The importance of your purpose: Kiki’s journey from Respiratory Therapist to Chief Operating Officer

Kiki Ferrari, Chief Operating Officer (COO), has been at Osler for over 13 years. Her warm demeanour and can-do attitude are only a small part of what makes her an influential and passionate female leader.

We caught up with Kiki to learn about her journey through health care, her leadership style, and her purpose, which determines many of the decisions she makes to ensure our patients receive the care they need.

Let’s start from the beginning. Why did you decide to go into health care?

It started when I was quite young. But it was two-fold: I was a big math geek and had this vision of myself sitting at a big glass desk in the city as a businesswoman, but also really liked the sciences and the idea of helping others.

When I entered university I still wasn’t quite sure how these passions would play out. I learned about respiratory therapy from a friend who was going through the program to become a Respiratory Therapist (RT) and thought it would be a great opportunity. It turned out to be a great decision and the start of my journey and passion for health care. I wanted my patients to have the best care and thought the greatest way to do it was to get involved. It was very purposeful for me.

So you started out as an RT. From this first role, what made you interested in leadership?

During the first several years of my RT career, I found myself getting involved in different initiatives after my shifts. What really gave me the itch to work in a leadership position was an initiative I worked on when I first started out.

As an RT, I was often moving between units and would hear patients calling for their nurses who were assisting other patients. I thought there was a better way to communicate and I introduced the use of mobile telephones that were integrated to the call bell at the bedside. This is common practice today, but back in the mid-nineties, it was groundbreaking.

So then, how did your journey progress from there?

It was actually a very slow journey and I most certainly never had a plan to be a COO. I continued to get involved in quality improvement within the hospital and turned my passion into a career in leadership.

My first official lead role was as Charge Respiratory Therapist, which I applied for because everyone on my team told me I should! Everything from there was the result of good timing, a lot of hard work, fueled by my love of the work.

Have you had any women throughout your career help on your journey?

Absolutely. When I first came to Osler, I reported to Liz Buller, who was the Executive Vice President of Clinical Services at the time. She taught me about humanity in leadership and leading with compassion. With two very young children, I struggled with the balance of my heavy workload and home life, but she always reminded me that family comes first. This is something that I espouse with my own leadership team today.

Liz gave me a lot of great advice and she was an incredible mentor. She would say ‘there is no such thing as perfect balance’ - some days you’re going to have to be at work more and some days you’re going to have to focus more on your home life. It all evens out in the wash.

There are many other women whom I look up to, including my mother. She worked and cared for three children, but somehow made everything look so easy. I later found out how hard it really was! She continues to inspire and support me in my career and life journey.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention all the intelligent and caring women I work with on the Executive Team. I learn so much from them every day.

When speaking about balance of work and family, what have been some of the biggest challenges?

Sometimes I would go in as early as three-thirty in the morning to get my work done so my kids didn’t feel that I wasn’t there. This would allow me to pick them up from daycare and school at the regular times.

Keeping that balance has definitely been very challenging over the years and sometimes I haven’t gotten it right. At the beginning of the pandemic I was coming home very late and spending long days away from my family. They knew how important the work I was doing was and never complained, but I also learned that my presence is really the ultimate gift I can give to my children.

I wouldn’t change a thing about my career and I think I have learned a lot over time about making the time I spend with my family really count by really being present when we are together. We also work together as a family to make it work.

You spoke about mentorship you received. At this point in your career, do you aim to give the same to others?

I try to spend as much time as I can mentoring now, especially women. I do think it’s important to create leaders across all genders and I think I owe that back to the system - to pay forward was what was given to me. The advice, support, opportunities that made me the kind of leader that I am today.

Mentoring is really important to me - I never had a secret formula, but if I share what I’ve learned and it has an impact, that gives me a great feeling! What I say to everyone is if you work hard and are really passionate about what you do with your purpose in mind, anything is possible.

What is your purpose?

Five years ago, on March 8, I lost my sister to cancer, which makes International Women's Day bittersweet for me. It is ironic that she died on this day as everyone viewed her as a very strong woman. She passed after a quick battle with cancer, but not before I got a chance to experience challenges with the health care system, first-hand, while being her care-provider. I made a promise to her that I would work hard to make things better. She represents my current purpose: to make the system better for all patients. She is, I am sure, watching down smiling on the fact that we will be opening a new Cancer Centre in the near future.

For me, my job is about making sure the Osler team is cared for and feel at their best in order to do their best. I am also determined to make the health care system better: more accessible care with better continuity across the system.

What are some of the biggest pieces of advice you can share with young women interested in entering health care?

I have a few. First, don’t do anything you're not passionate about, and avoid taking on opportunities just for the title. Focus on doing work that speaks to your purpose, its where you’ll find the most meaning in your work and that in itself will take you places.

Second, you don’t have to have a title to be a leader and make a difference. Get involved in quality improvement. Start there! You will learn some leadership skills and find out if this is something you really want.

And lastly, if you’re faced with a big opportunity and feel just a little bit scared, I think that’s a good thing. Lean into it - you can do it!