Name and how long you have been in the industry?
Kelly Thakkar and I’ve been in the industry for 6 years. Fun fact: my last name is pronounced Tuck-ker
Short background bio – How did you get into the industry? Anything that drew you in?
Prior to working for J2S, I worked at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for 7 years. Ironically, in 2018 when I was searching for new opportunities, I stumbled upon J2S when catching up with one of my former interns whom I had worked with at the hospital. HTM? Biomedical Engineering? Replacement parts? I didn’t know any of it! But I was hungry to learn and after an initial interview with the J2S team, I knew it was a growing industry with lots of career potential and J2S offered the right environment to grow.
What milestones or contributing factors helped elevate you to where you are today?
Aside from the learning opportunities and support offered by J2S, I believe my ability to learn on the fly, ask questions (silly or not) and lean into those around me has continued to support my growth. Additionally, I have served on the Kentucky Association for Medical Instrumentation board for multiple years and built strong relationships with others in the field – technicians and vendors alike.
What roadblocks did you have to overcome?
Unsurprisingly, the biggest roadblock was building product knowledge! There is an endless amount of equipment, and it seems like every make/model/part goes by multiple names. Additionally, the J2S family suffered a terrible loss with the recent passing of our Director of Sales, friend, and mentor, Sarah Stem.
What do you feel makes a great leader in this industry?
I believe the best leaders take a customer centric approach, possess a willingness to build strong relationships, and focus on learning from and empowering those around them.
What advice do you have for the other women in HTM?
Never hesitate to introduce yourself, ask questions, and be heard.