Leadership Delaware County Spotlight - Theresa Cicalese

Name: Theresa Cicalese
Hometown: Swarthmore (Ridley Township)
Company: AmeriHealth Caritas
Position: Manager, Clinical Training Team
Length of time you have been with you company: 14 years​
​Briefly describe your journey, noting both personal milestones and obstacles you may have faced along the way: I have always felt my calling was to help people in need, and I have been lucky to be able to do that throughout my career as an RN, whether working in the hospital, primary care setting, or working for AmeriHealth Caritas. I have been with AmeriHealth Caritas since 2009, first working as a Case Manager for medically fragile children and more recently as a Manager for one of the new hire training teams. I have always been amazed at how much I learned about the "business" of Healthcare and Medicaid Managed Care. I have never gone a day in my work where I have not learned something new! I transitioned from Case Management to training new hires, and realized that I loved getting to know people and tapping into their strengths to help them grow personally and professionally. I have also learned to be truly thankful for every day, because you never know what can happen, and you especially never know what someone else is going through. I don't think I have had obstacles so much as I have had challenges or learning opportunities. The job is extremely busy, but I don't like to be bored, so it suits me! 

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• How did you hear about LDC and why did you sign up to take part in it? I have work colleagues who participated in the program. I saw a post on Social Media that a new session would be starting. Our organization sponsors a few associates to participate in the program, so I reached out to our HR department and applied to participate in the program. I was lucky enough to be accepted! 

• What inspires you? How does that inspiration play into your professional life: I am inspired by helping others in any way I can, and also by learning something new or building my knowledge on a particular subject. I feel that other people's success is my own success. As a leader, I strive to be a support and a mentor for my team. I want them all to continue to learn and grow, so I try to provide them with opportunities to learn a new skill set or increase their understanding in an area where they may have a knowledge gap. I love building relationships and working with others, whether in a professional capacity or a community-building opportunity. 

• Briefly, describe a transformative moment that helped to shift your approach to your career: I was in a leadership position years ago, but at that time, I was just not happy with the job I was doing. I felt like I was having difficulty letting go, "just doing it myself' to make sure it was done "right". Too much micro-managing, and I didn't like the person I was becoming. At the same time, our family suffered a personal loss that truly changed my perspective on what was important to me, and I realized I needed to make a move in order to be happy, for one thing, and successful, for another. That is when I moved to the training team. It was a good decision, and over time, I was presented with the opportunity to be a leader again. I think the first leadership experience really helped me to realize the type of leader I DON'T want to be, and I have been working hard to become a leader people can rely on, and not a micromanager! 

• What leaders, thinkers or doers do you admire most? Why? I admire leaders who lead with intention, who value transparency, and who are willing to advocate for their team. If you have no vision of what you want to accomplish, you can't have a plan. If you have no plan, then you are not really going to accomplish very much. It is not enough to say "this is how we have always done things". I prefer to look outside the box for solutions, and to help others do the same. Sometimes you just need someone to clear away the cobwebs so you can find a path. I like to be that person whenever I can. 

• What has been the most valuable professional advice and/or lesson you’ve received? :  You can be compassionate and have a sense of urgency in your work when necessary, without letting it emotionally drain you or keeping you from having a fulfilling personal life. Like your job, love your life, and know the difference. Also, know your own worth and remember the value of paying it forward whenever you can! The vision, mission and values of our company still speak to me after all these years. Our foundation is built on compassion, care and integrity and I try to carry these values with me in all aspects of my life.