Healthcare Executive Leadership - Global Career Planning Creates New Opportunities

Healthcare executive leadership has gone global. As aOther speakers focused on the current strategies
result, a growing number of opportunities arethat healthcare investors and operators are pursuing
becoming available for individuals whose careeras providers, payers, investors, patients and
planning efforts have prepared them for thetechnology converge. And, through this convergence,
extraordinary challenges and the long-term rewardsI am fortunate to play an active role in finding the
that an international assignment offers. However, theoutstanding Healthcare executive leadership talent
expectations are high when it comes to makingthat international Healthcare organizations will require
Healthcare executive leadership placements into ato achieve their aggressive business goals.
foreign market, and a prospective executive must beAs a result of my ongoing involvement in the
fully prepared to meet those challenges head-on.Healthcare leadership arena, I have three career
"Well done is better than well said!" is a quote fromplanning suggestions that aspiring international
the New England Patriots' Tom Brady (and Benexecutives would be wise to adopt as they strive to
Franklin) and it summarizes the mindset of globaldevelop the knowledge and skills to lead a global
investors and global operators as they recruitHealthcare business.
individuals to lead foreign or multinational business
entities. In other words, a successful track record1. Use Coaches and Mentors. Tiger Woods has used
delivering superior financial and operational results willmultiple coaches over the years to help improve his
help your achieve your international leadership goalsgame. Similarly, you need to identify two or three
far better than merely words and potential. This issenior individuals who are interested in taking an
why personal global career planning pays off in theactive role in your executive leadership development.
long-run.Whether as coaches or mentors, these individuals can
We recently helped sponsor the "2007 Strategicprovide you with invaluable insight and global career
Investing in Healthcare Forum." This was an invitationplanning guidance. In addition, you can select your
only, one-day conference that brought togetherown informal mentors by watching Healthcare
members of the Harvard Business School and theexecutive leaders who are currently successful in the
Argyle Executive Forum, plus 150 senior operatingroles you are striving to achieve. Study their
executives from public and private Healthcare firms,successes and their mistakes. In completing more
select private equity and hedge funds, prominentthan 225 Healthcare retained searches, those who
research fellows, and key senior advisors. And, as ahave achieved the greatest corporate success have
result of these discussions, I now find myself thinkingaggressively pursued mentoring relationships
about ways that up-and-coming Healthcarethroughout their career.
executives can best prepare themselves to achieve2. Be Seen and Be Known. Financial investors and
their global career planning ambitions.operators who are deploying tens and hundreds of
I should mention that over the course of this onemillions of dollars in new capital are consistently
day event, Healthcare leaders shared their focus andlooking to hedge their bets through the recruitment
innovative approaches towards booming globalof experienced, well-referenced and well-known
markets, the financially-stretched domestic market,executives. Show a keen interest in your industry, in
and the global demographic trends that will eitheryour businesses fundamentals, and in your
clobber economies or empower businesses to solveopportunities and obstacles in order to deliver stellar
complex issues. Speakers for the event includedresults and develop relationships with influencers.
representatives from Apax Partners, GE Healthcare,Through your efforts and success you will find
GE Healthcare Financial Services, Bain Capital, Welsh,interest from those within your industry to invite you
Carson, Anderson & Stowe, The Blackstoneto speak, present or join an industry panel on key
Group, CCMP Capital Advisors, Merrill Lynch, GTCRissues and trends. The value of your business
Golder Rauner, Ropes & Gray LLP, Bank ofsuccess can lead you to exceptional personal
America, and Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.contacts, which in turn can significantly improve
All of the speakers were extremely candid andfuture business opportunities. Your business acumen
informative. However, here are just two examples ofand success can take you to the door of a global
the broad array of globally-focused topics that wereHealthcare executive leadership opportunity. Having
discussed:strong industry relationships can be what actually
Buddy Gumina, a Partner at US Healthcare - Apax,opens that door and allows you to enter.
discussed coverage, consumerism and convergence3. Do your Best Work Today. Without a doubt,
as it relates to managed care, healthcare services,ambition is required for the level of success you
provider transparency, interactive technology,desire. However, focusing too early on your next
preventative medicine and outsourced pharma. Apaxopportunity can cause you to lose sight of your
has a thirty year track-record as a global privatecurrent business goals and responsibilities. This can
equity firm with a strong healthcare presence.negatively impact your trajectory. Outstanding
Joe Hogan, President and CEO of GE Healthcare,performance is recognized and should always be your
stated that the company's basis for growth and theprimary objective.
focus of its global-leading $17 billion business is toEstablishing yourself as the winning executive for a
continue to drive innovation and world-classglobal Healthcare executive leadership opportunity
dominance across IT and diagnostics. The breadth ofrequires strong foundational skills, a successful
opportunities for GE Healthcare is tremendous as atrack-record, solid relationships, keen industry insights,
result of the exploding second and third worldand much more. Global career planning presents new
markets where infrastructure and utilization are theopportunities. Therefore, keep pushing yourself
focus for the design and development of full-scaleforward in your professional growth and remember,
digital hospitals."Well done is better than well said.