Who Thrives In The Healthcare Industry According To A Head Of Transformation At Optum
Zach, Head of Transformation at Optum, highlights the importance of "being curious" and actively networking, advising early-career professionals to "make a habit of doing a lot of coffee chats" and "look for opportunities to be useful." He emphasizes the value of asking questions, even seemingly basic ones, to gain insights and build a strong professional brand, echoing Susan Wojcicki's advice on the significance of fundamental questioning.
Networking, Communication, Curiosity, Problem-Solving, Mentorship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Zach Goldman
Head of Transformation
Optum
USC, 2007
UCLA Anderson MBA
Political Science, American Studies
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Strategic Management and Executive
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Develop a habit of networking by engaging in coffee chats and lunches to learn from others and build your professional brand.
2. Don't hesitate to ask questions, even if they seem basic; this demonstrates curiosity and a willingness to learn.
3. Be proactive in seeking out opportunities to assist colleagues and contribute meaningfully to your team and organization.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
Here's the cleaned transcript:
A couple of things I've observed. I mentioned earlier the importance of being curious. One thing I advise people earlier in their career to do is make a habit of doing a lot of coffee chats.
Make yourself available to meet people for lunch or coffee. Ask them about what they do. Folks mid to late career are generally willing to make themselves available to talk to people earlier in their careers, so take advantage of that. People enjoy talking about themselves.
Ask them to share their experiences about what they do, how they got there, and what they think is important. Look for opportunities to be useful to the people around you. As you go through that, you'll learn more about how the industry functions.
You'll also build a network of supporters, and frankly, you'll build your brand, which is useful. So, the ability and willingness to put yourself out there, an interest in networking, and getting to know the people around you are key.
Don't be afraid to ask seemingly dumb questions. Susan Wojcicki, a UCLA alumna and former CEO of YouTube, spoke at my commencement. She talked about the importance of asking fundamental questions.
People who assume asking questions might make them look dumb are generally ineffective. Those willing to ask basic questions and say, "Explain it to me in a way that I can understand," are usually able to draw toward meaningful insights. So, don't be shy about asking questions.