2025 FAONL Spotlight: Sara Kollman

What motivated you to apply for the FAONL designation?
Being an Inaugural Fellow in the Coldiron Senior Nurse Executive Fellowship, Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, highlighted the importance of national level involvement in the profession. The fellowship was created in partnership with AONL, ANA and the Healthcare Finance Management Association and allowed me to network with diverse groups of healthcare leaders. Having the opportunity to learn from and to role model exceptional leaders led to my desire to seek the FAONL designation.

How has being an FAONL designee impacted your leadership journey and leadership style?
Having an FAONL peer group has been pivotal to my success and leadership journey as we all navigate the ever-changing (and volatile) healthcare industry. It has given me a group of thought partners and networking opportunities I would never have imagined. Learning from leaders and emulating their best practices and successful strategies for today's challenges have shaped by leadership style — the nursing leadership world really is a small world.

What value have you received by achieving your FAONL designation?
The value for me was in the personal growth and having to reflect on my past successes to really analyze my career. Connecting with my mentors and having the opportunity to work closely with them was an invaluable experience and something I will always cherish (thank you Linda Everett and Linda Knodel!). The peer connections made on the journey to FAONL shaped my entire career and being on that stage with so many of those colleagues created an amazing, unforgettable community celebration.

What advice would you give to someone working towards achieving FAONL status?
My advice is to never underestimate your value and contributions and to tell your story (don't be too humble to share and honor YOUR impact). Next would be to network, network, network — you have a world-wide peer group of amazing colleagues with so much collective knowledge and wisdom to share (if you just ask). And, most importantly, get involved, listen and learn at every opportunity.