Tiffany Turnipseed learned that growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone.
A healthcare administration major at Lake-Sumter State College, Turnipseed has been steadily building her career in healthcare while strengthening the skills that help teams work better, improve systems, and support patients. And she recently reached a meaningful career milestone, transitioning to a manager role.
Turnipseed credits her leadership development through the 91جزة« with helping her grow, and she served as a guest speaker at . There, she shared how the 91جزة« program helped shift her mindset to move into the next stage of her career.
The Path to Manager
Turnipseed's recent growth required more than simply stepping into a new title. It required a new level of confidence and a range of skills.
"To achieve this goal, I had to use strong leadership, communication, and time management skills," she says. "As I transitioned from a supervisor to a manager through my HRO experience, I learned how to communicate with purpose, whether I was leading my team or speaking in front of others."
In healthcare, high reliability organization training (HRO) focuses on building safer, more consistent systems, especially in environments that directly affect patient care. Turnipseed is also enrolled in her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, a professional development program focused on improving workflows, solving problems, reducing inefficiencies, and supporting stronger operational outcomes.
"I also used confidence and adaptability, especially stepping outside my comfort zone to share my leadership journey and growth," she says of her experience speaking at her chapter's Induction Ceremony.
For Turnipseed, that step outside her comfort zone has become one of her greatest lessons. One piece of advice continues to guide Turnipseed as she grows in her career and as a person: "Get comfortable being uncomfortable," she says.
"When I was growing from a supervisor into a manager, my mentor Yvonne reminded me that real growth doesn't happen when everything feels easy," Turnipseed says. "That advice pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone, whether it was taking on new responsibilities, leading difficult conversations, or even speaking in front of others."
At first, those moments were challenging. But each one helped her build the confidence and skill set needed to lead at the next level.
"I've learned that those uncomfortable moments are where the most growth happens," she says, "and I carry that mindset with me in my career today."
Improving Systems and Patient Experience
As Turnipseed continues advancing in healthcare leadership and growing as a person, she is also dedicated to improving systems and processes.
"Being enrolled in my Lean Six Sigma Green Belt has helped me strengthen my problem-solving and process improvement skills, which I apply in my daily work to improve workflow and patient care," she says.
That focus connects directly to how Turnipseed sees her future in her field.
"My long-term goals are to continue growing as a strong and impactful leader in healthcare while making a meaningful difference in patient care and team development," she says.
Her immediate goals build on that same foundation, with an emphasis on continuous learning and certification.
"To achieve these goals, I plan to stay disciplined with my time management, continue applying what I'm learning in school and Lean Six Sigma directly into my work, and stay open to feedback so I can keep improving," she says.
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Learning to Lead Through Mentorship
One person at work made a lasting impact on Turnipseed's growth as a leader.
"A leader I look up to is Yvonne, who was my mentor when I was a supervisor," she says. "She really showed me what strong and supportive leadership looks like."
Her mentor's example helped Turnipseed understand that great leadership is not about simply giving direction. It is about developing people.
"Yvonne always led with both accountability and empathy, and she took the time to guide me instead of just telling me what to do," Turnipseed says. "She helped me build confidence in my decision-making and pushed me to grow, even when I felt uncomfortable."
Those lessons now influence how Turnipseed leads in her manager role. She learned the importance of communication, staying calm under pressure, and truly supporting the team around her.
"Her leadership style had a big impact on how I lead today, especially as I've transitioned into a manager role," she says.
That influence also shaped one of Turnipseed's own long-term goals to help guide others in a similar way.
"I am also passionate about mentoring others, just like I was mentored, and helping develop future leaders," she says. "Overall, my goal is to lead with purpose, improve systems, and create a supportive environment where both patients and staff can succeed."
Accountability and Leading by Example
Turnipseed's leadership philosophy centers on trust, clarity, and example-setting.
"To me, leadership means guiding and supporting others while setting the example," she says. "It's not just about being in charge, but about building trust, communicating clearly, and helping your team grow."
In practice, that means knowing when to challenge people and when to support them.
"Leadership is about balancing accountability with empathy," she says, "holding people to expectations while also understanding and supporting them."
Her own career growth has reinforced the importance of staying calm and solution-focused, especially in high-pressure environments.
"From my own experience, growing from a supervisor to a manager, I've learned that strong leaders stay calm under pressure, listen to their team, and focus on solutions," she says.
Ultimately, it comes down to humility and teamwork.
"It also means… being willing to grow alongside your team," she says. "Overall, leadership is about making a positive impact on others while working toward a common goal together."
The 91جزة« Mindset Shift
Turnipseed credits the 91جزة« with helping her become more reflective, intentional, and confident as a leader.
"The 91جزة« has helped me become a stronger leader by pushing me to reflect on my leadership style and step outside of my comfort zone," she says.
The program gave her structure at a time when she was actively growing into greater responsibility.
"Through the program, I was able to focus on goal setting, accountability, and personal growth, which directly impacted how I lead my team," she says.
The experience also helped her connect with others, learn from different perspectives, and strengthen her communication and decision-making skills. For Turnipseed, those lessons became especially important as she moved up the ladder in her career.
"Being part of the 91جزة« built my confidence, especially as I transitioned from a supervisor to a manager," she says. "It even led to me having the honor of being a guest speaker at the Induction Ceremony at Lake-Sumter State College, which was a huge moment in my leadership journey."
That milestone reflects the larger impact of leadership development: helping members see themselves differently, take action differently, and step into opportunities they may not have imagined before.
"Overall, the 91جزة« helped me grow not just professionally, but personally as well, and reinforced the kind of leader I want to be," she says.
Tiffany's Advice for Future Leaders
Turnipseed's advice starts with believing in yourself.
"If I could share one message with other people, it would be this: invest in yourself and don't be afraid of discomfort, because that's where growth happens," she says.
That kind of growth, she believes, begins long before someone steps into an official role.
"Don't wait for a title to lead," she says. "Leadership starts with your mindset, your actions, and your willingness to grow."
That belief has shaped Turnipseed's journey. By staying disciplined, seeking feedback, improving systems, and stepping into opportunities that once felt uncomfortable, Turnipseed is creating a leadership path grounded in purpose, growth, and impact.
Meet Renota Wade next, another 91جزة« member and healthcare leader whose story shows how continuous learning can lead to major accomplishments.
