WittKieffer Impactful Leaders Podcast

WittKieffer
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Management

As the premier executive search and leadership advisory firm, developing impactful leadership teams for organizations that improve quality of life, WittKieffer has a front row seat to the top leaders in the healthcare, education, and life science markets. Every day, we’re working with leaders who want to create a better tomorrow—to make an impact for their organizations, communities, and the wider world. This is WittKieffer’s Impactful Leaders Podcast – this is not your typical leadership podcast. It’s a personal and introspective chat with today’s most impactful healthcare industry leaders. We’ll cover personal topics from health and wellness to work world matters, delivering actionable advice and insightful takeaways. And we’re sure you’ll be inspired to find—or strengthen—your purpose.

  1. 1d ago

    The New Role of Philanthropy in Aging Services: Change in a Challenging Environment (Part 1)

    As aging services organizations face mounting financial, workforce and demographic challenges, philanthropy is becoming an increasingly important strategic tool for advancing mission and long-term sustainability. In this episode of the WittKieffer Impactful Leaders Podcast, Lisa DeSimone Arthur, leader of WittKieffer's Aging Services, Home Health and Hospice Practice, speaks with Susan Mayernick, Executive Vice President of the Asbury Foundation, and Alyssa Herman, Chief Development and Marketing Officer at The New Jewish Home. Drawing on experiences from two very different aging services organizations, the conversation explores how philanthropy has evolved from a supporting function to a strategic driver of innovation, workforce development, access to care, and organizational growth. The guests discuss changing donor expectations, the importance of measuring and communicating impact, and the growing need to align fundraising priorities with organizational strategy. Mayernick shares how the Asbury Foundation has expanded its focus on endowment and planned giving, advanced workforce and resident-centered initiatives, and strengthened philanthropy across multiple communities. Drawing on her experience helping lead Asbury's successful centennial campaign and significantly growing its planned giving program, she discusses how strategic philanthropy can support long-term sustainability and innovation. Herman discusses how philanthropic investment has helped The New Jewish Home scale workforce development programs, build public-private partnerships and support innovative models of care for older adults. She also reflects on lessons from a nonprofit leadership career spanning more than three decades across healthcare, education, advocacy and human services organizations. The conversation explores changing donor expectations, leadership alignment, and the opportunities philanthropy creates to support innovation, workforce development and access to care. They also share lessons learned from cultivating a culture of philanthropy that engages boards, executive leaders, staff and donors around a shared vision for the future.

  2. Oct 13

    Leading Through Healthcare Transformation: Why Humanity Still Wins

    What does it take to lead a major healthcare system through transformation while keeping people at the center of every decision?  In this episode of Impactful Leaders, Daniel Young sits down with Heather Schimmers, President of Emplify Health, to discuss her journey from operating room nurse to executive leader of a health system serving communities across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan. Schimmers shares valuable lessons on curiosity-driven leadership, building high-performing cultures, navigating large-scale health system integration, and maintaining trust through change.  She also explores her philosophy of “Love Plus Medicine,” explaining why compassion, accountability, and operational excellence are not competing priorities but essential partners in delivering exceptional care. The conversation examines the future of healthcare, the opportunities presented by AI and technology, and how leaders can preserve humanity in an increasingly complex environment.

  3. Sep 29

    Leading Through Uncertainty: The Power of Interim Leadership in Higher Ed

    What happens when a college or university suddenly finds itself without a president? In this episode, Robbyn Wacker, Ph.D. shares her experience stepping into an interim presidency during a period of institutional uncertainty and explains why interim leadership has become an increasingly valuable strategy in higher education. Drawing on her work leading Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences through leadership transition, accreditation preparation, and strategic planning, Wacker discusses the realities of entering a campus as an outsider, building trust quickly, and helping organizations maintain momentum when leadership changes occur.  She also explores the advantages and challenges of external versus internal interim appointments, the role of governing boards, and the misconceptions institutions often hold about interim executives. Whether facing a sudden departure, organizational fatigue, or a major strategic inflection point, higher education leaders and trustees will gain actionable insights into how interim leadership can stabilize, strengthen, and position institutions for future success.

  4. Sep 1

    Leading Through Ambiguity: Chris Lowney on Purpose, Risk, and Enterprise Leadership

    What separates good leaders from truly impactful ones? In this episode of Impactful Leaders, hosts Michael Anderson and Raj Ramachandran sit down with leadership expert, bestselling author, and governance leader Chris Lowney to explore the habits and mindsets that drive exceptional leadership. Drawing on his unique journey from Jesuit seminarian to senior executive at JPMorgan and former board chair of CommonSpirit Health, Lowney shares powerful insights on self-awareness, decision-making, organizational culture, and leading through uncertainty.  The conversation examines why leaders must learn to step back from daily demands, embrace ambiguity, and move beyond being the "smartest person in the room." Lowney also addresses the challenges facing healthcare organizations, the importance of mission-driven leadership, and how enduring values such as purpose, character, and service remain essential in an increasingly complex world.  For executives, board members, clinicians, and emerging leaders alike, this episode offers practical wisdom for leading with clarity and impact.

  5. Aug 18

    Converge Cast | Part 2 of 2 | Turning AI Promise into Impact: A Framework for Boards and Leaders: Dr. Mohammad Ghassemi

    The true power of AI lies not in replacing human decision-making, but in strengthening it.  In Part 2 of this Converge conversation, Michael Castleman, Chief Business Officer; Executive Partner, Global Investor Backed Markets & Interim Leadership Solutions, and Ysette Witteveen, Managing Partner, Interim Leadership – Global Investor Backed Markets, continue their discussion with Dr. Mohammad Ghassemi on how organizations can scale AI responsibly while maximizing human potential.  Using real-world examples from healthcare, life sciences, investment firms, and other high-stakes environments, Dr. Ghassemi examines how leaders can assess risk, establish effective governance, and build productive partnerships between people and intelligent systems. He notes that organizations generating the strongest outcomes approach AI with discipline—expanding deployment in proportion to demonstrated value, managing costs thoughtfully, and maintaining consistent oversight.  The discussion turns to the strategic choices leaders face when deploying AI. Dr. Ghassemi outlines how organizations can determine whether a solution is best suited to generating insights, automating processes, or augmenting human decision-making, helping ensure investments align with broader business objectives. He also addresses the unique complexities of healthcare, where accountability, governance, and patient outcomes can significantly influence implementation decisions.  A recurring theme is the importance of organizational readiness. From strong digital infrastructure and centralized leadership to enterprise-wide AI fluency, sustainable adoption depends on more than technology alone. Dr. Ghassemi describes how mature governance programs establish performance standards, monitor outcomes, and clearly define the roles of both humans and AI systems.  Attention also turns to how investment firms and portfolio companies are accelerating adoption through centers of excellence that cultivate internal expertise, share best practices, and convert innovation into measurable business value.  Ultimately, this conversation reframes AI not as a replacement for people, but as a tool for human augmentation. By automating repetitive work and enabling talented professionals to focus on creativity, judgment, and innovation, organizations can unlock greater enterprise value while creating more meaningful work for their people.

  6. Aug 11

    Converge Cast | Part 1 of 2 | Turning AI Promise into Impact: A Framework for Boards and Leaders: Dr. Mohammad Ghassemi

    Artificial intelligence is reshaping virtually every industry, but many leaders still struggle to distinguish genuine business value from industry hype.  In Part 1 of this Converge conversation, Michael Castleman, Chief Business Officer; Executive Partner, Global Investor Backed Markets & Interim Leadership Solutions, and Ysette Witteveen, Managing Partner, Interim Leadership – Global Investor Backed Markets, sit down with Dr. Mohammad Ghassemi to explore what it means to become AI fluent in today's rapidly evolving landscape.  An MIT-trained computer scientist, professor at Michigan State University, and founding partner of Ghamut Corporation, Dr. Ghassemi has led more than $250 million in AI initiatives across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. He also directs Michigan State's Human Augmentation and Artificial Intelligence Lab, where his research focuses on integrating human and machine intelligence to solve problems neither can address as effectively alone.  Throughout the discussion, Dr. Ghassemi challenges common misconceptions about AI and encourages leaders to adopt a more nuanced view of the technology. Rather than a single capability, he describes AI as a spectrum ranging from deterministic, rules-based systems to more flexible probabilistic models, each carrying different implications for cost, performance, reliability, and risk.  Listeners gain insight into why many organizations struggle to realize value from AI investments and what differentiates those achieving measurable results. Dr. Ghassemi outlines a practical framework for evaluating AI opportunities through the lens of return on investment, while warning against pitfalls such as scaling too quickly, overestimating capabilities, or pursuing initiatives disconnected from business priorities.  The episode also positions AI fluency as a critical leadership capability. Beyond understanding technical concepts, leaders must be able to use, assess, and challenge AI systems within their organizations. For executives looking to move beyond buzzwords and develop informed AI strategies, this conversation provides a practical foundation for action.

  7. Jul 28

    Perfectly Clear: Dr. Rita Pappas on Child Advocacy, Connecting, and Leading Under Pressure

    In this episode of Accelerating Physician Leader Impact, host Dr. Michael Anderson sits down with Dr. Rita M. Pappas, Chief of the Women’s and Children’s Institute at Cleveland Clinic, to explore what it takes to lead through complexity, uncertainty, and change. Drawing on her journey from pediatric nurse to pediatrician to physician executive, Dr. Pappas shares lessons from advancing family-centered care, mentoring future physician leaders, and leading high-profile initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.  She offers practical insights on building trust through communication, creating alignment across interdisciplinary teams, and maintaining focus under pressure. The conversation also examines the growing challenges facing children’s healthcare, including workforce shortages, pediatric research funding, and the critical role of advocacy.  For healthcare executives, physician leaders, and aspiring changemakers, this episode delivers powerful reflections on leadership, resilience, and the importance of setting a clear direction while remaining deeply connected to patients, families, and teams.

    Perfectly Clear: Dr. Rita Pappas on Child Advocacy, Connecting, and Leading Under Pressure

  8. Jul 9

    Converge Cast | A New Frontier in Vision and Aging: ER‑100 Advances as First Participant Is Dosed in Phase 1 Clinical Trial for OAG and NAIO: Jerry McLaughlin

    What if medicine could move beyond managing decline to restoring human function? In this episode of Converge, Jerry McLaughlin, CEO of Life Biosciences, explores the emerging science of epigenetic reprogramming and its potential to transform how we treat age-related disease. Drawing on decades in biopharma, McLaughlin reflects on the shift from symptom management to targeting the root causes of aging at the cellular level.  The conversation centers on a pivotal milestone: dosing the first human patient with an epigenetic restoration therapy designed to treat optic neuropathies, including glaucoma and NAION. McLaughlin shares how the field is evolving from hypothesis to clinical validation—and why rigor, evidence, and disciplined execution must replace hype.  From commercialization strategy to scientific breakthroughs, this episode offers a rare, insider perspective on where longevity science intersects with patient impact—and what it will take to bring these therapies to scale.

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About

As the premier executive search and leadership advisory firm, developing impactful leadership teams for organizations that improve quality of life, WittKieffer has a front row seat to the top leaders in the healthcare, education, and life science markets. Every day, we’re working with leaders who want to create a better tomorrow—to make an impact for their organizations, communities, and the wider world. This is WittKieffer’s Impactful Leaders Podcast – this is not your typical leadership podcast. It’s a personal and introspective chat with today’s most impactful healthcare industry leaders. We’ll cover personal topics from health and wellness to work world matters, delivering actionable advice and insightful takeaways. And we’re sure you’ll be inspired to find—or strengthen—your purpose.

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