you, Japhet.

Japhet De Oliveira:

And to all our listeners, I just want to encourage you to share your stories and your experiences. Through those stories and experiences, that you listen to them, as you share them, you grow and others will grow as well, and you will change the world and make it a better place. Thanks everybody. God bless and look after you.

Narrator:

Thank you for joining us for The Story and Experience Podcast. We invite you to read, watch, and submit your story and experience at AdventistHealth.org/Story. The Story & Experience Podcast was brought to you by Adventist Health through the Office of Culture.