NextGen Pathways

Your Journey Is Yours, Perfect or Not!

• B-Hawk Network • Episode 1

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 Your Pathway Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

In our very first episode, Adrianna England (Coach Adri) sits down with Keicha Brock, CSPM, CFER, MBA who reminds us that your career journey doesn’t have to be flawless—it just has to be yours. With discipline, adaptability, and integrity, you can rise to the top of any field.

This episode also highlights an often-overlooked career opportunity: Sterile Processing. With training complete, students can step into this essential healthcare role earning $18–$22 per hour ($37,000–$45,000 annually) right out of school. That’s a real career with a real impact, and it can be the start of an incredible journey in healthcare.

Every episode of Next Gen Pathways will bring you powerful stories, practical insights and encouragement to help you discover your future.

NextGen Pathways  podcast is sponsored by Innovative Radiology and produced by the B-Hawk Network, in partnership with Elevate HTM, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Hosted by Coach Adri
“Your future is bigger than your fear, and your pathway is waiting.”

Adrianna:

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the very first episode of the Next Gen Pathways Podcast. I'm your host, Adriana England, but you can call me Coach Adri. This show was created to shine a light on healthcare careers that often go unnoticed, but are absolutely vital. Our goal is simple to inspire the next generation to see possibilities, discover their passions, and build pathways into the future. And we're starting strong with our very first guest, Ms. Keisha Brock, a U.S. Air Force veteran, CEO of Eyes to Sea Management and Consultants, and a 30-year leader in serial processing and operating room management. She's here to share her journey of discipline, integrity, perseverance, and to show us why following your passion can open doors you've never imagined. So whether you're a student trying to figure out what's next or just curious about hidden careers in healthcare, you're in the right place. Let's get into it.

Keicha:

I am the CEO of ICC Management and Consultants, and we are a consultant firm that comes into a facility and look at your stale processing and operating room logistics and look at ways that we can improve things and how we can make things better for our patients. I've been in this field for about 30 years, managing operating rooms and stale processing management.

Adrianna:

Nice. So you say you've been in this room. I believe you grew up in New Orleans, is that correct?

Keicha:

Actually, no. I went to school during my senior year in New Orleans, but I actually grew up in Pontiac, Michigan.

Adrianna:

Nice. Well, when you were in high school, did you already know what you wanted to do with your life? Actually, no.

Keicha:

I thought I had an idea, but I really didn't. I um started off in college as a pre-med student. Thought I wanted to be a physician, and then I went to pharmacy school. And from there, I went into the military. So I had no idea what it is that I wanted to do.

Adrianna:

Well, I want to thank you for your service. And I believe you served in the Air Force, correct?

Keicha:

Yes, correct. Thank you.

Adrianna:

Of course. Well, what's one lesson from that time that still helps you today?

Keicha:

Being disciplined in order to keep being disciplined and being able to keep your focus and being adaptable, being able to adapt to change. That is two um two things that have really led to my success: being adaptable and um able to discipline myself so that I can focus on my goals.

Adrianna:

Nice. Are you doing that at home, office, and anywhere else you go?

Keicha:

Everywhere I go, I use those two um characteristics to everything that I do. I focus and I discipline myself.

Adrianna:

Very relatable. Okay, so most students know about doctors and nurses. Most don't know about the sterile process. Can you explain in simple words why it's important for patients?

Keicha:

Well, what we do is a lot of people are not really don't realize. They look at the physicians, they see nurses in the operating room, but they don't realize that there is someone that needs to put together the instruments. So sterile processing are professionals that actually look at the decontamination, sterilization of the instruments and equipment that is used on any type of sterile procedure that you're doing within the facility. And we are responsible for making sure that those instruments are organized, processed correctly, and they get to their end users when they need them.

Adrianna:

Wow, a lot of behind the scenes that we don't know about. And the more we talk about it, um, the more we can highlight it in your field.

Keicha:

Great.

Adrianna:

So every student faces setbacks. Um, what's one challenge that you personally had to push through and how'd you keep yourself motivated?

Keicha:

Early on in my career, once I um was once I got out of the military, focusing on school because I had not finished school and being able to work full-time and go to school, that was a challenge for me. Um I want I didn't want to, uh I didn't exactly know what I wanted to do, but being able to focus and be in school. And someone gave me an opportunity. They allowed me to work full-time and go to school and work around my schooling, and they only asked me to play it forward for someone else in the future.

Adrianna:

Nice. So education is super important for you, correct?

Keicha:

Yes, it is.

Adrianna:

Awesome. I love that. I'm a coach myself, and I definitely push education, athletics, um, kind of goes hand in hand.

Keicha:

Great.

Adrianna:

So you're known for leading with integrity. Um, what does that mean to you and how can students practice this right now?

Keicha:

Just being honest and being upfront. Um, I deal with a lot of physicians. I talk to a lot of professionals and physicians, and sometimes they'll ask you a question or they'll ask you something about what they need. And it's just a lot easier just to be honest and upfront and then have a uh backup plan, but just being honest and upfront so that they you you gain their trust. And once you gain their trust, they'll say, okay, well, look, if Keisha said it, this is what it should be, because you're leading with integrity. So I've been known to, I'm just up front. Hey, we can do this, uh, we can't do this, um, let's try this instead. And so now they know if it's something that I can do, we'll do it. If it's not, I'm up front with them and honest and tell them whether or not we can do it.

Adrianna:

Nice. Well, I appreciate that. Integrity and transparency are also one of my characteristics. So I love that. Thanks for sharing. Um, so for students who are listening and maybe are unsure about their future, uh what's one step that they can take today to move closer to success?

Keicha:

Take a step back and realize that they don't have to make a decision today. Think about what their passion is and what's something that they're really passionate about, what makes their heart beat a little faster, something that they love. If they're trying to do something that they love, they'll be more successful about it. But just take a step back and think about it and know that they don't have to make a decision today.

Adrianna:

Nice. I love that. Okay, so you've gone from New Orleans High School student to a CEO of your own company. What message do you want students here to walk away with today?

Keicha:

Don't allow anyone to dissuade you from your dreams. There will be a lot of naysayers out here telling you that you can't do it, that it's too hard. But just keep focused and keep persevering and pressing forward, and you can attain it. It's going to be hard. You're gonna come up um against obstacles, but just take one little bite at a time, one little step at a time, and you will persevere and be successful.

Adrianna:

So cool. I love that. And I hope everybody listening um understands integrity first. So thank you so much, Keisha.

Keicha:

You're welcome.

Adrianna:

Wow, what a powerful way to kick off Next Gen Pathways Podcast. A huge thank you to Miss Keisha Brock for reminding us that your pathway doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be yours. With discipline, adaptability, and integrity, you can create opportunities to rise to the top of any field. And here's something important for all students listening. Sterile processing is a career you can step into sooner than you think. After completing SPD school, starting pay is around $18 to $22 per hour. That's about $37,000 to $45,000 a year right out of training. That's a real career with a real impact, and it can be the beginning of an incredible journey in healthcare. This is just the beginning. Every podcast of Next Gen Pathways will bring you stories, insights, and encouragement to help you discover your own future. I'm Coach Adri, reminding you your future is bigger than your fear, and your pathway is waiting.

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Adrianna England

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