Beyond the Spreadsheet: Why a Clinical Lens is CANA’s Secret Weapon

When most people think of a Director of Business & People Operations, they imagine someone with a traditional MBA or a career spent strictly climbing the Human Resources ladder. They see spreadsheets, compliance checklists, and rigid corporate hierarchies. But at CANA LLC, we have always done things a little differently, and that includes the decision to create the Director of Business & People Operations position in 2023. 

Late in 2021, I approached CANA leadership with this question: “Do you think CANA would have a place for me?” At that point in my career, I was ready for a career change. Being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years of experience in behavioral health, I wasn’t certain my question would have positive follow up. But over the course of the following year, I had regular meetings with CANA’s CFO and Business Operations Lead, and we developed a positive rapport and a position description. I was hired on January 1, 2023.

Choosing a clinician to lead business and people strategy was a bold, intentional move. It was a signal that at CANA, "People Focused" isn't just a tagline on a website—it is the heartbeat of our operations.

The Strength of a Clinical Perspective

My background in behavioral health and private practice isn't just a separate chapter of my life; it is the foundation of how I lead. In clinical work, you learn to listen for what isn’t being said. You learn that accountability and empathy aren't opposites; they are partners. At CANA, we value vulnerability within our relationships. In a typical HR setting, it is often seen as a liability. Here, my clinical background allows me to treat it as a strength. By being open and transparent in our intentions, we create a space where team members feel safe to bring their whole selves to work. My clinical lens helps me facilitate those "human" moments that a traditionally trained HR professional might overlook in favor of a policy manual.

Redefining Operations Through Support and Transparency

Having a diverse supervisory background—from leading program expansions to owning my own therapy practice,—has fundamentally changed how I approach the "Business" side of my title. At CANA, we support one another, and that support is built into our very structure.

• Navigating the "Hard" Side of People Ops: In any business, there are difficult days: interpersonal conflicts, personal struggles that bleed into the workday, and the heavy reality of terminations or unpopular decisions. My clinical training allows me to navigate these moments with a de-escalation mindset and a focus on dignity. Instead of approaching a conflict as a "violation," I approach it as a clinician—looking for the root cause, practicing active listening, and ensuring that even in termination, a person’s humanity is preserved. Having professional courage to facilitate hard conversations in a way that promotes healing rather than harm is a challenge, but not impossible. 

• Policy Development with Clarity: When looking at policy development and/or updates, I not only ensure Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) compliance, I work with my team to look for ways to make policies transparent and easy to navigate. We work as a team to build structure, ensuring our policies serve the people, not the other way around.

• Onboarding and Mentorship: Through the recruitment and onboarding of new hires, as well as with the CANA Futures internship program, I use my experience in clinical supervision to do more than just "hire." We share knowledge and focus on self-assessment and growth. We want our new hires and interns to feel the CANA Culture from day one—a culture rooted in mutual trust.

• Communication and Marketing: Overseeing our Digital Media and Graphics team is about more than brand awareness. It’s about transparency. We share our wins, our challenges, and our stories because we believe in being open with each other and our clients.

  
  

Innovation Rooted in Wellness and Accountability

A clinician’s superpower is the ability to balance high-level strategy with individual well-being. This is why the CANA Wellness Initiative is an integral part of my work and the CANA culture. Weekly informative whole-health wellness posts, virtual activities to engage team members in a casual manner, and wellness challenges to spark friendly competition are all baked into our Wellness Initiative. We aren't just checking boxes; we are learning through growth and prioritizing work-life balance in a high-stakes virtual environment. Truth be told, we are able to have fun together as a result!

One of the CANA Values is to be accountable to ourselves and to each other, which naturally fosters a trusting relationship between colleagues. In therapy, accountability is only effective when an investment is made into the therapeutic process and trust is established. When a person knows their best interest is at hand when they are being challenged, that person is more likely to accept accountability for their decisions and actions. This is also a true statement for a working relationship, where trust paves the way for accountability. Accountability allows for vulnerability. Vulnerability opens the door for growth. Everyone wins.  

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, my role is to bridge the gap between internal business functions and people strategy. My clinical lens allows me to see the "why" behind the "what." It’s about more than just financial stability and monthly allocations—though those are vital for our profit; it’s about building a sustainable, human-centric organization.

CANA took a chance on a Social Worker to lead their People Operations, and in doing so, they proved that when you put people first, business excellence follows naturally. I’m proud to show that a therapist’s heart and a director’s mind are the perfect combination for a team that values connection as much as they value results.