Traci Lamb’s journey into the world of caregiving and healthcare has been one defined by dedication, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others. With over 13 years of experience in hospice care, her deep understanding of the needs of caregivers and patients alike led her to start her own business, Caregiving Worldwide, in 2019. This venture aimed to create a comprehensive support network for anyone caring for a loved one at home, offering much-needed resources, guidance, and connections.
However, Traci’s story is not just about her professional successes—it’s a deeply personal one as well. As the primary caregiver for her mother, she faced the daily realities of caregiving firsthand, which significantly shaped her perspective and fueled her passion for helping others in similar situations. After five years of building Caregiving Worldwide into a network of TV shows and companies that provided support to caregivers, facilities, and patients, Traci made the difficult decision to close her business. Her mother’s declining health required her full attention, and as her primary caregiver, Traci felt it was essential to shift her focus to her family. While this decision may have marked the end of one chapter, it opened the door to a new opportunity. Traci is now serving as a Business Development Specialist with OdessaConnect, a HIPAA-compliant platform designed to help caregivers and healthcare facilities manage their responsibilities more effectively. This new role not only allows her to continue doing the work she is passionate about, but it also gives her the flexibility to care for her mother—a balance she previously struggled to achieve.
Traci’s decision to pursue a leadership role in caregiving and healthcare wasn’t just a career choice—it was a calling. Her time working in hospice care revealed the immense challenges that both caregivers and patients face daily. “After working for hospice for so many years and becoming a full-time caregiver myself, I got a much fuller understanding of how deep the problem is for caregivers, facilities, and the patients,” she explains. It wasn’t long before people began turning to her for advice and resources, which highlighted the gap in support for caregivers. As someone who had lived the experience, she was uniquely positioned to provide the insight and solutions that others desperately needed. This personal connection to the work was a driving force behind her desire to make a real difference. Traci realized that the struggles of caregivers were often overlooked, and she became determined to fill that void by creating a platform that could offer them the help and guidance they needed.
Despite her clear vision and passion for caregiving, Traci faced several challenges on her journey to becoming a leader. Starting a business is never easy, but doing it alone for the first time came with its own set of difficulties. “I made lots of mistakes. Big ones and small ones,” she admits. While Traci had entrepreneurial experience from working with her ex-husband, leading a company independently presented new obstacles that tested her resilience and patience. One of the biggest challenges she faced was finding the right balance between work and her personal life. As someone who was not only managing a business but also acting as her mother’s primary caregiver, the lines between her professional and personal responsibilities often blurred. Running Caregiving Worldwide demanded her full attention, leaving little time for anything else. “There really was no balance,” she recalls. “I was involved with my company 24/7 and slid taking care of my mom in when I could. Otherwise, there was nothing else in my life.”
But Traci didn’t let these challenges deter her. She made a conscious effort to learn from her mistakes and sought out guidance from mentors and colleagues who had more experience in leadership roles. “Wisdom comes through difficult times,” she says, reflecting on how those challenges helped shape her into the leader she is today.
In any journey toward leadership, having the right mentors can make all the difference. For Traci, one of the most influential figures in her career has been Kevin MacRitchie, CEO and President of Tactical Rehab. Kevin was the first person to believe in Traci’s vision for Caregiving Worldwide when no one else did, offering her not only mentorship but also unwavering support and encouragement. “Kevin was a huge mentor and fantastic person that I leaned on for guidance and support,” Traci shares. His belief in her and her concept gave her the confidence to push forward, even when the road ahead seemed uncertain. Kevin’s role in Traci’s development as a leader was not just about offering business advice—it was about instilling in her the confidence to trust in her own abilities and instincts. Throughout her career, Traci has been fortunate to work alongside other mentors and colleagues who have helped her navigate the complexities of leadership. By surrounding herself with knowledgeable and supportive people, she was able to overcome the obstacles she faced and grow both personally and professionally.
When asked what makes a good leader, Traci is quick to emphasize the importance of integrity, honesty, and hard work. “A good leader must be ethical, honest, and willing to do the hard work,” she explains. But leadership is not just about making the tough decisions—it’s about caring for the people you’re leading. “Always consider others and be kind,” she adds. For Traci, leadership is not about titles or authority; it’s about being someone who others can trust and rely on. Whether she’s running a business or working in her current role at OdessaConnect, Traci believes that the best leaders are those who lead by example, demonstrating their commitment to their team and their mission through their actions. Finding balance between her professional responsibilities and personal life has been one of Traci’s most significant challenges, especially in her role as a caregiver. When she was running Caregiving Worldwide, balance was nearly impossible. Her company required her attention around the clock, and caring for her mother became something she had to fit in wherever she could. However, when her mother’s health began to decline, Traci realized that she needed to make a change.
The decision to close Caregiving Worldwide was not an easy one, but for Traci, it was the right thing to do. “When I saw mom starting to massively decline, I had to make the decision of either keeping my company open and not giving her the attention she needed or closing the company and doing the right thing which was to concentrate on taking care of my mom,” she explains. Now, in her role at OdessaConnect, Traci has found a new sense of balance. The flexibility of her position allows her to continue doing the work she loves—supporting caregivers—while also being there for her mother. “OdessaConnect is giving me the opportunity to do what I love but also take care of my mom. It is a true blessing,” she says.
As Traci continues her journey in the caregiving industry, her focus remains on making a meaningful impact. Her new role at OdessaConnect allows her to combine her professional expertise with her personal experience as a caregiver, providing her with a platform to help others facing the same challenges. Through her leadership, she hopes to continue raising awareness about the needs of caregivers and finding innovative solutions to support them. Traci’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, the importance of mentorship, and the value of leading with integrity. Whether through her work with Caregiving Worldwide or her current role at OdessaConnect, her commitment to making a difference in the lives of caregivers and patients remains unwavering. As she moves forward, Traci’s experience, compassion, and dedication will undoubtedly continue to inspire those around her.
