40 Under 40: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s Raquel Sanchez takes the direct approach to recruiting

Raquel Sanchez had spent most of her life in New York City — specifically Brooklyn — before coming to Seattle in 2013.

She attributes her direct communication style to that East Coast upbringing and said it has served her well in her role as senior operations director for human biology at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Sanchez, 39, has been critical to the division’s recruiting and diversity efforts, in addition to the day-to-day and long-term strategic planning management.

Business leaders will often talk about wanting to make more diverse hires. What was your strategy for bring in more diversity? Creating a diverse team had been a goal of mine from the moment I stepped into my position four years ago. At that time, the team was fairly homogenous in race and age and by large in how they approached challenges. To increase creativity, innovation, and energy for change, I worked closely with recruiting and questioned where ads were being placed, what community work fairs we were attending, and what relationships we were building to create pipelines of talent, requiring a diverse pool before making every hire. This resulted in a team that now includes a balance of races, ages, and mindsets. In addition, to ensure a pipeline explicitly for minority employees, I created an internship in my office for first-generation minority candidates interested in health care. The first slot has resulted in the full-time hire of a person of color who is high-performing and committed to the center.

During the hiring process, what characteristics resonate with you? During the hiring process, there are many characteristics that I am looking for before I feel confident in making an offer. Given that my staff all support innovative and influential scientists and physicians, I have high expectations for the level of support we provide for them. In addition, our center’s mission of eliminating cancer and related diseases drives me to favor applicants who are sincerely aligned with our mission. During the interview process, I look for authentic personalities who show the capacity and enthusiasm for continuous personal and team development, and a genuine sense of service. I feel committed to and responsible for the success of every hire and am dedicated to ensuring each person feels respected and challenged. Holding myself to this standard has resulted in the development of a strong, interdependent, and confident team of individuals which I attribute to our combined success.

Efficient communication has been one of your great successes at Fred Hutch. How did that skill evolve? Being able to communicate efficiently has been a necessity since childhood. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, I have spent most of my life in a city where being direct was the only acceptable way to communicate. Throughout my career, I have gravitated towards positions that require my participation as a connector between different disciplines. The combination of these two experiences has naturally allowed my communication style to develop in a way that is effective in creating relationships with decision-makers. At Fred Hutch, this has resulted in relationships that are genuine and results-oriented.

You sit on a few boards. How have those experiences influenced your leadership style? I am fortunate to participate on boards that serve to keep me connected to what I am most passionate about which include supporting underrepresented minority scientists through Hutch United, educating women on breast and ovarian health through the Rivkin Center, and working towards the healthy growth and education of communities in the Dominican Republic, where my family originates, through Education Across Borders. These roles keep me grounded in what’s been my natural collaborative and inclusive style. I continue to implement a more direct and motivational style in leading my team to envision their part in eradicating cancer and human disease.