Geoffrey M. Roche is a trusted thought leader and influencer seeking a C-Suite leadership role. He inspires and equips leaders in the Eds and Meds to come together, innovate and solve the most pressing leadership and culture issues so that the workforce is transformed. He is passionate about the intersection of healthcare innovation, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), digital health, and health equity. He is a firm advocate of developing strategic plans with a DEI lens and interested in organizations that promote a culture of excellence. He has a history of successfully leading transformation initiatives in alignment with an organization’s mission, vision, and values.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with CXO Outlook Magazine, Geoffrey shared his professional trajectory, the three major trends to watch out for in the education and healthcare space, significant career milestones, his favorite quote, future plans, pearls of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Geoffrey. Please tell us about your background and areas of expertise.
I inspire and equip leaders in the Eds and Meds (Education and Healthcare) to come together to solve the most pressing issues such as leadership, education, culture, and workforce transformation. My recipe? As a heart leader, I champion transformative leadership through empathy and strategic innovation. ‘Empowering Collaboration Through Empathy’ embodies my mission to unite diverse perspectives for ground-breaking solutions. Join me in leading with purpose and heart.
What do you love the most about your current role?
The opportunity to engage and support healthcare systems to build a more sustainable workforce.
As a heart leader, what do you think leaders must do to allow themselves to develop a transformative leadership mindset?
In a world craving genuine connection and purposeful change, I stand as a beacon of transformation. My mission is to lead with heart, blending empathy with innovation to navigate the challenges of tomorrow. Join me in crafting solutions that not only innovate but resonate deeply within our communities. Let us embed a culture of empathy, resilience, and purpose-driven transformation that transcends traditional boundaries. Together, we must create meaningful and authentic relationships, and pave the way for sustainable success.
You are also an Executive Advisor, National Health Care Practice at Core Education. Can you please tell us about this corporation and your role in it?
The systemic challenges facing higher education disproportionately impact nonprofit institutions. As a public benefit corporation, it is not just in Core’s mission to transform nonprofit universities, it’s in our DNA. Core has built a talented staff with significant organizational depth that would be out of reach for nonprofit institutions. My role is serving as a National Healthcare Executive Advisor.
What are the three major trends do you foresee in your industry in the next 12 months?
The trends include continued workforce challenges, disruption from AI, new technologies, and startups, and the constant systemic challenges in the United States with the health insurance system.
What has been your career highlight so far? And conversely, what has been your biggest learning curve or difficulty to overcome?
I have many career highlights but one that comes to mind is achieving my dreams of being asked to speak at national healthcare conferences as a thought leader and those include HIMSS, Becker’s Healthcare Annual Meeting, ViVE, HLTH, ASU+GSV, among others. The biggest difficulty for me has been dealing with challenging and toxic leaders.
If you could have a one-hour meeting with someone famous who is alive or dead, who would it be and why?
I absolutely aspire to have a one-hour meeting with Former President Barack Obama as he always motivated and inspired me from a leadership standpoint to do and give more in service to others.
How do you keep your mind healthy and stay resilient? And how do you motivate your team?
I focus on my high intensity cardio workouts as self-care, and I constantly work to motivate the teams I serve alongside through compassionate and heart leadership.
What is your favorite quote?
It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Tell us about your future plans. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I hope to have earned my Doctorate in Leadership and continue to advance my leadership journey.
What advice would you give to anyone starting out on their career in the Eds and Meds industry?
Find a mentor, dream big dreams, focus on impact, and lead others compassionately.