Kimberly Goessele, chief administrative officer, 180 Health Partners
What led you to join Leadership Health Care?
I am truly glad to be among those connected to Leadership Health Care from its inception. I was at the initial stages of my own career path at that time. Like many of my industry peers, I felt there was a need for Nashville’s health care industry to do more to nurture emerging leaders through educational and networking opportunities they otherwise would not have. The idea to create Leadership Health Care actually came out of a conversation that Dave Killean and I had at a cocktail party. We thought about the opportunities gap and scribbled down our vision on a napkin. Nashville needed a group to support emerging industry leaders and we took the concept to the Nashville Health Care Council. The rest is history. It was an extremely gratifying experience and it included a large and enthusiastic group of peer professionals who were all willing to roll-up their sleeves and put that vision into fruition. Seeing close to 1,000 members in LHC today speaks volumes about the lasting power and need for LHC as a pipeline for the very future of our premier health care community. I am proud to have played a small part in that.
What has been the most rewarding part of being a member of Leadership Health Care?
The relationships. The support. The growth.
When I left Healthways to join friends and former colleagues to start W Squared I was able to tap into several of my LHC contacts to help with introductions to companies that we had targeted as potential clients. There was then, and continues to be, a wealth of mentors within the LHC network that make themselves available across industry issues, including expertise around a startup, boot strapped business.
What is your favorite thing about Nashville?
The music scene. I love that all walks of the industry are in Nashville. I love listening to music at the various venues in town, that my daughter has classmates whose parents are performers and that performers are always willing to support the health care community in different ways.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
It came from Tom Cigarran … “always ask for forgiveness and not permission. By the time, you get permission you will have missed the opportunity to make a change.”
What famous business person do you most admire and why?
Melinda Gates — her energy, strategy and thoughtfulness in her work at The Gates Foundation has truly made a profound impact nationally and around the globe. Her work has empowered women and girls to make sustainable improvements in their health, family settings and in their communities. Her focus on gender equity as a path to meaningful changes.
As you think about the future of the health care industry, what is most motivating to you?
180 Health Partners — really. With the incredible talent in our city we are giving back and providing meaningful and effective results. Our bold vision to prevent babies from being born dependent by supporting their mother’s substance free goals is protecting two lives and creating generational change. I am excited for the future.