WittKieffer Impactful Leaders Podcast

A Bold, Business-first Perspective on HR in Higher Education: Amanda Bailey

Amanda Bailey, Interim CHRO at Oregon State University and nationally recognized HR thought leader, joins WittKieffer’s Sarah Palmer to discuss leadership, resilience, and the future of work in higher education. Drawing on senior roles at Boston University, Brown University, and Morehouse College, Amanda shares actionable insights for navigating disruption and fostering thriving workplace cultures. She explores the power of influence, adaptability, and collaboration as institutions face rapid change, emphasizing HR’s role as strategic partner and internal consultant. From breaking down silos to listening for the “unsaid,” Amanda offers practical guidance for cultural transformation rooted in empathy and connection. 

Accelerating Physician Leader Impact: Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, MD

Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS—Editor-in-Chief of JAMA and the JAMA Network, and Endowed Professor of Medicine and Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at University of California San Francisco —shares leadership insights shaped by her journey across clinical care, research, and publishing.
In this Impactful Leaders Podcast episode, part of our Accelerating Physician Leader Impact series, she explores what it takes to lead amid rapid change. Dr. Bibbins-Domingo emphasizes self-awareness, organizational alignment, and adaptability, while tackling one of healthcare’s most urgent challenges: equity. Equity, she argues, must be embedded into an organization’s DNA—not siloed or politically constrained.
She also discusses bridging clinical practice and public policy, the importance of communication, and building networks beyond traditional silos. With medicine advancing at unprecedented speed—from AI to new therapeutics—her advice for physician leaders is clear: lead with resilience, fairness, and flexibility.

Strategies for Uncertain Times in Academic Medicine: UMass Chan's Michael F. Collins, MD

Michael F. Collins, M.D., has always been a doer, but that doesn't mean he was always a leader. Leading, he observes, requires relinquishing a "command and control" mindset, letting others be the doers, and being willing to embrace the uncertainty which is ubiquitous in academic medicine today. It takes time to learn. 
For nearly two decades, Dr. Collins has led UMass Chan Medical School through extraordinary growth and transformation, overseeing a billion-dollar enterprise and championing life sciences strategy across five campuses. As the longest-serving chancellor in the University of Massachusetts system, Dr. Collins reflects on what it takes to lead in an era defined by complexity and volatility. “We had much more certain times 20 years ago," he recalls. "Managing now is very much a balance beam act" of assessing uncertainty and collaborating with others to work through challenges.  
In this Impactful Leaders Podcast episode, Dr. Collins speaks with Kimberly Smith, Executive Partner of WittKieffer's Academic Medicine Practice, and Andrew Bean, Principal, sharing candid insights on navigating financial pressures, research funding challenges, and workforce demands while maintaining institutional stability. He emphasizes the importance of transparency and adaptability, recalling lessons learned during the pandemic: “I got more people to follow me when I said I didn’t know than when I gave a directive to say, 'Do this or do that.' ” 
Their conversation also explores strategies for sustaining innovation and morale amid shrinking federal research dollars. Collins outlines how UMass Chan is leveraging partnerships, private foundations, and state support to stabilize its research enterprise and retain top talent. His approach offers a roadmap for leaders seeking to balance short-term survival with long-term ambition in highly competitive environments. It's imperative that organizations find funding lest they lose a generation of research that will take longer than a generation to replace. 
Finally, Dr. Collins reflects on the enduring value of mentorship and the mindset required for impactful leadership. His advice is simple yet profound: “First, you have to want to, then you can.” This episode delivers actionable insights on resilience, resourcefulness, and leading with purpose in an era of unprecedented change. 

From Tradition to Transformation – the Future of Academia: Arthur Levine, PhD

“We’re living through a transformation as profound as the Industrial Revolution,” says Arthur Levine, PhD, President of Brandeis University. “You have to lead your institution through it.” 
One of higher education’s most respected voices on institutional transformation, Dr. Levine joins WittKieffer's Elsa Núñez for a compelling conversation on the future of academia for WittKieffer’s Impactful Leaders Podcast. With decades of leadership experience—including presidencies at Teachers College, Columbia University and the Woodrow Wilson Graduate School—Dr. Levine shares his vision for reinventing the liberal arts, embracing innovation, and leading through disruption. He reflects on his lifelong commitment to improving education and the importance of adapting to a rapidly changing world. “We’re moving from a national analog industrial economy to a global digital knowledge economy,” he explains. “The programs we had in the past don’t work anymore.” At Brandeis, he’s leading a comprehensive reinvention of the liberal arts, aligning academic programs with real-world competencies and career readiness—an effort that earned overwhelming faculty support and is already drawing national attention. 
The episode also explores the role of innovation and urgency in institutional leadership. Dr. Levine discusses the launch of Brandeis’s Center for Applied Liberal Arts and Careers, which includes a new competency-based transcript and a skunkworks lab focused on integrating AI into instruction. “What makes a GPS helpful is that it can help you the minute you’re off track,” he says. “Why can’t learning be like that?” His analogy underscores the need for real-time, personalized learning models that better serve today’s students. 
For leaders navigating financial pressures, public scrutiny, and the need for institutional distinction, Dr. Levine offers clear advice: study history, listen carefully, and lead with vision. 

Academic Medicine Dean Insights: Lawrence Chin, M.D.

Lawrence Chin, MD, FAANS, FACS got into medicine through a leap of faith. “It was really an uninformed decision,” he recalls, one that was more about instinct than planned preparation. Today, potential physicians have so much information about specialties and careers that they often decide not to take that leap. Thus, part of Dr. Chin’s job as a leader and mentor is to encourage others to follow their curiosities and passions without a full picture of what to expect.  
In this Impactful Leaders Podcast episode, part of our Academic Medicine Dean Insights special series, Dr. Chin, Dean of the College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University, shares his journey from neurosurgery to academic leadership—and the lessons learned along the way—with WittKieffer's Valerie Weber, MD, herself a former dean. His story is one of curiosity, mentorship, and a deep commitment to institutional impact. 
Reflecting on his early influences, Dr. Chin recalls, “I didn’t realize it at the time but my chair during residency was a mentor and a sponsor,” Dr. Chin recalls. “He was the kind of person I wanted to be, the doctor I wanted to be, the leader I wanted to be.” For deans and aspiring deans, his path offers insight into how formative relationships shape leadership identity. 
Dr. Chin offers a candid look at the realities of leading in today’s academic medicine environment. From financial pressures and shifting public policy to the emotional demands of serving students, faculty, and health systems, he describes the dean’s role as “an extreme job.” His recent co-authored study on dean tenure reveals that most deans leave their roles within 3–4 years—often before a student completes their degree. “It can’t be good if you think stability plays any role in how a dean can be effective,” he says. “I don’t see how 3 to 4 years is ideal in any circumstance.” 
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Chin shares his philosophy on aligning personal fulfillment with institutional mission. His approach centers on understanding what drives each member of the academic community and creating conditions for them to thrive—an essential mindset for deans shaping culture and strategy. For current and future deans, Dr. Chin’s reflections offer practical wisdom for navigating complexity with clarity, compassion, and purpose. 

Accelerating Physician Leader Impact: Vicki Johnson, PhD

A Pitch for Leading with Passion and Purpose
Dr. Vicki Johnson’s leadership journey is rooted in purpose, resilience, and a deep commitment to helping others rise. As founder and Chief Executive Officer of career resource firm ProFellow, and a four-time fellowship recipient, Dr. Johnson has built a platform that empowers ambitious professionals to access elite opportunities. Her path—from public policy and disaster management to entrepreneurship and authorship—reflects a consistent drive to serve. “If you're in a leadership position, you will succeed if you're really driven by that personal mission,” she shares. 
In this episode of our Accelerating Physician Leader Impact special series, Dr. Johnson discusses with WittKieffer's Michael Anderson, MD, how preparation and clarity of purpose helped her overcome early career challenges and build credibility in high-stakes environments. She emphasizes the importance of self-confidence and strategic communication, especially for emerging leaders navigating competitive spaces. Her forthcoming book, Pitch Your Potential, offers a formula for crafting compelling personal pitches—tools she’s used to build partnerships, win fellowships, and mentor thousands of professionals. 
Mentorship is a central theme in Dr. Johnson’s work. She challenges traditional approaches that limit ambition and instead advocates for empowering mentees with actionable guidance. “I never give an opinion about what I think they can and can't achieve,” she says. “I just fully support their goals, and I make a point to give them a blueprint, not an opinion.” Her insights offer a refreshing take on how leaders can foster growth and unlock potential in others. 
They also explore practical strategies for communicating impact, building authentic networks, and staying anchored in purpose. Dr. Johnson’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership – especially for physicians – is not just about credentials—it’s about conviction, clarity, and the courage to step up.

Enrollment Leadership – A Love Story: Angel Pérez, PhD

Angel Pérez, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), confesses to being an "accidental leader" who needed nudging from others to become a senior leader in admission and enrollment. One of his current goals, therefore, is to identify routes to leadership for others in the enrollment profession. His ideas are outlined in his book The Hottest Seat on Campus: A Roadmap for Mastering Leadership in College Admission, which he considers a "love letter to the profession."
In this installment of WittKieffer's Impactful Leaders Podcast, Dr. Pérez joins Senior Advisory Kasey Urquídez for a candid and inspiring conversation on the evolving demands of enrollment leadership. A nationally recognized voice in educational access and student success, Dr. Pérez shares insights from his book and reflects on his journey from first-generation college student to leading one of higher education’s most influential organizations.
Dr. Pérez emphasizes the emotional and public pressures facing enrollment leaders, and the urgent need for empathy and support from institutional leadership. “The chief enrollment officer is not your savior,” he explains. “So many presidents hire someone and expect all the challenges to disappear. But this role is complex, and success requires strategic investment, coaching, and care.” His reflections challenge institutions to rethink how they empower those in the hottest seat on campus.
He also shares personal lessons learned from burnout and recovery, advocating for a shift from self-care to self-management. “Half of winning the battle in enrollment is on how we manage ourselves,” he says. “How do we create routines, boundaries, and fulfillment in both our work and home lives?”
Looking ahead, Dr. Pérez offers a hopeful vision for the future of college admission and enrollment—one rooted in innovation, resilience, purpose . . . and love.

Impact and Innovation in Aging Services: CEO Stories and Strategies (Part II)

Part II: Creating Culture, Connection, and Community
Three experienced, respected Chief Executive Officers in the aging services field recently took time to connect and share ideas and innovations with WittKieffer Senior Partner Lisa DeSimone Arthur, leader of the firm's Aging Services, Home Health and Hospice Practice. The executives include:
Jan Hamilton-Crawford, CEO of Oakwood Village in Wisconsin
Tyler Kendall, CEO of Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge (WCBR) in Virginia
Adam Marles, CEO of Missouri-based EverTrue, formerly Lutheran Senior Services
In the first segment of the two-part series, the executives focused on growth and innovation in turbulent times. In this second installment, they focus on leadership and their secrets of success. Topics include:
 
Fundamentals of leading in aging services today
Engaging the board as collaborators and partners
Attracting and retaining a dynamic, quality-focused workforce
Creating an authentic, participatory culture
Advice and words of wisdom for today's CEOs and executives in aging services
 
It's a special, honest conversation about finding meaning and embracing mission as an individual leader and collectively with one's entire organization.
 

Impact and Innovation in Aging Services: CEO Stories & Strategies (Part I)

Part I: Blending Growth, Innovation, and Mission  
WittKieffer recently hosted an extensive conversation with three dynamic chief executives in the aging services field. Senior Partner Lisa DeSimone Arthur, leader of the firm's Aging Services, Home Health and Hospice Practice, led a discussion of key industry issues with: 
Jan Hamilton-Crawford, CEO of Oakwood Village in Wisconsin 
Tyler Kendall, CEO of Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge (WCBR) in Virginia 
Adam Marles, CEO of Missouri-based EverTrue, formerly Lutheran Senior Services 
In this first segment of a two-part series, the executives explore how they are forging ahead with growth and innovation despite an extremely challenging marketplace. Topics include: 
 
Driving growth and new revenue streams, while remaining agile to manage market shifts 
Embracing AI, robotics, and new technologies without losing the human touch 
Fostering resident engagement that goes beyond "a cruise ship on land" 
Embedding operational improvement in the organizational culture 
Meeting the "middle market" and community needs despite uncertain financial benefit 
 
Collectively, the three executives offer unique perspectives and creative suggestions for surviving and thriving in aging services today. 
 

Accelerating Physician Leader Impact: Conor Delaney, MD

Dr. Conor Delaney’s leadership journey began with a love for surgery and a curiosity about how systems work. From his early days in transplant immunology to his current role as Executive Vice President of Cleveland Clinic and President of its Florida market, Dr. Delaney has consistently sought out opportunities to build teams, improve care, and lead with purpose. “I like surgery,” he reflects. “But what really kept me moving forward was asking, ‘How can I help? How can I step up?’” 
In this episode in our Accelerating Physician Leader Impact series, Dr. Delaney shares with Michael Anderson, MD, how mentorship and intentionality have shaped his approach to leadership. He emphasizes the importance of creating a culture where people feel comfortable seeking guidance and making decisions collaboratively. Whether mentoring junior residents or leading large hospital teams, Dr. Delaney believes that regular, authentic engagement is key to developing resilient and empowered leaders. 
As healthcare faces unprecedented challenges, Dr. Delaney offers a three-pillar framework for navigating complexity: focus on quality, support your team, and optimize operations. He discusses how aligning people around the shared goal of delivering high-quality care can be a powerful motivator, even in turbulent times.  
The key to physician leadership going forward, he says, is to identify opportunities for talent development earlier and earlier in individuals' careers, so they build a familiarity with leadership before they are called to lead.