Trish Rodriguez
Senior Vice President/Area Manager
Kaiser Permanente
patricia.m.rodriguez@kp.org
What are three things you wish you’d known as you embarked on your career?
- Listen more – speak less. Execution and the creation of results are what matter.
- Do not make a mountain out of a molehill. Don’t overanalyze or over-read situations to make them worse than they actually are. I have lost a lot of sleep unnecessarily. Care about things that really matter. This will give you more time to focus on the important.
- Learning is not finished when you complete your post-secondary degree. Dig deep and keep learning about things, both inside and outside of your field.
Did you have a mentor? If so, what was the most important piece of advice they gave you?
I still have two very important mentors and have many powerful mentors throughout my career. One of the best pieces of advice was "don’t sweat the small stuff."
How did/do you handle work/life balance?
I have become more and more diligent about fitness and nutrition as I have become older. I wish I would have started much earlier. I never compromise on taking most of my vacation time. Even if it is only a 3-day weekend, I walk away refreshed and happy.
I also made the decision not to have children early on in life, which is not the right decision for everyone, but it has given me flexibility that some don’t have. I admire men and women who can fit it all in.
Do you have any suggestions of books, articles, websites, etc. that might help a young professional?
- Leading Change – John Kotter
- Stewardship – Peter Block
- Good to Great – Jim Collins
- Harvard Business Review – read each month, cover to cover
How important is it to be involved in organizations outside of work (church, networking, philanthropy, alumni, athletics, etc.)? Why?
I love the Boards that I work with. I believe that community service is a fundamental part of being a good leader.
What do you love about Sacramento?
The Sacramento region is filled with great people, events, restaurants, and civic amenities that cannot be beat. My husband and I continue to find great new finds throughout the region.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the 40 and under business professionals in our region?
It is such a great time to be in Sacramento. The economic resurgence is going to create great opportunities across the board. Be ready to seize the opportunities.
