Q: What inspired you to get involved with Mending Faces?
MB: When Mending Faces was organized in 2010, to make a life-changing difference for underprivileged children born with cleft lip and palate, I had spent 15 years working in the developing world and saw the need for basic health services that many took for granted in the first world. 

Q: What makes Mending Faces unique from other organizations providing cleft lip and palate repair?
MB: Mending Faces is a small, versatile organization that can easily pivot to address the needs we see when we are on a mission. For example – we noted that parents of children with cleft lips/palates were not always enrolling them in school. So Mending Faces started our Education Fund to pay all school costs for our patients for as long as they attended school. Thirty-two of our past patients are currently receiving an education through our Education Fund. We have had five women graduate from college and are hopeful for many more who are still in our education program.

Q: Can you walk me through a typical day during a Medical Mission?
MB: The medical mission day starts early. We arrive at the hospital around 7 a.m. The surgeons do rounds checking on the surgery patients from the previous day. Surgery starts around 8 a.m. and generally wraps up around 6 p.m. Since my background is financial, I spend most of my day on administration and logistics. This can include ensuring all medical staff have the supplies they need, monitoring daily hospital costs to keep a mission within budget, ordering all catering and snacks for our volunteers and our local support staff, really anything needed that is not medical is my responsibility.

Q: What do you want readers to know about Mending Faces?
MB: Mending Faces was organized 15 years ago by passionate medical and professional volunteers, most of whom are still involved. The cleft lip and palate surgeries are provided free of charge, so there is no economic burden to our patients. If it is determined patients need more care such as speech therapy, then that is arranged for at no cost. Mending Faces is also responsive to the community needs. For example - we have provided furniture and fresh paint to a low-income clinic in the Dominican Republic, installed hand-washing stations at schools in the Philippines and supplied books to local libraries. Because we are an organization not bound by bureaucracy, we can quickly address local needs.

Q: What is your favorite memory of a Medical Mission?
MB: My favorite memory of each Medical Mission is the screening day. This is the day that all potential patients and their parents meet our medical staff. Everyone is gathered in one large room and so full of hope. There is such positive energy!

Q: What is one word of advice you can offer to young women who want to reach your level of success?
MB: Never, Never Give Up! There are some people who are negative and try to discourage you along your career path. Stay the course and stay positive and you can achieve your goals and give back to the world along the way.

Q: Can you tell our audience one of your most memorable moments of your career?
MB: I was instrumental in starting the financial cooperative movement in a number of developing countries such as Laos, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. All of which were very different working and cultural environments than what I was used to in the United States. 

Q: Which woman inspires you and why? 
MB: Mother Teresa, she was so full of goodness and completely focused on her mission. She thought of others and tried to improve their earthly lives, most of whom lived in grinding poverty and didn’t know a lot of kindness in their lives. 

Q: What advice do you have to those who want to succeed in the workplace?
MB: Be a good listener. Most people are just waiting for you to stop talking, so they can start talking. Listen and you can learn so much about the situation you are in and the people you are with. 

Q: What's your advice for women in male-dominated fields?
MB: I worked for 20 years in a VERY male dominated world. Most of the men treated me as an equal and valued my work and opinion. However, there were a small number that made it clear that they felt they were superior and I did not belong there. You can’t focus on these individuals as they are the minority. I realized they were insecure and negative. You have a choice – focus on the positive and what you have in common, not on your differences.

Six Things About Monnie Biety

1. If you could share a meal with any 4 individuals, living or dead, who would they be? 
My father, Winston Churchill, Clint Eastwood and Jesus.

2. What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time? 
Any activity outside with my friends, husband and dogs.

3. What’s the most amazing adventure you’ve ever been on? 
I have worked and traveled all of the world, and my best adventure has been rafting and hiking the Grand Canyon.

4. Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever been? 
Have you ever been to Nachivan? Well, I have.

5. What’s your favorite international food? 
I love traditional Mexican food and a margarita with salt on the rim.

6. What song would you sing on Karaoke night? 
Puff the Magic Dragon. One of the few songs that I know all the words to.