CAREER GUIDANCE FROM LAKISHA HARRIS, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN WASHINGTON D.C., USA

                                Lakisha can be reached on Twitter via [ @lakishaharris  ]
 
1) What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with? The people that I hang out with are optimistic, consistent, trustworthy, goal-oriented, and resourceful.

2) What do you do?
I am currently working full-time on my Doctor of Public Health degree with a concentration in Epidemiology. I am also working as a Clinical Data Manager for a Contract Research Organization (CRO), in support of a government agency.

3) Why do you do what you do?
In terms of my education, in order to affect positive global health changes, I am pursuing this level of education to further solidify my foundational knowledge of public health principles. Global health issues are multi-dimensional. In addition to experience, it is my belief that an advanced level of education is paramount to effectively address issues that affect the world that we live in. In terms of my current profession, I do what I do to aid in the prevention of diseases.

4) Is this where you thought you would end up?
Regarding my education, it wasn’t until I was nearing the completion of my Master of Public Health degree that I began to more strongly consider obtaining a terminal degree in public health. After graduation with my master’s degree, there was somewhat of a “void” and a desire to simply learn more. So, I decided to further my studies and here I am … very close to earning my Doctor of Public Health degree. With regards to my current position, I never thought that I would end up being a Clinical Data Manager – I actually love what I do! I get an opportunity to affect positive public health objectives.

5) What values are you committed to?
I am committed to integrity, respect, duty, personal courage, and leadership.

6) How many hours do you work in a typical week?
With work and school combined, I work 50-60 hours per week.

7) What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?
The skills that are required in my position are patience, efficiency, resilience, perseverance, and team work.

8) Are there any negatives to your job?
The processes of clinical data management are quite extensive. But, the bigger picture is my motivation.

9) What is the background of most senior-level executives in your SBCC circles?
The background of most senior levels are years of experience and adaptability to change.

10) What do you wish you knew at our stage? (IE: Entry-level SBCC practitioners)
As someone who has recently begun a public health career, I wish I knew a public health mentor.

11) What is the best piece of professional advice you've ever received -- and used or implemented?
The best professional advice that I’ve ever received was to always know where to get information.

12) If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would not do anything differently if I could do it all over again. Every experience always teaches something valuable and can be potentially applied anywhere.

13) What should keep entry-level SBCC enthusiasts up at night?
What should keep enthusiasts up at night is whether the efforts that are being put forth are geared towards helping others.

14) Are there any professional associations or societies that you have taken up membership with?
I am a current member of the Society for International Development. I am also former members of the American Public Health Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

15) What mistakes have you made?
Thankfully, I have made a lot of “good” mistakes. My mistakes have provided life-long wisdom.

16) What one thing do you still struggle with?
I am overcoming the struggle of balancing too much at one time. Doing a few things at a time is more productive than doing several at a time.

17) What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise?
The traits that impress me the most are the ability to lead a multifunctional team and the courage to motivate positive outcomes and behaviors.

18) What are the top 7 technical skills that entry-level SBCC enthusiasts should strive to hone?
Technology, software, research, intuitiveness, interpersonal, flexibility, and adaptability are what SBCC enthusiasts should strive for.

19) Considering all the people you have met in your line of work, what personal attributes are essential for success?
For the most part, transparency and integrity are attributes which are essential for success.

20) What's the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job?
The employee and employer must have a mutual exchange of sort.

21) What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
My most rewarding accomplishment was to lead a health fair event and to lead a ceremony in a national event.

22) What developments in the horizon could affect future career opportunities in this field?
Unknown strains of infectious diseases could affect career opportunities in public health.

23) Can you recommend a "must-read" book that will help us broaden our skills as working professionals or inspire us to reach our highest potential?
“Who moved my cheese?” by Spencer Johnson is a “must-read” book for working professionals.

24) As a communicator, if you could write a book on a social issue; what would it be and why?
I would write a book on global efforts to completely eliminate the stigma associated with a positive Human Immunodeficiency Virus diagnosis.

25) Which other SBCC maven would you recommend for this interview?
I would recommend AIDS United. I follow them on Twitter @AIDS_United and receive great communications.

26) What's the most valuable question we should ask the next SBCC maven who is interviewed on this blog?
How they feel their communications have impacted others?

 END//

CAREER GUIDANCE FROM CARMEN CRONIN, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN KAMPALA, UGANDA

                                Carmen can reached on email via [ ccronin88@gmail.com ]
                                                              Photo credit: Viktor Pauer
 
1) What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with?
I look for people who are curious about the world around them, aren’t afraid to try new things, laugh heartily, and are genuine.

2) What do you do?
I am currently a U.S. Fulbright Student based in Kampala, Uganda where I am conducting formative research with out-of-school adolescent girls on the topic of menstruation. I’m also working with a few other local organizations to provide monitoring and evaluation technical guidance. 

3) Why do you do what you do?
A colleague of mine once said, communication is the currency of everyday life and I couldn’t agree more. My research leverages and experiments with participatory research methods to create space for communication to be a vehicle of empowerment, a driver of individual and social change, and a mechanism to recognize and validate the voices, opinions, and rights of marginalized groups (e.g. children and adolescents).     

4) Is this where you thought you would end up?
No, for the longest time I wanted to become a pediatrician. It was only after I spent a few months in Rwanda doing health promotion work that I realized a career in public health offered more opportunities to study the socio-cultural determinants shaping individual and collective health. In my masters program, I learned about the art and science of health communication and gained a solid foundation in research methods, and now I combine the two in my day-to-day work. 

5) How many hours do you work in a typical week?
A lot, but don’t we all?

6) What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?
· Creative thinking
· Adaptability
· Attention to detail
· Self-discipline

7) Are there any negatives to your job?
Good quality research takes time and money. All too often donors and partners want quality research, but done quickly and at a bargain price. It can be hard to work within those parameters, find the right compromise, or convince donors and partners of the value of investing in research, monitoring, and evaluation. 

8) What is the background of most senior-level executives in your SBCC circles?
Most of them have a PhD in either communication or public health.

9) What should keep entry-level SBCC enthusiasts up at night?
SBCC enthusiasts should stay up at night thinking about whether they’ve asked the right questions, crafted the right message for their intended audience, and in what ways their work is propelling the field of communication forward.

10) What professional organizations are you associated with, and in what ways?
I’m a member of the American Public Health Association, the Society for Public Health Education, and the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, and an associate for Rain Barrel Communications.

11) What mistakes have you made?
Too many to list, but that’s part of learning.

12) What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise?
I am impressed by individuals who have integrity, a hard work ethic, take the time to mentor others, and never stop learning.

13) What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
I hope it’s still to come.

14) What developments in the horizon could affect future career opportunities in this field?
The newly adopted sustainable development goals will certainly shape the type of career opportunities and work available for SBCC scholars and practitioners.

15) Which other SBCC maven would you recommend for this interview?
Suruchi Sood, PhD, Associate Professor at Drexel University

16) What's the most valuable question we should ask the next SBCC maven who is interviewed on this blog?
In your work, how are you pushing the boundaries of SBCC? 

 END//

CAREER GUIDANCE FROM OBINNA CHUKWUEZIE, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN JOS, NIGERIA

                               Obinna can be reached on Twitter via [  @obinnachukwuzie ]

1) What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with?
I hang out with people who inspire and challenge me.

2) What do you do?
I do communications in all its entirety. I am the founder of Journalists Initiative for Youth Empowerment (Ji4Ye) based in Jos, Nigeria. (visit: www.ji4ye.org)

3) Why do you do what you do?
I like what I do.

4) Is this where you thought you would end up?
Not exactly, but I'm on track.

5) What values are you committed to?
Hardwork, Innovation, Personal and Youth Development

6) How many hours do you work in a typical week?
50 hours

7) What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis? Social media, Journalistic story-telling, Writing, Photography, Blogging

8) Are there any negatives to your job?
Deadlines

9) What is the background of most senior-level executives in your SBCC circles?
Communications

10) What do you wish you knew at our stage? (IE: Entry-level SBCC practitioners)
How to develop a communication strategy.

11) What is the best piece of professional advice you've ever received -- and used or implemented?
Apply conflict-sensitivity and gender-sensitivity in your SBCC.

12) If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Enlist the support of a mentor.

13) What should keep entry-level SBCC enthusiasts up at night?
How to ensure your messages move your target audeince from current behaviour to expected behaviour.

14) What professional organizations are you associated with, and in what ways?
Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Springboard (a platform for health communicators)

15) What mistakes have you made?
Not pre-testing message before going to press.

16) What one thing do you still struggle with?
Inability to completely put myself in the shoes of the target audience.

17) What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise?
Good knowledge of their area of expertise; Willingness to share and exchange knowledge

18) What are the top 7 technical skills that entry-level SBCC enthusiasts should strive to hone?
Writing; Social media; Ear for news (reporters instinct); Knowledge of the principles of communication; Audience analysis; Media relations

19) Considering all the people you have met in your line of work, what personal attributes are essential for success?
Openness and willingness to learn new things. There is always something new to learn.

20) What's the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job?
Keep preparing yourself because opportunity will always come. The tragegy is when it comes, and you are not ready.

21) What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
Nomination for CNN Multichoice African Journalists Award in 2012

22) What developments in the horizon could affect future career opportunities in this field?
There are more prospects in the field than before.

23) Can you recommend a "must-read" book that will help us broaden our skills as working professionals or inspire us to reach our highest potential?
Attend Webinars more.

24) As a communicator, if you could write a book on a social issue; what would it be and why?
Youth unemployment; Farming; Youth radicalisation

25) Which other SBCC maven would you recommend for this interview?
Zainab Laminde


 END//

CAREER GUIDANCE FROM GARY L. KREPS, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. METRO AREA, USA

                                   Gary can be reached on Twitter via [  @GaryLKreps  ]

1) What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with?  
I like to work with creative, intelligent, and cooperative folks who are committed to making a difference in the world. Luckily, I have wonderful colleagues!

2) What do you do? 
I study, write, and speak about the role of communication in promoting health and wellbeing. In my work I strive to promote informed and engaged health decision making, health risk prevention and early detection, effective health information dissemination, and collaboration in the delivery of care to enhance health outcomes.

3) Why do you do what you do?
I believe that strategic, culturally sensitive, and adaptive use of communication can improve health outcomes, reduce suffering, and enhance quality of life locally and globally. I try to provide the evidence base for guiding strategic health communication.

4) Is this where you thought you would end up?
I had no idea what I would be doing professionally, but I am very pleased with the path I have taken. I enjoy my work as a researcher, educator, writer, and speaker.

5) What values are you committed to? 
 I am committed to equity, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, and multi-methodological research rigor.

6) How many hours do you work in a typical week? 
My wife tells me I work all the time, planning my research, writing manuscripts, collecting data, advising students and mentees, keeping up with correspondence, participating in meetings, teaching, traveling, seeking research funding, reviewing manuscripts, etc. I probably spend most of my waking hours working (and perhaps some of my sleeping hours dreaming about my work too)!

7) What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?
Conceptual, analytic, interpersonal, writing, speaking, creativity, research design competencies, and resilience enable me to achieve my goals.

8) Are there any negatives to your job?
I enjoy my work, but I need to focus on maintaining a good work/life balance so I spend quality time with my family and promote my own health.

9) What is the background of most senior-level executives in your SBCC circles? 
Many of the people I work with have doctoral level and other advanced graduate level educations. However, they come from and live in many different parts of the world and have different ethnic, racial, generational, and cultural backgrounds.

10) What do you wish you knew at our stage? (IE: Entry-level SBCC practitioners)
I wish I knew how complicated it is to promote and sustain health behavior change. I also wish I knew how important it was to work collaboratively with different audiences and colleagues.

11)  What is the best piece of professional advice you've ever received -- and used or implemented?
Don't just jump in to a complex project. Take the time to seek input and carefully plan, evaluate, and adapt research and intervention strategies.

12) If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would take more time and not be in such a rush.

13) What should keep entry-level SBCC enthusiasts up at night? What are the critical social issues that need attention and how can these issues be best addressed?

14) What professional organizations are you associated with, and in what ways?
I work with a number of federal agencies in the US (the NIH, CDC, FDA, VA, AHRQ, HRSA, SAMHSA, etc.), foreign government agencies, health promotion organizations, health care delivery systems, corporations, public health departments, and foundations. I also participate in several professional societies such as the American Academy for Health Behavior, the Society for Participative Medicine, the National Communication Association, the International Communication Association, and others.

15) What mistakes have you made?
I've made many mistakes, but I try to learn from them. Most of my mistakes were based on not being more patient, reflective, and collaborative.

16) What one thing do you still struggle with?
I struggle with time management, work-life balance, and patience.

17) What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise? 
I appreciate receptivity, openness, candor, creativity, intelligence, and sense of humor.

18)  What are the top 7 technical skills that entry-level SBCC enthusiasts should strive to hone?
It is important to understand relevant theory, research methods, data analytic strategies, clear writing skills, good speaking and interpersonal skills, inquisitiveness, and listening skills.

19) What's the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job? 
Address important issues in methodologically sophisticated ways.

21) What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
I have enjoyed starting and nurturing important research and outreach programs such as the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), HINTS-China, the Global Advocacy Leadership Academy, the Health Communication and Informatics Research Branch at the National Cancer Institute, the PhD program in Health and Strategic Communication at George Mason University, and the Fairfax County Health Literacy Initiative.

22) What developments in the horizon could affect future career opportunities in this field?
The growth of digital information systems have provided important new channels for reaching different audiences with relevant, timely, interactive, adaptive, and actionable information for guiding decision making. There is tremendous need to design and implement these digital systems effectively to address important social issues.

23) Can you recommend a "must-read" book that will help us broaden our skills as working professionals or inspire us to reach our highest potential? 
I have been influenced by several books: Ev Rogers' The Diffusion of Innovations, and Karl Weick's The Social Psychology of Organizing.

24) As a communicator, if you could write a book on a social issue; what would it be and why?
I recently co-edited two books on important social issues; One was on using communication programs to reduce health disparities:

Dutta, M.J., & Kreps, G.L. (Eds). (2013). Reducing health disparities:  Communication Interventions. New York: Peter Lang Publishers.

and the other book was on promoting global health with communication:

Kim, D.K., Singhal, A., & Kreps, G.L. (Eds.).  (2013). Health communication: Strategies for developing global health programs. New York: Peter Lang Publishers. Publishers

I am writing a book now on promoting interdisciplinary teamwork in the delivery of health care.

25) Which other SBCC maven would you recommend for this interview?
I encourage you to contact my brilliant colleague Ed Maibach who directs the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University.

26) What's the most valuable question we should ask the next SBCC maven who is interviewed on this blog?
Who were the professionals who most influenced your work? For me it was Ev Rogers, Karl Weick, W. Charles Redding, Gerald M. Phillips, Thorrell Fest, and Barbara Rimer


END//

CAREER GUIDANCE FROM NDUMISO TSHUMA, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

                                        Ndumiso can be reached on Twitter via [ @nchphd ]

1) What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with?
Likeminded people, highly motivated people and hard working.

2) What do you do?
I’m a public health specialist, with an interest in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating health programmes. I hold a Programme Manager position at CARe (Community AIDS Response).

3) Why do you do what you do?
Passion drives what I do. This is coupled with seeing change in communities. 

4) Is this where you thought you would end up?
I must say opportunities drove me in this direction. I started volunteering and assisting senior researchers and public health specialists with a passion in behavior change. Then I grew to love the sector, and I invested my time and energy to learn more.

5) What values are you committed to?
Hard work, passion and team building.

6) How many hours do you work in a typical week?
I prefer not to say otherwise you will think I’m a workaholic.

7) What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?
Top of my list is conceptual skills, there is so much pressure to deliver and to drive change with limited financial and human resources, yet time is never allowing.

8) Are there any negatives to your job?
No matter how good the programme is, if the funding ends or the funding direction changes the programme gets to be abandoned. That makes me feel bad, especially during times when you can see the programme would have yielded results if there was an additional year or two.

9) What is the background of most senior-level executives in your SBCC circles?
It’s largely public health and nursing. Nursing being top on the list, some are from social work, doctors, nutrition and the rest are from other social sciences. 

10) What do you wish you knew at our stage? (IE: Entry-level SBCC practitioners)
Volunteering or doing some internship at a local NGO at an early stage of a career while waiting for other opportunities better prepares anyone for the industry.

11) What is the best piece of professional advice you've ever received -- and used or implemented?
Believe in everyone around you, believe in your teams, motivate your teams and build the career of everyone around you. There is always a diamond in everyone you come in contact with and ideas on programme designs and behavior change can be born out of the people you least expect. 

12) If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Invest more time in assisting other people build their network and careers.

13) What should keep entry-level SBCC enthusiasts up at night?
The numbers of projects they have contributed to and the change models or strategies that they have been involved in. They need to be on a look out for opportunities to keep them busy and build their career. The more people they interact with the better.

14) What professional organizations are you associated with, and in what ways?
I interact a lot with guys from various academic institutions, non-governmental organisations and public health professional organisations. Most of my interactions involve research collaboration, lecturing, mentoring, programme reviews and assisting with the design of behavior changes programmes.

15) What mistakes have you made?
Not sharing my publications early enough or making them available to other behavior change professionals. It is so important to share research findings and to document all the work one does in social and behavior change communication. No matter how small the findings are, there is a need to document and share them.

16) What one thing do you still struggle with?
Dealing with toxic people or negative people especially when it comes to generating new ideas and driving SBCC programme innovation. Toxic people defy logic. Some are blissfully unaware of the negative impact that they have on those around them, and others seem to derive satisfaction from creating chaos and pushing other people’s buttons. That I struggle with.

17) What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise?
Hard working, passionate and self-driven individuals

18) What are the top 7 technical skills that entry-level SBCC enthusiasts should strive to horn?
Key skills are: Listening, writing and research

19) Considering all the people you have met in your line of work, what personal attributes are essential for success?
The most successful have been those who assist others build their career and those that collaborate with interns and help build them. Key to social behavior change has been the ability to understand the needs of the communities.

20) What's the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job? 
First know what makes you tick, what is your area of interest and as you work or volunteer try to look for the opportunity to do what you like even if your current task don’t prescribe that you do it.

21) What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
Assisting upcoming volunteers and interns find their feet in the field of public health and providing a broader understanding of behavior change.

22) What developments in the horizon could affect future career opportunities in this field?
Social and Behaviour Change Communication will always be a vehicle through which programmes are implemented and I forsee its growth and a lot more opportunities.

23) Can you recommend a "must-read" book that will help us broaden our skills as working professionals or inspire us to reach our highest potential?
It’s a bit difficult to make a general recommendation, considering how broad the field is. I would rather make tailored recommendations dependent on individual interested and the career direction they are planning to take.

24) As a communicator, if you could write a book on a social issue; what would it be and why?
A lot has come to my mind on this one. I have been toying around a lot of ideas and some of them have been on stigma and discrimination relating to HIV. I think it is one area that still drives the HIV pandemic.

END//

CAREER GUIDANCE FROM LAWRENCE SWIADER, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN WASHINGTON D.C., USA

                               Lawrence can be reached on Twitter via [ @lawrenceswiader ]
 
1) What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with?
Great question! The qualities I look for depend upon the circumstances of the hang out. For example, I’m a tennis player and in my player-partners, I look for people who are passionate about the game, who are able to pretend that “it all matters so much” while we’re playing, and who are good-natured and good sports. In the people I hang out with for dinner I look for people who are good listeners, interested in the world around them, and who are fun. Creativity is a quality that spans many of the types of people with whom I hang out. I adore creative people who are always searching and, like me, are still seeking what they want to be when they grow up.

2) What do you do?
I am the VP of Digital Media at the << National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy >>. I have spent my career studying the intersection of technology, media, education, and how it can better people's lives. In my current role, I lead digital programs that make use of new media to change the reproductive health behaviors of young adults in the U.S. For ten years before that, I used technology as a tool to teach about the history of the Holocaust and to motivate people to act to end contemporary genocide. My most recent project is the << Innovation Next Awards >> set up to fund innovations using technology towards teen pregnancy prevention. We are accepting applications until January 31, 2016.

3) Why do you do what you do?
I do what I do because I am privileged to work for a cause I believe in and have purpose in my work. Most important, I can see the effects of my work.

4) Is this where you thought you would end up?
I haven’t “ended up” anywhere! Twenty years ago, I wouldn’t have thought, necessarily, that I would have been working in reproductive health but certainly I thought—hoped—that I’d be working in education and helping people in some capacity.

5) What values are you committed to?
The first value that comes to mind is “opportunity.” I think so much is possible when people are given an opportunity to make the most of themselves. Sadly, we have far to go to provide good opportunities for everyone.

6) How many hours do you work in a typical week?
Digital media makes long work weeks possible. That’s a double-edged sword. I work, play a bit, eat, and spend time with my family. Rinse and repeat. I’m a creature of habit and kind of like that, to be honest. To answer your question, I’d say that I work about 50 hours a week on average.

7) What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?
I am lucky to count on both of my degrees from university (Syracuse University) in communications and education every day. My communications degree helps me form messages in textual and visual form for a variety of channels—and direct the work of others who do that too. My education degree instructional design helps me understand and look closely to see what behavioral barriers exist (what’s the performance gap) and design solutions with the right tools for specific audiences.

8) Are there any negatives to your job?
None.

9) What is the background of most senior-level executives in your SBCC circles?
Because I work in public health, I would say that most senior-level people have a Master’s of Public Health, Health, or Health Communications background. From a wider view, I think the filed has a healthy mix of people with a variety of backgrounds. I think diverse teams are needed to solve difficult problems.

10) What do you wish you knew at our stage? (IE: Entry-level SBCC practitioners)
I wish I knew the value of any sort of observation, assessment, or evaluation. It’s always easy to sit in your office but field work is so, so important and much easier than we think. To have the words and actions of the audiences you are trying to serve in close proximity is so, so valuable.

11) What is the best piece of professional advice you've ever received -- and used or implemented?
Following up on the last question, the best piece of advice I have received—and try to act on daily—is to meet your audience where they are. Empathize. Do it often. And speak your mind on behalf of the audience—even in the face if dissent—because you are their voice.

12) If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Honestly, nothing. I have no regrets.

13) What should keep entry-level SBCC enthusiasts up at night?
Their audience. Have they spent enough time with them? Are their insights a result of good observations rather than group-think in focus group settings?

14) What professional organizations are you associated with, and in what ways?
I am associated with information technology groups because my work depends so much on tech. Other group topics include social marketing/behavior change, human-centered design, creative design, tech-for-good groups, including international development, marketing and advertising, and art/museums. I most attend meetings, but often make presentations.

15) What mistakes have you made?
Too many to list here! My mistakes have mostly been productive.

16) What one thing do you still struggle with?
I’m a big-picture person so I struggle with the details at times. I’m lucky to work with a lot of detail-oriented people! On a different note, when you are involved in a long-running program I sometimes struggle with the balance between the day-to-day activities and leading change according to a knowledge of the audience and intended outcomes. Sometimes, there can be “drift” as you work on a program. It is important to keep the outcomes in mind always and challenge yourself: is this activity contributing to behavior change? It’s okay for the answer to be, “I don’t know,” but you should at least have a strong hypothesis as to why you are doing that work—it should fit into the logic model somewhere.

17) What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise?
I’m impressed by kind, open, creative people. Soft skills go a long way and when you see the people you work with more than your family, that’s important!

18) What are the top 7 technical skills that entry-level SBCC enthusiasts should strive to horn?

• Know your audience well. Learn to observe. Learn to listen. Articulate your expected outcomes well (practice writing goals and objectives).
• Know the research and who came before you. Understand the barriers they faced and the successes they had.
• Learn a lot about the tools that are available—but don’t select them too soon.
• Practice writing. You need good writing for everything!
• Also practice telling stories with pictures. It is so important in the social media age, but also cuts across cultures and literacy levels.
• Learn how to assess your work. Any assessment, no matter how small, or when it occurs, is good. And as Peter Drucker said, “what’s measured, improves.”
• Be kind to those around you.

19) Considering all the people you have met in your line of work, what personal attributes are essential for success?
I really have to highlight soft skills. Be positive and kind. Don’t say “sorry” when you mean “thank you.” Say thank you a lot.

20) What's the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job?
Do what you love. When you are not watching the clock—which is what happens when you do what you love—you can put in your “10,000 hours” and become an expert.

21) What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
Building << Bedsider.org >> with an awesome team and participating in its evaluation which showed it works! In addition, my work at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum raising awareness to the Darfur genocide was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

(This is a link to the evaluation of Bedsider: << http://providers.bedsider.org/pages/bedsider-evaluation-results >>.)

22) What developments in the horizon could affect future career opportunities in this field?
New technology is changing everything. How will the “Internet of things” provide opportunities to eat better, provide opportunities, and help people live healthier lives? 

23) Can you recommend a "must-read" book that will help us broaden our skills as working professionals or inspire us to reach our highest potential?
Oh, my, there are so many! For inspiration, I recommend reading anything Seth Godin has written. To challenge your assumptions about human behavior, check out Dan Ariely. To contemplate the world’s philosophical wisdom read Jonathan Haidt’s great book, The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom. On the topic of human-centered design and behavior change, I recommend Dilip Soman’s new book, The Last Mile, and Doug McKenzie-Mohr’s Fostering Sustainable Behavior: An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing—both great reads for people new to the field. Last, to catch up on the possibilities of the Internet of Things, check out Code Halos: How the Digital Lives of People, Things, and Organizations are Changing the Rules of Business, co-written by my good friend, Paul Roehrig. The ideas in the book can be applied easily to non-profits.

24) As a communicator, if you could write a book on a social issue; what would it be and why?
If I could write a book on a social issue right now, I would probably focus on what I know and focus on the importance of parents in the healthy sex lives of their children. That sentence scares a lot of people because parents don’t like to think of their (young) children and sexual beings. But they make much better decisions when conversation is free-flowing and parents are present in their sexual health lives. A second book might be about preserving culture—specifically, the culture of Greece (my second home) of the last thousand years.

25) Which other SBCC maven would you recommend for this interview?
I would like to nominate Michael Edson, Associate Director/Head of Digital at United Nations Live, Museum for Humanity. Michael’s work doesn’t fit neatly into traditional SBCC since people focus mainly on health outcomes but he is changing behavior through information and culture. I think he would have a lot to offer this community.

26) What's the most valuable question we should ask the next SBCC maven who is interviewed on this blog?
What inspires you?

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