"Trust your own abilities, don't give in to imposter syndrome." | The Healthcare Consultant Transforming Access to Quality Care: Meet Lenore Hango

Meet Lenore Hango , the dynamic management consultant based in the heart of Washington, DC, whose passion for transforming the world of healthcare knows no bounds. With a sharp focus on driving change, designing efficient processes, and optimizing patient access, Lenore has left an indelible mark on the health and public service sectors. Her impressive portfolio includes collaborative efforts with Integrated Healthcare Delivery Systems, esteemed Academic Medical Centers, and even National Payer.

Since joining the 埃森哲 team in October 2020, Lenore's dedication to her craft has shone brightly. She seamlessly blends her extensive background in health policy and management with her research prowess to craft innovative solutions for clients. Not one to rest on her laurels, Lenore has taken her talents in-house, working closely with Accenture Health leaders to conceive, develop, and finalize groundbreaking offerings for their valued clients.

But Lenore's influence extends beyond her project work. She's a true advocate for health initiatives, co-leading the Health Equity Community of Practice call series and playing an integral role in the core teams behind the Role of Race in Healthcare and Health Culture Initiatives. Her commitment to fostering accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare, along with her passion for equitable development in emerging healthcare technology, sets her apart as a force for change in the industry. Lenore Hango is not just a consultant; she's a visionary, a catalyst for transformation, and a true advocate for a healthier, more equitable world.

Miss EmpowHer: What does women's empowerment mean to you? Why is it important?

Lenore Hango: When I think about women empowerment, I am reminded of all the women who have helped me get to where I am today as a version of myself I am proud to be. I have always believed in the power of shared success and I do not subscribe to the idea that anything is a zero-sum game. I strive to lift others as I rise in part to pay it forward to all the women who lifted me. It is our duty as a community to ensure we all feel empowered to show up as our most authentic selves, and we commit to going farther together and strengthening our communities.

"I have always believed in the power of shared success and I do not subscribe to the idea that anything is a zero-sum game".

Miss EmpowHer: What advice would you give to other women looking to succeed in your industry? What qualities are the most important and what skills should they focus on developing?

Lenore Hango: Consulting can be intimidating as an industry. It was certainly not on the list of things I wanted to be when I was growing up. I felt intimidated going through the recruiting process during college as someone who did not come from a "typical" business background. My advice to other women looking to succeed in this industry is to be open to the possibility that what you may perceive to be your weaknesses might actually be some of your greatest strengths. You have a "non-traditional" background because you majored in Art History? Nothing to worry about — you bring a perspective that very few working in consulting already have. You have only worked in industry? Excellent — you have already developed a specialization firms seek out.?

As you are working towards entering the industry, focus on developing your ability to distill complicated concepts to folks who may not have context about what you are talking about. If you have some time, you can search for some free tutorials on Excel features like an index match (better than a V-Lookup and I will die on that hill) or data visualization principles and tools like Tableau and PowerBI. If those terms are unfamiliar to you, have no fear! I did not know what an index match or PowerBI were prior to starting my job and I learned everything I know about them while on a project. One of the best parts about consulting is that much of your training happens on the job and this is the norm for most folks.

Miss EmpowHer: Tell us about a woman who has influenced your career and how their guidance has impacted your professional growth.

Lenore Hango: My manager Ana has been an incredible influence on me professionally. I have been fortunate to work on teams with her for the majority of the almost three years I have worked at Accenture. She is my go-to source for advice on everything from navigating difficult conversations to pursuing my next engagement to prioritizing growth opportunities and beyond.?

She is a dedicated people-first leader who exhibits a diligence and leadership style I admire. Her influence extends beyond the guidance she has provided me because she leads by example and has made it possible for me to achieve my professional goals on the timeline that I have. I do not know where I would be without her guidance — just knowing that she is in my corner has empowered me to take risks I would never have tried otherwise.

Miss EmpowHer: How do you handle work-related stress and pressure, and what techniques or practices do you use to maintain your well-being while pursuing a successful career?

Lenore Hango: I give myself a 30-minute break to get myself organized which typically helps me relieve some of the stress I feel at work. Once I feel I have a solid grasp on the task and can break it down into manageable steps, I feel more confident focusing on the task at hand instead of fixating on factors that are largely outside of my control. I also check in with mentors and friends who remind me of the bigger picture I am working towards. I practice mindfulness exercises and oftentimes will take a brief walk when I really feel I need to step away. Prioritizing my mental health is extremely important to me because I cannot continue to show up as my best version of myself at work if I am not taking care of my health.

Miss EmpowHer: Can you share any lessons or insights you have gained from failures or setbacks in your career, and how you have turned them into opportunities for growth and learning?

Lenore Hango: Failure is sometimes the most effective way to learn a lesson. It is an inevitable part of life. Accepting that it will happen and reorienting towards regrouping and changing direction is a crucial life skill. The biggest takeaway I have from the countless failures I have experienced is to separate failure from how I view myself. Experiencing setbacks at work — dropping the ball on a major deliverable, trying to manage a difficult client relationship, navigating pathways to achieve goals when there are major obstacles in the way — will happen, but they are not a reflection of my self-worth. I encourage everyone I work with at my job (particularly the analysts newer to the workplace) not to take failure or setbacks too personally. With this mindset, it becomes easier to focus on the learning and growth opportunities.?

“Failure is sometimes the most effective way to learn a lesson.”

Miss EmpowHer: Can you share any strategies or tips for building a successful network and fostering meaningful professional relationships that have helped you in your career?

Lenore Hango: When I connect with new people, I jot down a few quick notes from the conversation. I make it a point to listen and remember the things people tell me about themselves outside of who they are in the workplace. I follow up periodically (frequency depends on the relationship) and ensure to review my notes from our previous conversation as preparation.?

Relationship management is crucial for professional development and career success. People can tell when someone is being disingenuous and it is off-putting. A lot of the necessary skills and their subsequent actions can be summed up with one simple lesson: be a good person and treat others the way you would like to be treated.

“I make it a point to listen and remember the things people tell me about themselves outside of who they are in the workplace”.

Miss EmpowHer: What strategies or tactics do you use for setting and achieving your career goals, and how do you stay motivated and focused on your objectives?

Lenore Hango: I take stock of what I have accomplished already, where I am currently, and where I plan to go next. The gap between my present and my future is where I begin to think about goal-setting. I ask myself: where are areas where I feel uncomfortable and how can I gain more confidence in those areas??

These questions help me evaluate what I would like to achieve in the near future, what is required for me to progress toward these goals, and how I define success. I try to keep myself oriented by connecting my short-term priorities with my long-term objectives so that I can stay motivated and focused.

“The gap between my present and my future is where I begin to think about goal-setting”.

Miss EmpowHer: What motivated you to choose your current career field, and what do you find most fulfilling about your work?

Lenore Hango: Growing up, I always wanted to work in healthcare, and initially thought direct patient care was the only avenue. In college, I discovered public health and realized I was more motivated to solve the macro-level challenges in healthcare (e.g., access to care) than micro-level challenges. Not knowing much about other career options in healthcare, I jumped at the opportunity to accompany an older friend to a consulting event during my sophomore year of college. I was intrigued by the opportunity to explore major players in the healthcare industry all in one job and the measurable impact I could have even as a new college graduate working on projects that would save major healthcare systems millions of dollars in medical costs.?

The impact is what I find most fulfilling — particularly when I have opportunities to weave the advancement of health equity into client conversations. Seeing the outcomes clients proceed with that they would not necessarily have considered otherwise makes me feel like I am contributing to moving the needle the tiniest bit toward justice.

Miss EmpowHer: Can you discuss any specific trends or changes in your industry that you see impacting careers, and how you are preparing to adapt to these changes?

Lenore Hango: There are two trends I will continue to watch in healthcare. The first is market consolidation. Recently, major hospitals have been buying up smaller, more rural facilities and non-traditional players are entering the industry through acquisition (e.g., Amazon's purchase of One Medical). The lines are becoming increasingly blurred which certainly will have an impact on the future state of industry structure and career growth.

The second trend is the advent of new technology. Much like other industries, generative AI has overtaken conversations about emerging healthcare technologies. There are a lot of promising advances coming down the pipeline that will result in better quality, more accessible care. There are also a range of predictions about the impact on jobs.?

Both trends have the potential to impact careers and likely will lead to an industry evolution of jobs that do not yet exist. I am personally preparing to embrace the onset of health technology to position myself as someone who can bridge the gap between healthcare, business, and technology through a health equity lens.

Miss EmpowHer: What advice do you have for individuals who are starting their careers or looking to make a career change, based on your own experiences and lessons learned?

Lenore Hango: Networking and informational interviews are one of the most important tools in the toolbox. Ask the people you know to introduce you to other folks who can provide another perspective on the information you are seeking out. Maintain these relationships! You never know when a connection you made with someone will turn into the next step towards the job you have been working towards.?

“Ask the people you know to introduce you to other folks who can provide another perspective on the information you are seeking out”.

Miss EmpowHer: How do you approach professional development and continuous learning to enhance your skills and stay relevant in your industry??

Lenore Hango: I assess a few things:?

1) Where is the industry heading in the next 10-20 years??

2) What are my strengths and areas for improvement??

3) How can I balance my personal development with the desire to develop new skills relevant to the work I want to do in the future?

Armed with this information, I evaluate my opportunities for continuous learning and prioritize accordingly so that I can achieve my goals. No plan is ever set in stone — I always make adjustments as needed based on the other responsibilities I have on my plate.

Miss EmpowHer: Can you discuss any significant achievements or accomplishments in your career that you are particularly proud of and what you learned from those experiences?

Lenore Hango: My promotion from Senior Analyst to Consultant was a particularly proud career moment for me. Leading up to performance conversations in the summer of 2022, I had taken over the solution development and implementation stages for three different utilization management initiatives at a national payer worth millions in medical cost savings from a colleague who returned to school. I felt like I was drinking from a water hose at first trying to keep all of the plates spinning in addition to my role as I&D lead for the UNC Recruiting Team and Health Practice initiatives.?

It took me some time to get the hang of it, but when my manager went on PTO for a week, I proved to myself how capable and confident I was in my skills to manage and drive all three initiatives forward. Having this experience under my belt going into the performance discussion made me feel like I was ready for the promotion. When I heard the good news, I was elated. I felt very proud of the work I had done and the impact I had been able to have on a role that I was initially apprehensive about due to my perceptions of my own readiness. It was a great lesson in trusting my own abilities and not giving in to the imposter syndrome.

Miss EmpowHer: How do you balance your career ambitions with other aspects of your life, such as family, hobbies, and personal well-being?

Lenore Hango: I repeat to myself the following mantra: I work to live, I do not live to work. While my career is an important aspect of my life, it is one aspect. The pandemic showed me that my relationships with my family, friends, and myself are my priority in this life. As a result, I make time to plan visits to show up for my loved ones, attend my book clubs with friends, and maintain my physical and mental health. Maintaining this balance is how I can continue to show up as my best self in every area of my life.

“I work to live, I do not live to work”.

Miss EmpowHer: Are there any specific books, podcasts, email newsletters, thought leaders/influencers, or training courses/programs that you would recommend for personal or professional growth?

Lenore Hango: Books:

The Power of Habit

The Body Keeps the Score

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed For Men

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