Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged

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Host Laura Bennett dives into an engaging series where leadership, innovation, and personal stories intersect in the realms of federal government and industry.

  1. The Hidden Complexity of Health IT and the Leadership Gap Behind It

    Jun 17 ·  Video

    The Hidden Complexity of Health IT and the Leadership Gap Behind It

    Why is health IT so hard? It sounds like a simple question, but the answer reveals a web of complexity that goes far beyond technology. From interoperability and legacy systems to competing priorities, cybersecurity threats, organizational incentives, and human behavior, health IT sits at the intersection of some of the most challenging problems in modern healthcare. In this episode of Coach's Corner: Leadership Unplugged, Laura Bennett chats with Dr. John Scott, Interim Chief Data Officer for the Veterans Health Administration, pediatric cardiologist, and clinical informatics leader with more than 35 years of experience across military and veteran healthcare systems. Together, they explore why health IT remains one of the most difficult challenges facing healthcare organizations today and what that reveals about leadership. The conversation examines the gap between technical expertise and effective leadership, the tension between business priorities and operational realities, and the challenges leaders face when making decisions about systems they may not fully understand. Dr. Scott also shares insights on measuring what truly matters in healthcare, balancing the needs of clinicians, patients, and stakeholders, and navigating the unique complexities of operating within large federal health organizations. Whether you're a healthcare leader, technology professional, government executive, or simply interested in how large systems succeed—or fail—this conversation offers valuable lessons on leadership, operational excellence, and managing complexity in an increasingly data-driven world. Topics include: Why health IT is harder than most people realize The hidden complexities behind interoperability and system integration Leadership lessons from clinical informatics Balancing business priorities with technical realities The impact of incentives on healthcare outcomes Federal healthcare challenges and opportunities Building trust between leaders, clinicians, and technical teams What future health IT leaders need to get right How leadership evolves throughout a career To connect with Dr. John Scott, visit him LinkedIn page here. Connect with Laura Bennett on LinkedIn here.

    41 min
  2. Leadership at Every Altitude

    Mar 18 ·  Video

    Leadership at Every Altitude

    What does it really mean to shape a market instead of chase one? In this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, host Laura Bennett sits down with Mike Nachshen — founder of Fortis Strategic Communications and former aerospace and defense executive — to talk about leadership at every altitude. From serving as a U.S. Air Force officer to leading international communications for a $16B business unit at RTX, to launching his own firm, Mike shares the hard-earned lessons that only come from operating inside high-stakes environments. We unpack the difference between visibility and influence, how strategic communications becomes a competitive weapon, and what it takes to build credibility in the aerospace, space, and defense ecosystem. Mike offers candid insight into stepping out of a prime contractor environment and into entrepreneurship — including the leadership muscles that had to stretch. We also explore his personal involvement with the Space Force Association at the New England chapter level, and why investing in the next generation of national security space leaders matters now more than ever. This conversation is thoughtful, honest, and refreshingly real — including a few unscripted moments that remind us leadership isn’t polished… it’s practiced. If you care about strategy, national security, entrepreneurship, or shaping markets with intention — this one’s for you. To connect with Mike, visit his LinkedIn page here. Learn more about Fortis Strategic Communications by visiting their website here.

    15 min
  3. Turning Insight into Impact: Leadership, Federal Health, and the Power of Collaboration

    Feb 18 ·  Video

    Turning Insight into Impact: Leadership, Federal Health, and the Power of Collaboration

    What does it really take to move federal health from data and ideas to real-world outcomes? In this episode of Coach’s Corner: Leadership Unplugged, host Laura Bennett sits down with Jess Denman, Global Client Director for Federal Healthcare (Military Health) at ServiceNow and Outreach & Collaborations Chair for the HIMSS National Capital Area Chapter. Jess shares her leadership journey—from youth coaching and Air Force service to navigating complex federal health systems—and the values that have guided her through every chapter: service before self, people-first leadership, and accountability in action. Together, Laura and Jess explore why progress in federal health isn’t driven by technology alone, but by trust, change management, and collaboration across agencies. They unpack the purpose behind the HIMSS NCA Federal Health Focus Series and the common thread running through the 2026 programs—turning insight into impact through cross-sector partnership. Jess also offers a powerful real-world example of how interagency data sharing can directly inform public health response, and shares her vision for how HIMSS NCA serves as the connective tissue helping leaders bridge the gap between strategy and execution. This conversation is for federal health leaders, industry partners, and anyone working inside large systems who wants to understand what leadership looks like when the goal isn’t just innovation—but outcomes that matter. To connect with Jess, visit his LinkedIn page here.

    12 min

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Host Laura Bennett dives into an engaging series where leadership, innovation, and personal stories intersect in the realms of federal government and industry.