Shurnette Henry
Shurnette Henry is a Senior Finance Manager at the Arnhold Institute for Global Health and the Department of Global Health and Health System Design at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In her role, she provides financial portfolio management and assists investigators with all aspects of pre-award proposal development, finance, and post-award grants management. She has worked for the Institute for four years. She previously worked at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
In this Q & A, she discusses her career journey and what inspired her to work in global health.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
I came to New York in 2000 from Toronto and began a career in finance as a stockbroker. I continued in various financial roles over the next 20 years, serving both corporate and individual clients with a broad spectrum of financial products and managing corporate financial portfolios. Over time, I found myself gravitating toward the relationships and aspects of my career that helped people on a personal level.
What inspired you to make a change in your career?
As I progressed through my career, I found that my personal interests for adding value to people’s lives was misaligned with the corporate demands of building wealth. The incentive for wealth generation was more advantageous for the institutions I worked for than for the individuals I wanted to help. Therefore, I left corporate finance and began looking for opportunities that were better aligned with my desire to help people who perhaps didn’t have access to essential information or tools to help themselves. I came onboard to fulfill the Institute’s need to find a grants and finance professional who could develop its inter-departmental grants process and financial management of accounts, and I was looking to work with a team that shared my care for people, and desire to impact people’s lives in a personal way.
What do you like most about working at the Institute?
I love that what we do at the Institute as it affects the lives of people locally and internationally, especially individuals who represent underserved demographics. It’s also an added bonus that the team within Global Health consists of a collection of talented people who all share a common goal of working from a place of mutual respect and appreciation, and work collaborative to make an impact.
What led you to work in global health and what do you like about it?
I’ve always been fascinated with macroeconomics and understanding how different socioeconomic systems affect different people’s lives. Therefore, when I was approached with the opportunity to work in global health, I loved learning about the Department’s mission and the steps it was taking to achieve it. Global health is a field that focuses on improving the well-being and health of people around the world. It goes beyond borders, races, and cultures, aiming to ensure that everyone has access to quality health care, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
The impact that we’re making at the Institute can be transformative as we work with our domestic and international partners to establish health systems, reduce suffering, and improve the quality of life for numerous people. We bring together professionals from diverse disciplines, governments, non-governmental organizations, and communities to find innovative solutions to complex health problems. The contribution that I bring to the team at the Institute allows me to fulfill my desire to contribute positively to the world, make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, and work towards a more equitable and healthier world. It makes me feel really good that I’ve added value in a small way toward a greater goal.
What are some of the most challenging aspects of your career?
One of the most challenging aspects of my career includes dealing with the complexities of funding and budgeting in a constantly evolving and unpredictable environment. Our projects often operate with finite resources, and we are constantly competing within the global marketplace for funding. As a global health department, we regularly collaborate with institutions in other countries that have their own set of financial regulations and compliance requirements. Ensuring adherence and managing cross-border transactions can sometimes present challenges. During these times, it becomes essential for me to work on a deeper level with individuals at our collaborating institutions. This also makes the challenging parts of what I do that much more enjoyable because, depending on the situation, I’ll find myself speaking with dynamic people who are half way across the world.
Finance is undeniably a crucial and necessary part of any business or body of research, and it is true that many people may find it intimidating or overwhelming. I personally believe that, in many ways, the budget informs the important research work that is done, therefore I make it my goal to work with our Principal Investigators to build strong budgets that will support the important work that they do.
What is some advice you would give someone looking to go into finance and grants?
I would encourage anyone seeking a career in finance and grants to pursue relevant training and education in finance, accounting, economics, and business administration, since it touches all of these skill sets. Develop your financial analytical skills, including modeling, budgeting, and forecasting; and stay relevant on shifting trends. Communication is also key because you are continually creating and translating budgets to people who don’t necessarily manage budgets on a regular basis. Finally, try to always be adaptable and resilient so that you can successfully navigate through changes, overcome obstacles, and always be open to learning something new.