Meet Sierra Pena, Harmony Healthcare Recruiter
1. What skill do you wish everyone would learn?
I believe empathy is a vital skill everyone should work on developing and becoming more in tune with for the sake of emotional intelligence and of course leadership. With everything going on in the world today, I think things would be very different if we all could compassionately listen and learn from each other. This is a skill I of course am still working on, one that has certainly shaped me into the person I am today, and I am proud of it.
On a lighter note, I also think everyone should take the time to learn to either bake/cook a signature dish. It comes in handy for the party season and being known for something! My dish is pot roast; whenever I make it, I have to make extra batches for family and friends, but the recipe is my mother’s, so I kind of cheated!
2. Tell us about a moment you made a leap of faith.
Three days after I graduated college with a degree in sports administration, I packed up my car and moved from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, to Tampa, Florida, for an unpaid sports internship. Ever since, Tampa has been my home.
Over the years I have traveled often, and even moved back to Pennsylvania once. However, Tampa Bay has been my home base ever since I made that leap. I have grown so much in the 4 years I have lived here, and I couldn’t imagine how my life would be had I not made the move right then and there!
3. Tell us about your weirdest job.
Before getting into recruiting here at Harmony Healthcare, I worked for a year as a freight broker in logistics for a company here in Tampa. The day-to-day job was extremely odd: in addition to the traditional sales role, I spent a lot of time on the phone negotiating with truck drivers and tracking truckload shipments from point A to point B. It was a 24/7 role and took a great deal of my time.
The environment was very much work hard, play hard. The office had constant competitions, on weekends we played intramural sports together, and every Friday we got together for a beer drop before we headed off for the weekend. I met my husband at that job, convinced my brother to move from Pennsylvania to come and work with me, and met my closest friends there. But I still get nightmares when my phone goes off in the middle of the night. I do not miss those calls from truckers with popped tires at 3 AM!
4. Who is your favorite artist and why?
Hands down Thomas Rhett. I am a sucker for a catchy country pop song, and aside from loving his music, I think Thomas Rhett is an incredible person. I idolize the marriage he has with his wife and the family that he is raising.
5. Share your first concert experience with us.
My first concert experience was seeing Maroon 5 and Counting Crows in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in 2008. I went with my mom, my sister, and my two older brothers. We all originally went because we loved Counting Crows, but we actually ended up leaving a little early because Counting Crows did not perform so well. Maroon 5, on the other had, was INCREDIBLE!
I got to see Counting Crows 10 years later here in downtown St. Pete, and I would say they certainly redeemed themselves in my book!
6. Create a soundtrack to your life with just 5 songs.
- I recently got married in March in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We had a small beach wedding, and if you know us, you know we are all smiles and good vibes. I walked down the aisle to “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat, and we exited to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars. I will always love those two songs.
- “Blessings” by Florida Georgia Line is pretty much a perfect depiction of the relationship I have with my husband. We are very much in love, and our happiest times are typically spent in our little beach bungalow, adventuring in the Jeep, and spending time on the beach. We have a perfect little border collie puppy named Sparky Sparks, and we are expecting a baby boy in September. We are clearly blessed!
- “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond is another favorite. Aside from the fact that this song brings out the happiest and loudest vocal chords anywhere from sporting events to Saturday nights out, this song reminds me of attending Penn State Football games and brings back smiles and some of the best memories.
- “Truth Hurts” by Lizzo is a little non-traditional for me, and I do not relate to a majority of the song, but it is my go-to windows down, blaring in the car, girl power, pump up song. It has a permanent spot on my life soundtrack!
7. What is your favorite movie quote and why?
- “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
It’s not my favorite movie, but the quote is a great reminder! Sometimes I get so focused on future goals or worrying about the future that I forget to enjoy and appreciate the present.
8. If you could ask one question to your mentor, what would it be and why?
During college I worked for my university’s community service office. My manager Lauren Wright has been and will always be my mentor for the rest of my life.
Being in college and beyond, I obviously asked my fair share of career advice, but overall my questions to her always revolve around happiness and living a fulfilled life. As I said before, my husband and I are expecting our first child in September. My questions to her now would revolve around juggling a newborn and striving for career advancement while trying to be the best mom I can be. She knows to expect a call from me soon!
