First February Event: Interview & Reflection

I was utterly inspired by what my interviewee, Pamela Sawchuk Brown, had to say about her career path and overall experience as a young businesswoman and entrepreneur in the 1970s. Some of Sawchuk Brown’s most memorable accomplishments in her career path include her time as a Reporter and Editor for the Albany Times Union and Knickerbocker News and Vice President for Community Development at Albany Medical Center, a position she has held since 2010. Sawchuk Brown started her own public relations, Sawchuk Brown Associates, in 1979, which played a key role in the Capital Region. Her firm combined with Eric Mower and Associates in 2008, prompting her to begin her time at Albany Med during the company’s $360 million expansion. Sawchuk Brown has been honored countless times for her philanthropy and groundbreaking attitude towards women in the workforce, such as being named one of the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce’s “Woman of Excellence,” earning the Women’s Fund of the Capital Region’s Trailblazing Woman award in 2012, and her personal favorite, being named a Woman of Excellence of the 20th Century. Additionally, Sawchuk Brown worked to develop healthcare education programs in public high schools in the Albany, Schenectady, and Troy areas, truly working to educate and give back to her community.

Sawchuk Brown’s memory of being sent home from work for wearing her newly-purchased green heels both shocked and infuriated me, deepening my appreciation for the trailblazing women like her who have fought for their rights in the workplace. I especially appreciated her emphasis on respecting all people, regardless of social stature, gender, etc., and uplifting other women entering fields largely dominated by men. It was an honor being able to speak with Ms. Sawchuk Brown and be able to learn from her fruitful work and philanthropic experience, and I am excited to incorporate her wisdom into my project.