I enjoyed speaking to Callum Borchers for this WSJ article - It’s caused me to reflect a bit more given the dialogue this article kickstarted.
Being called “intense” used to give me pause. Across the length of my career I’ve picked roles and scopes across healthcare that fulfilled my personal ambition to drive change and transformation in the broader healthcare enterprise. To fill my cup, I found I had to bring fierce determination AND joy to drive change. Because the hardest problems deserve not just our effort, but our enthusiasm. Here are some things I learned about being a Happy Warrior:
🔥 Intensity isn’t a liability – it’s rocket fuel for change. When channeled through optimism and purpose, it can be magnetic. People aren’t pushed by our intensity, they’re pulled by our vision.
🤝 You can be both demanding AND deeply collaborative. The best innovations come when we challenge each other while creating psychological safety. High standards and human connection aren’t mutually exclusive.
💪 Joy is a strategic advantage. In healthcare, where burnout is real and change is constant, maintaining genuine enthusiasm isn’t just about personal resilience – it’s about inspiring others to believe transformation is possible.
🎯 Going against the grain requires both grit AND grace. When you’re pushing for change, you’ll face resistance. Meeting it with understanding while staying committed to your vision isn’t just effective – it’s revolutionary.
I didn’t learn these lessons alone. I’m deeply grateful to the leaders who shaped my journey: Kristine Anderson, Lucy Stribley, Michelle Keefe, Ellen Brett, Judy Christofferson, Josh Gray, Lisa R., Diana L. Nole and Joe Petro.
Thank you to the bosses who saw my intensity as an asset to be refined, not a flame to be dimmed. Who handed me the tough assignments that seemed impossible at first, but taught me to build coalitions and drive change at scale. You didn’t just give me opportunities – you showed me how to make the most of them.
The path hasn’t always been smooth. I’ve learned from my missteps: those times I pushed too hard without building enough alignment, when my passion overwhelmed my patience, when my drive for results created unnecessary friction. Each mistake taught me to balance conviction with connection, to lead with both courage and compassion.
The problems in healthcare are too important for us to approach them half-heartedly. They deserve our full selves – our intensity, our creativity, our joy, and our unwavering commitment to making things better.
To my fellow Happy Warriors out there: keep bringing your whole selves to the mission. Your intensity is your superpower. Your joy is contagious. And together we’re proving that the most powerful change agents aren’t just fierce, they’re fiercely optimistic. Microsoft #healthcareinnovation