How a phlebotomy supervisor inspires a happy, positive workplace

Ever since she joined Labcorp 17 years ago, Lekeisha Waiters has known her ultimate career goal was to be in leadership. Pursuing that goal, she relocated seven times along the U.S. East Coast.

“I told myself, ‘If I ever become supervisor, I want to listen to my employee needs and listen to them and be there for them.’ I always want to make myself available in any way.”

Waiters’ dream was realized last year, when she was promoted to Phlebotomy Supervisor. In this role, Waiters oversees operations for 11 patient service centers in the Southeast, taking pride in her locations’ consistently high customer satisfaction scores. The secret to these high scores, she says, is fostering a happy and positive workplace for her employees. This produces a trickle-down effect that benefits customers, who are greeted each day with a smile and a warm, friendly environment.

A recent customer story exemplifies how Waiters’ commitment to stellar service directly impacts positive change. According to the mother of a young patient with Down syndrome, Waiters’ infectious positivity and encouragement helped her daughter build up her self-esteem and transform her outlook on life.

When she’s not making connections with patients on-site—and encouraging her teams to do the same—Waiters believes in the power of community outreach “to meet patients where they are.” Last year, she leveraged Labcorp’s outreach resources to coordinate a team effort that provided more than 300 meals to unhoused individuals in the local area. This year, she plans to do community outreach again.

In recognition of how Waiters leads with compassion and positivity, she was recently presented the Chairman’s Award: Labcorp’s highest honor for outstanding employees. Although she was surprised and delighted to receive the distinction, for Waiters, it’s all driven from a love of serving people.

“You never know what someone is going through when they’re coming to our door,” Waiters says. “Ultimately, I want patients to be happy and my staff to be pleasant. That starts with me setting an example with my tone and presence. We can be a shoulder for anyone who needs it, and I try to radiate that to my team.”

From the lab to the office to the flight deck, we invite you to learn more about the people behind innovative science. See how our employees are improving health and improving lives while growing their careers at Labcorp.