News/Blog

Employee Spotlight - Tara Gankiewicz

What is your current role? How long have you worked for Halyard?

As the Senior Project Manager at Halyard for the last 4 months, I’ve been working on a large-scale hospital project in Philadelphia, supervising the client’s Project Controls Manager in a more administrative and organizational capacity. Typically, my primary responsibilities revolve around overseeing all scheduling and cost management to ensure the client’s needs are met 100%, while also prioritizing safety and quality control so the project runs as smoothly as possible.

What is the most interesting / rewarding aspect of your job?

Over the past decade in life sciences — specifically pharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing — and now with my current work in the healthcare field, I love the satisfaction of knowing the project doesn’t end with the client. The knowledge that my job sites will eventually help others heal and become healthier is enormously rewarding.

And every day on the job is dynamic and unique. I am constantly learning something new on each assignment. For example, I recently learned that you can only use eggs from a specific type of chicken to manufacture certain vaccines, and the location of these chickens must be kept a secret.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Since my boyfriend and I are currently in the middle of a home renovation, I’ve spent most of my free time lately organizing the house or cleaning up after contractors. Otherwise, I’m spending time with family and friends, cheering on Chelsea in the English Premier League on Saturdays, or teaching my 8-year-old niece how to draw — she’s such a talent!  

And I love to stay active; I spent the winter skiing and am currently on a 70-day streak after hopping on the Peloton bandwagon, but I’m looking forward to playing tennis and golfing in the warmer weather — and traveling again too!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

I’ve been given so much great advice over the years, but I do have two favorites. First, listen more. Seek to understand before you form an opinion or take action. Second, be kind and treat others the way you’d want your mother to be treated. It’s simple and so pertinent to today’s world — everyone deserves kindness and respect.

What inspires you the most - professionally, personally, or both?

Enthusiasm! I recently discovered Apollonia Poilane’s MasterClass on bread baking—and it helped me realize that inspiration comes easily when you’re around someone who has a passion for what they do. I never thought I’d spend hours learning how to bake bread, but Apollonia’s genuine enthusiasm and acknowledgment that mistakes just present even more opportunities to learn, has inspired me to try. 

This translates to my professional inspiration too. When I have a client or a supervisor who is enthusiastic about a project, it inspires me to work even smarter. It’s such a contagious mentality to have.

What is the most surprising thing about you?

My knowledge of Marvel Comics truly knows no bounds, and I can practically see my family and friends rolling their eyes when I start off a monologue with “Well, that’s not considered canon…” Scarlet Witch is my favorite character, so I’m a huge fan of the 2005 “House of M” storyline and the WandaVision series on Disney+.