Diversity MBA Magazine - Summer 2008 - (Page 20)

To p 10 0 Un d e r 5 0 D i v e r s e E x e c u t i v e s career path is just that, yours. Do it your way,” she says. “I took some side trips, but I reached my destination, and I love what I do.” JOAN KENNEDY Healthcare is in Joan Kennedy’s blood. Her grandfather was one of the “founders” of open-heart surgery. It’s not surprising that she would select heathcare as her field. Kennedy is president of Health Management Corp. (HMC) and senior vice president of Wellpoint Inc. She is responsible for leading the operations and performance of HMC, one of the nation’s leading integrated health0services companies and a WellPoint business subsidiary. The bulk of her career has been devoted to helping people improve their own health. At HMC, she manages and delivers comprehensive care-management solutions, serving more than 34 million members, and providing more than 30 product solutions to HMC and WellPoint customers. Since she joined HMC in 2006, it has expanded to eight separate sites. The number of associates has grown by 345%, totaling approximately 2,000. Under Kennedy’s leadership, budget costs were streamlined with consolidations and efficiency initiatives, and HMC delivered a 376% growth increase in business over a three-year period. Additionally, HMC programs deliver a two to one return on WellPoint fully insured claims costs, equaling $110 million annually in net savings. The key to her success is simple: People. “You’re only as good as the people that surround you,” she says. “I like to hire right. I hire people much smarter than me. In a service business, especially healthcare, it’s about servicing people. You need a certain personality to work in this field.” Her hiring strategy is to fill the gaps: “Be honest about your weaknesses and hire people to fill the gaps. You should hire your opposites.” Above all else, Kennedy says, when deciding upon a career, go with your passion. “If you’re happy you’ll be successful,” she says. Secondly, she advises, take calculated risks and build strong relationships that create a winning team. Her antidote for the rigors of the workday? “When I walk into the house and the kids yell mommy, my heart melts and everything else goes away.” MICHAEL MILLEGAN Michael Millegan knows that patience can pay off. Fairly early in his career, he grasped the notion that promotion isn’t the only way to the top. Strategic lateral moves can work the same magic. Throughout his career, he made five, and all gave him insight to a variety of areas, including accounting, human resources, logistics, operations, and more. Today, Millegan is president of Partner Solutions for Verizon Telecom. “It’s not always about a promotion, but a lateral move that enhances your ability to grow, to gain more experience and exposure to different areas of the business,” he says. With no lust for instant gratification, he humbly offered to volunteer for a compensation expert at the firm when that was an area he wanted to learn. At first, his soon-to-be mentor turned him down, but as the workload increased, he welcomed an extra pair of hands. Millegan volunteered to help out during evenings and weekends, in addition to his regular job. When a compensation position came up in another division, his mentor made a call on his behalf. All that volunteering was suddenly worth every hour spent. He’s had a lot of help in his 28 years at Verizon. One piece of advice that sticks with him today was the importance of leaving your comfort zone. “I found that when I left my comfort zone, that’s when things happened,” he says, adding that it’s that kind of advice he in turn is doling out to his many mentees. Millegan shares a few life lessons. “If I had to do it all over again, I’d smile 20 w w w. d ive r s it y mb a ma g a z in e. c o m http://www.diversitymbamagazine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Diversity MBA Magazine - Summer 2008

Diversity MBA Magazine - Summer 2008 Contents Letters to the Editor In Your Own Hands Editor's View Find Your Power Voice Business Briefs Off the Shelf The Fourth Annual Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Corporate Executives Negotiation: The Art of Persuasion or Zero Sum Game? Career Planning for Tomorrow's Hispanic Workforce Who's Who In Diversity Entrepreneur Profile: Anita Santiago: Doing It Her Way Businesses that Keep On Giving Rising Sun Going Global: Will An International Assignment Benefit Your Career Work-Life Balance and the C-Suite: An Oxymoron? A Call to Save Travel: Off the Beaten Path - Chile Drawing the Line – Latin Art Exhibit The New Taste of Latin Cuisine American Sabor: Exhibit Highlights Latino Influence in Pop Music Crafting Specialized Business Degrees Latest MBA Salary Suggests MBA Is A Safe Haven Gadgets & Gizmos Gone Phishing – How Scammers Mine Private Data From Web Surfers Advertiser's Index The Meaning of Sanctuary

Diversity MBA Magazine - Summer 2008

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