NEA C-Suite: Laura Prondzinski

How would you describe your company? Hometown Behavioral Health is a small mental health agency located in rural Northeast and North Central Arkansas. We have two locations that serve a 50-mile radius of each location.  We provide mental health counseling, medication management and case management services to clients who are 4 years and older.

What is the best business advice someone has ever given you? In business, like in life, don’t live beyond your means.  Be smart with your money, your time and your investments.

How significant to you is developing a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) culture within your organization? In the counseling field, diversity, equity and inclusion are very important. We serve a very diverse population, and I believe in order to serve a diverse population, you need a group of diverse associates.

Do you think Artificial Intelligence (AI) can take jobs in your industry? While I believe that there is a place for AI, I don’t think it can replace jobs in our industry. In the mental health industry, there is a strong need for feelings.

Which skills do you think are most important when it comes to leadership? I believe effective leadership is built on open communication, patience, determination, and empathy. At Hometown, my associates know they can reach out to me at any time with concerns, suggestions, or even words of praise. Clear communication is the foundation of strong leadership. When it comes to decision-making, I value patience and careful consideration. I take the time to look at all sides of a situation before reaching a conclusion, even if it means sitting with a decision for a week to ensure it’s the right one. Empathy is also essential to me, because we can never truly know what challenges others are facing. I believe that as a society, we could all benefit from showing a little more empathy and compassion in our daily lives.

If you could change one thing about your leadership style, what would it be and why? It would be to delegate more effectively. I sometimes take on too much myself because I want to support my team, but I know that giving others more responsibility helps them grow and strengthens the team as a whole.

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? I would trade places with a travel blogger. I love traveling.

What is the most used app on your phone? The podcast app. I spend a lot of time listening to “The Ramsey Show” when driving.

When you were growing up, what did you want to be? I wanted to be a surgical nurse. I found out very quickly that my interests were not in the field of science because my strengths were more business related.

If you had $1 million to give, what would you support? I would support some local charities and foundations.

What’s your favorite television show? I don’t watch a lot of television, but if I do, it is usually reruns of “Criminal Minds” or “NCIS.”