The Competencies and Attributes That Will Define the Next Generation of Health System CEOs
Health care is entering a period defined by margin pressure, workforce strain, digital disruption, and growing community expectations.
Against this backdrop, SullivanCotter and Lotis Blue Consulting partnered to conduct new research on what will define successful health system CEOs in the next era of health care.
The findings are clear: The future belongs to leaders with the cognitive, relational, and adaptive capabilities to guide systems through complexity and sustained transformation.
The study introduces the Health Care Potential Index (HCPI) – a data-driven framework that moves beyond traditional measures such as professional history, background, and tenure to measure true leadership potential. From strategic clarity to empathy and agility, future-ready CEOs must navigate disruption and drive transformation.
The research pinpoints the Vital Ten – a set of data-validated competencies organized across four domains:
- Strategic Mindset
- Execution Engine
- Cultural Leadership
- Adaptive Capacity
These leaders see around corners, make high-quality decisions under pressure, drive measurable results, and build trust across clinicians, boards, and communities. They communicate with clarity, lead change with discipline, and navigate uncertainty with confidence. Beneath these competencies lie defining personality traits – ambition, intellectual curiosity, emotional steadiness, and interpersonal sensitivity – that enable sustained performance in volatile environments.
