At the Nashville Health Care Council we are honored to have a diverse community of healthcare leaders of every level. As healthcare evolves and grows, so does our Council membership. One way we support building and growing the healthcare talent pipeline is the Leadership Health Care (LHC) program. Leadership Health Care fosters the next generation of healthcare leaders by creating educational and networking opportunities for members. We look to our Leadership Health Care Board of Directors to share their experience and spotlight their achievements to provide lessons and examples of success for the full Nashville Health Care Community.
As a program of the Nashville Health Care Council, how has Leadership Health Care influenced your career?
I was extremely fortunate to learn about Leadership Health Care (LHC) early on in my healthcare career. When I started my first full-time job after undergrad at HCA Healthcare, a colleague quickly sold me on LHC. After attending a few events, it was easy to see the value (both professionally and personally) that LHC offered. LHC programming enabled me to expedite my understanding and knowledge of the industry while building an incredible network of individuals, many of whom are now personal friends. By serving on committees and the Board of Directors, I have had the opportunity to learn from mentors and peers around me and develop my own leadership skills that I can leverage as I serve clients or mentor others in the healthcare industry.
"LHC programming enabled me to expedite my understanding and knowledge of the industry while building an incredible network of individuals, many of whom are now personal friends." - Rachel Johnson, Manager, Deloitte.
Tell us about a professional success story that you’re proud of:
Recently, I had an incredible opportunity to consult a pharmaceutical client at the international level. My project scope reached over 20 countries and many time zones. Over the course of several months, I led multiple engagement teams through organizational design, drug launch planning, and post-acquisition transition activities, creating a truly collaborative partnership with our international clients. While I had built strong client or internal stakeholder relationships in the past, this experience is one I am most proud of due to the complexity of the projects, the number of stakeholders involved, the time zones, and internal dynamics.
What inspired you to choose your current career path?
While preparing for my MBA, I began exploring career opportunities, and consulting piqued my interest. The idea of serving different clients through fast-paced, high-impact, complex projects sounded like a career I could excel at. As a former Division 1 Women’s Golfer, I developed skills and values such as time management, resiliency, teaming, ability to perform under pressure, and a passion for continuous improvement that have transferred into my career. Every day in consulting, I am faced with different challenges, and I love the variety. Vanderbilt also did an incredible job preparing me for this career through case interviews, healthcare courses, and real-world consulting experiences. At Deloitte, I am proud of the projects I have been a part of, and I can directly see how my work impacts patients, providers, and employees across the healthcare ecosystem.
What has surprised you most about working in the healthcare industry?
If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before entering the industry, what would it be?
One piece of advice I received a few years into my career was to take on a position in a healthcare or patient care facility. Having on-the-ground, hands-on experience in a hospital or other site of care expedites your understanding of the industry. It broadens your perspective and enables you to see the impact of the business on patients and providers. The healthcare industry is always changing and innovating, so being an active learner is extremely important.
How have you built confidence and/or resiliency over the course of your career?
One of my mentors always said, “your career is your interview and you are responsible for your own development.” To me, it is critical to surround yourself with the right people – those who will push you outside of your comfort zone, encourage you, and be there for you when times are hard. Receiving and being receptive to feedback is also extremely important and over time, it has enabled me to improve and become more confident. I also always set goals for myself and ask leadership what it will take to progress to the next level.
Learn more about the Nashville Health Care Council program, curated specifically for young professionals and emerging leaders, Leadership Healthcare (LHC).