Leadership Greater Topeka | Tiffany Liesmann
Photo by BRADEN DIMICK
What do you love most about your work?
I have spent many years working as a pharmacist, and what I enjoyed most in a traditional pharmacy setting was helping my patients understand their medicines, because that led to them feeling better and living a better life. While I no longer provide direct patient care, the work I do as a pharmacist at BCBSKS still connects our members with access to those medicines that provide peace of mind and improve their health.
We talk about affordability every day and actively pursue solutions to keep the cost of healthcare affordable for Kansans. I work with our team on efforts that result in thousands of prescriptions processing through our benefits every day without a hitch. When a member needs direct help, I get satisfaction in helping to resolve an issue that ultimately connects our member with their medicine. Providing members access to medicines that improve their quality of life aligns with my values as a pharmacist, and it’s just one of the many things I love about the work I do at BCBSKS.
What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
Funny. I am by no means a class clown, but I enjoy making others smile and laugh in life. My sense of humor can be subtle, and I enjoy throwing out an obscure reference to see who cracks a smile. I find humor in the smallest things and love sharing laughs with others.
What’s the last series you binge-watched?
The Great British Bake Off. Watching all the crazy-talented bakers encourage and support each other week after week is refreshing.
How have you evolved and grown during your career?
In a previous job, I had a manager who told me to keep my head down, do my work, and actually encouraged against taking management positions. I used to be satisfied with completing my daily work and going home. As I grew in my career, I felt the need to challenge myself more. I feel blessed to now work for BCBSKS, a company that encourages growth and progress and even considers it a core value for employees. I now take advantage of professional development programs offered at work, and enjoy not only working on my own development, but serving as a mentor to others in their pursuit of growth. I take on challenges, both personally and professionally, to ensure that I’m stepping outside of my comfort zone on a regular basis.
What is one piece of advice that has served you well in your journey and who did you get it from?
“Strive for excellence, not perfection.” I had a teacher pass along this advice. She taught me that perfection is an impossible standard to achieve, and a lot of time is wasted trying to make something perfect. Aiming for perfection is a way to do an amazing job at something and still find something you did wrong. Excellence is an attainable standard that will set you up for success without setting you up to feel like you failed. This advice has helped me alleviate a lot of stress in life by recognizing when I’ve done an excellent job and not spending the extra time worrying about making everything perfect.
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for my family, my friends, and for every day that I wake up and am given another day to enjoy this life that I have been given.
What do you do for fun?
My goal is to pick up my guitar for at least 5 minutes every day because it often turns into longer than 5 minutes of playing and having fun. While I’m not particularly great, I enjoy getting lost in the music and finding ways to get better every day.
What superhuman ability would you want?
I enjoy traveling, and I do not enjoy having to stop for gas, so I would love to have the ability to teleport. I could travel anywhere at any time and enjoy all the extra free time I saved by teleporting there.
Click here to go back to Leadership Greater Topeka | Class of 2023
