At 40, many people see themselves as full-fledged adults with significant accomplishments in their personal and professional lives. By this stage, they often hold titles like homeowner, spouse, and parent, and have achieved career success.
Reflecting on my 31-year career in healthcare, which led me to become a C-suite executive, I can recall feeling like a 2-year-old toddler at age 40. I had just begun to walk with confidence and fearlessness, but I wasn’t ready to take on the responsibilities of my current position.
Despite already having 17 years of experience by then, I encountered challenges when I became a vice president at 32. I lacked the necessary skills to navigate the complexities and politics of the role, and it ultimately led to failure. Impulsively, I resigned, facing uncertainty with no job, a family, and a new home being built.
To survive, I relied on my network, becoming an independent consultant for various health insurers, including my former company. This path eventually led me to a director-level position at UnitedHealthcare, which, despite being a step back in title and income, enhanced my credibility in the industry.
From 40 to 53, my growth was exponential. I progressed from vice president to senior vice president, president of a business unit, and finally, chief operating officer of a global enterprise. The short answer to how I grew so rapidly was exposure, exposure, exposure.
I was given opportunities that stretched my capabilities even before I recognized my potential. My CEO and other leaders placed me in rooms where I initially felt unprepared, but they believed in my abilities. Handling merger and acquisition deals, complex client negotiations, offshore expansions, managing large teams, and representing the company to major clients built my experience and expertise.
I embraced continuous learning and executed on every challenge. I sought new experiences and willingly took on assignments that pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Having a mentor within the company played a crucial role. Their guidance and advocacy helped me gain exposure to higher-level opportunities once trust was established. Taking my seat at the decision-making table allowed me to effectively contribute and build connections that paved the way to my dream role as COO.
My advice to aspiring professionals and executives is simple:
-
- Embrace a lifelong learning mindset.
- Demonstrate your value through hard work and dedication.
- Effectively execute your responsibilities and goals.
- Learn from others who have achieved more success.
- Be fearless but remain humble and open to growth.
- Cultivate meaningful relationships throughout the organization.
- Seek diverse experiences to broaden your skill set.
- Volunteer for challenging assignments to expand your expertise.
- Find a mentor or sponsor who can guide and advocate for you.
- Take initiative and claim your seat at the table by actively contributing to the organization’s success.
This article was originally posted in Legacy Magazine – Healthcare Issue – August 2023
