Skip to main content
McMaster University
DeGroote School of Business
McMaster University

DSB Main Website Search

McMaster Menu
DeGroote Menu
  • Home
  • Programs
  • About
    • About DeGroote
    • Our Leadership
    • Dean’s Corner
    • Our Faculty & Research  
    • McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery
    • Strategic Plan 
    • Annual Report 
  • Events
  • Students
    • Student Resources
    • Student Clubs
    • Submit a Student Bulletin
  • Alumni
    • Alumni Resources
    • Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award 
    • DeGroote Alumni Social Impact Award
  • Staff
  • Give
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • DeGroote Directory
Search McMaster Menu
  • Home
  • Programs
  • About
    About DeGrooteOur LeadershipDean’s CornerOur Faculty & Research  McLean Centre for Collaborative DiscoveryStrategic Plan Annual Report 
  • Events
  • Students
    Student ResourcesStudent ClubsSubmit a Student Bulletin
  • Alumni
    Alumni ResourcesWayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award DeGroote Alumni Social Impact Award
  • Staff
  • Give
  • Contact
    Contact UsDeGroote Directory

ALUMNI   RESEARCH  

Emerging leaders have the confidence and humility to say "I don't know" in a crisis

May 20, 2020 ·

Contributed by: Laura J. Smith, Program Administrator

Share

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Mail Copy Link
A man wearing a green shirt is seated at a desk, interacting with a computer screen for a virtual doctor consultation.

Future of Canadian health care

The future of Canadian health care depends on a new generation of health leaders who can think creatively and disrupt the status quo. The Health Leadership Academy equips participants with the critical leadership and creative problem-solving skills vital to effect change and achieve success in a complex health system.

What does it mean to be a young professional in the real world of health care during a crisis?

At a recent McMaster Collaboratorium webinar, we spoke with two Emerging Leader alumni about how new medical residents can play a leadership role in a changing health care landscape.

Rachel Bierbrier smiles while speaking at a table, with two colleagues behind her.For Rachel Bierbrier, Dermatology Medical Resident at McGill University, leadership is a cornerstone in medical practice. As a medical student, she actively sought leadership opportunities and experiences. Still, she was surprised to discover that leadership is not only a natural ability but can be taught, learned, and practiced.

Starting at a new place where I was at the beginning stages of my career as a doctor, I really had to look at myself as a leader and see what I could contribute from an early stage in my training,” says Bierbrier. “For me, the leadership skills that emerged in the first few months of my training were the ability to adapt, adjust, and reflect on my skills in what I can bring despite my lack of experience.”

She credits the late Dr. Del Harnish of McMaster and the Health Leadership Academy for enabling her to learn leadership skills that had a direct application for medicine. She also appreciates the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) focus on design thinking, which proved that it is not just creative people who can solve problems creatively.

“I think another big piece for me starting out in my medical career was the importance of understanding that I have so much to learn,” says Bierbrier. “I am building my leadership skills by being humble, willing and open to speak to people, and accept mentors to help guide me through the different challenges and opportunities as I’m pursuing my future career.”

Adam Eqbal, Cardiac Surgery Medical Resident at McMaster University, shares his experience as a first-year resident. “I was quite anxious going into a new position. The thing about health care there really is a bit of a hierarchical structure,” explains Eqbal. “The question becomes how can you incorporate leadership skills into your day-to-day life when you are sort of starting at the bottom?”

For new residents, Eqbal says it is essential to cultivate good relationships and to find every opportunity to learn from team members. Building trust is also vital, but especially important in a crisis, he added. When team members trust and understand each other, they can make decisions quickly. However, it is not always possible to work with those you know or trust in a crisis, so adaptability is also important.

Adaptability in a crisis

How can a new resident, or anyone in the early stages of their career, demonstrate adaptability and flexibility? A strong foundation in knowledge, principles, and skills is what makes Eqbal adaptable in a crisis. When you can fall back on your skills and expertise, he said, “very little can stray you from your course.” For Bierbrier, the key is being comfortable with uncertainty and having the confidence and humility to say: “I don’t know.” In the current climate where change is constant and rapid, “I don’t know, but I will do my best to find the answer” is often the best answer, she concluded.

Looking to the future, Bierbrier and Eqbal believe there will be challenges and opportunities for young health care leaders in this new world of change. Eqbal noted that the pandemic has forced the rapid integration of technology into health care systems. “I think we’re coming from a digitally-driven era from day one,” explains Eqbal. “Young leaders have the opportunity to be the flag bearers for the integration of technology and the future provision of care.”

Both alumni agree the initiative and energy created during this pandemic will be maintained or continued. Eqbal predicted that it will be a slow transition to “normal” and that it may be difficult to recognize the shift when it happens. He hopes that this experience will have a long-lasting impact on responding to crises and pandemics more specifically.

Asked to consider the future, Bierbrier quipped that whatever she says today probably will not apply tomorrow. With everything evolving so quickly, she tries to focus on the positives and see opportunities in the challenges. The crisis has brought together sectors that might not usually interact or collaborate on COVID-19-related problems, which bodes well for future innovation.

“I think right now is the perfect opportunity for anyone who felt they never had a spot at the table to step up,” says Bierbrier. “The current state of things is really giving a voice to individuals that may not have had that voice before, and I really hope that legacy continues beyond the COVID pandemic.”

Culture shift in health care

Bierbrier noted a culture shift in recognizing and appreciating the vital role allied health care workers and essential health care workers outside the hospital play within the broader health care system. Similarly, the pandemic has prompted scrutiny and focus on health care in non-hospital settings, long-term care facilities, and patients outside the urban centres. These trends, Bierbrier hopes, continue beyond the pandemic, and make a lasting impact on the Canadian health care system.

Adam Eqbal smiling confidently while dressed in a formal suit and tie.Emerging Leaders play an essential role in the dramatic changes occurring in health care today. Both alumni recognize everyone has leadership abilities, different points of view, and everyone can contribute, regardless of their role.

Being a young, new professional entering a workspace that has a well-established structure, you’re not often regarded as a leader. But you can still use leadership skills, and you can be a fresh set of eyes on an otherwise traditional way of doing things to suggest change,” says Eqbal. “Crisis doesn’t build character; it reveals it.”

If there is just one piece of advice Bierbrier can give future health leaders, she would stress that it is important to be resilient and have the humility to say you don’t know. But also have the passion and fire to say that I’m going to find out.


About the Health Leadership Academy

The Health Leadership Academy offers leadership programs for aspiring and current health leaders that focuses on learning, and unlearning, the necessary skills to navigate and adapt to our ever-changing health environment.

Tags:   EMERGING HEALTH LEADERS HEALTH CARE HEALTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY TECHNOLOGY

Related Stories

Meet the changemakers: The future of health leadership starts here
September 19, 2025 · ALUMNI · STRATEGIC PLAN | INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

Meet the changemakers: The future of health leadership starts here

Navigating the future of healthcare: Insights from Dr. Alika Lafontaine
September 5, 2024 · ALUMNI · STRATEGIC PLAN | ENGAGING COMMUNITIES

Navigating the future of healthcare: Insights from Dr. Alika Lafontaine

Amy Montour on Leading With Relationships
January 31, 2024 · ALUMNI · STRATEGIC PLAN | INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

Amy Montour on Leading With Relationships

Insights into Healthcare: Sharing Indigenous Teachings
January 25, 2024 · ALUMNI · STRATEGIC PLAN | INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

Insights into Healthcare: Sharing Indigenous Teachings

Forging Her Own Path in the Boardroom: Early Adopter Anju Virmani
March 31, 2023 · STRATEGIC PLAN | INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE · ALUMNI · STRATEGIC PLAN | ENGAGING COMMUNITIES

Forging Her Own Path in the Boardroom: Early Adopter Anju Virmani

McMaster Health Leadership Academy on Mission to Transform National Health Care
March 23, 2023 · STRATEGIC PLAN | TEACHING AND LEARNING

McMaster Health Leadership Academy on Mission to Transform National Health Care

In the News: New ‘More Beds’ Legislation Adds Up To Worse Care
September 9, 2022 · RESEARCH · STAFF

In the News: New ‘More Beds’ Legislation Adds Up To Worse Care

Days of Life with Declan
May 16, 2021 · STUDENT

Days of Life with Declan

The secret to alumna Ashley Hum’s staying power
March 26, 2021 · ALUMNI

The secret to alumna Ashley Hum’s staying power

How Sam Samad forged his career as a technology leader
March 9, 2021 · ALUMNI

How Sam Samad forged his career as a technology leader

Day in the Life with Declan Ingram-Walsh (March)
March 2, 2021 · ACCOUNTING · STUDENT

Day in the Life with Declan Ingram-Walsh (March)

DeGroote MBA students place third in Kellogg Healthcare Case Competition
February 11, 2021 · STUDENT · STUDENT CLUB · HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT

DeGroote MBA students place third in Kellogg Healthcare Case Competition

Knowledge Labs: In the Know with Jenna Evans
November 23, 2020 · HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT · RESEARCH

Knowledge Labs: In the Know with Jenna Evans

COVID-19 drives digital transformation in health care
November 12, 2020 · HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT · ALUMNI · STUDENT

COVID-19 drives digital transformation in health care

Knowledge Labs: In the Know with Gillian Mulvale
November 9, 2020 · HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT · RESEARCH

Knowledge Labs: In the Know with Gillian Mulvale

DeGroote School of Business DeGroote School of Business Logo
DeGroote Instagram logo DeGroote Linkedin logo DeGroote Facebook logo DeGroote YouTube Logo DeGroote TikTok Logo
DeGroote Menu

  • Programs
  • About DeGroote
  • Events
  • Student Resources
  • Staff Resources
  • Alumni Resources
  • Give
  • DeGroote Directory
  • Contact Us
  • Faculty & Research  
Hamilton Campus

DeGroote School of Business
McMaster University

1280 Main Street West

Hamilton, Ontario
L8S 4M4
Burlington Campus

DeGroote School of Business
Ron Joyce Centre

4350 South Service Road

Burlington, Ontario
L7L 5R8
AACSB Logo

McMaster University is committed to providing websites that are accessible to the widest possible audience.  

If you require any content on this website in an alternate format, please contact dsbweb@mcmaster.ca and we will respond promptly.

DeGroote Online Privacy Policy

McMaster Brighter World Logo McMaster University - Brighter World Logo
Contact McMaster McMaster Terms & Conditions McMaster Privacy Policy
Secret Link