MGMA Early Careerists: Resilience, Risk, and Purpose with Shay Eskew

In this debut episode of the MGMA Early Careerist podcast, host Melinda Mastel speaks with Shay Eskew, Vice President of Sales at Kodiak Solutions, Ironman athlete, and burn survivor. Shay shares his remarkable journey from a childhood accident that changed his life, to building a career in healthcare, writing a bestselling book, and embracing challenges in athletics and leadership. Tune in for insights on resilience, risk-taking, building community, and finding purpose—plus practical advice for early careerists navigating their own paths.8 Key Moments:00:00 – Introduction & Meet Shay Askew01:10 – Shay’s Unplanned Path into Healthcare03:10 – Childhood Accident & Burn Survivor Story05:15 – Recovery, Shriners Hospital, and Finding Purpose10:00 – Sharing His Story: Speaking, Rotary, and Writing a Book16:00 – Embracing Challenges: Ironman, Global Adventures, and Mindset25:00 – Leadership, Mentorship, and Advice for Early Careerists34:00 – Book Recommendations, Final Advice, and How to Connect with ShayResources:MGMA for Early Careerists (resources)Melinda Mastel (MGMA resource groups)Shay Eskew (website)Shay Eskew (LinkedIn)Book: What the Fire Ignited by Shay Eskew (Barnes & Noble)Book: Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing (Amazon)Shriners Hospitals for Children (Official Site)Rotary International (Official Site)The Human Performance Project – Illinois ChapterThe Human Performance Project – Bird’s Eye View ProjectAdditional Resources:MGMA PlaybooksMGMA EventsMGMA ConsultingMGMA DataDiveMGMA StatMGMA PodcastsEmail us at [email protected] if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts. Allied Medical Waste is the premier medical waste and document shredding company for medical groups all over the United States. On average, Allied helps medical groups save up to 50% on their monthly costs. Allied is known for their great service and impeccable response times. Reach out today for a free quote! Allied has a special offer for all MGMA members: the first 2 months FREE of charge!Connect with us at [email protected] or call (801) 328-8581.