Employee Spotlight: Mary Jane Rastrullo

“With the help of my mentors, I was able to achieve goals that I didn’t plan or dreamed of in my 7 years in the company. I’m proud of where I started and how far I’ve come.”

Get to know Mary Jane Rastrullo, Shearwater Health Project Management Lead, as she shares about her role, her achievement, and what she likes about working in the company.

What’s your role in Shearwater Health?

As a Project Management Lead in Shearwater Health, I’m in charge of leading new accounts and expansions to success. My work starts from knowing the scope of an account up until it’s full production state. Think of a project as a collection of tasks to achieve a specific goal.

I spend most of my time meeting with clients to provide project updates and to guide them on the next steps. I ensure that all goals are met in accordance with the agreed timeline. Part of my work is also to identify risks and help the team create a mitigation plan to ensure process success.

Which college did you graduate from?

I’m a proud Ilongga. I graduated from Iloilo Doctors’ College in 2009 with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Nursing. At first, I only came to Manila for vacation, but then I decided to take a risk in finding a better job.

How did you find out about Shearwater Health?

Prior to joining Shearwater Health, I worked as an OR/DR/ER Nurse in a primary hospital for 10 years. My salary then couldn’t cover the needs of my family. That led me to consider other nursing career opportunities with better pay. Luckily, I was referred by a colleague to Shearwater Health. At first, I was hesitant knowing that call centers require good communication skills. But when I joined the company and learned more about Clinical Process Outsourcing (CPO), I realized that this wasn’t a typical Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), but another phase of nursing which focuses on outsourcing services to help clients in their healthcare needs.

What do you like most about your job?

Working and being a full-time "nanay" is a tough job. I live about an hour away from the office which is in BGC, Taguig, but Shearwater Health allows us to do hybrid work. Because of that, I can balance work and my family. I can work from home and watch my son grow up every day.

In Shearwater Health, I was also able to upskill myself. I started in this field with little to no knowledge, but I was provided with sufficient opportunities to grow and acquire new experiences.

How will you describe the people you are working with?

Since Shearwater Health employees are mostly clinicians by profession, the working environment is encouraging. There is respect, empathy, and understanding between colleagues that foster collaboration and help us feel heard and valued.

Specific to my team, each member has a strong sense of camaraderie and a good work ethic. I like working with them because they are kind, funny, and competent people who like to get things done.

What achievement are you most proud of?

“You can learn new things at any time in your life if you’re willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you.” – Barbara Sher

Equipped with 10 years of hospital experience and no BPO background, I started as an Associate in Shearwater Health. With the help of my mentors, I was able to achieve goals that I didn’t plan or dreamed of in my 7 years in the company. I climbed up the ladder from being an Associate, to Quality Specialist, to QA Supervisor, and now a Project Management Lead. I’m proud of where I started and how far I’ve come.

What is your advice to student nurses, newly graduated nurses, and newly registered nurses who are interested to have a career in Shearwater Health?

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle

Personally, I believe Nursing is one of the most underpaid jobs in the country. We work in flexible shifts, beyond standard capacity, and we can only live a single life. You might feel that the only option to progress is to go to a foreign land like the U.S., but know that there’s another career path for you other than bedside, and that is CPO. Don’t be afraid, take a step, and you will find growth without leaving your family behind.