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Host: Jarvis T. Gray, The Quality Coaching Co.
Guest: Shayla Higginbotham, Founder & Managing Partner, System Partners

Welcome back to the Excellence in Healthcare podcast! In this insightful episode, host Jarvis T. Gray sits down with Shayla Higginbotham—a dynamic healthcare leader, entrepreneur, and founder of System Partners—to unpack lessons in leadership, the evolving landscape of healthcare, and the power of strategic partnership.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

• The Three L’s of Leadership
  • Shayla shares her foundational leadership mindset: Listen, Learn, and Lead. She explains how purposeful listening fuels learning and effective leadership, especially in uncertain times.
  • Bonus Tip: For teams, Shayla often says “Always think five steps ahead” to stay proactive in risk-planning and strategy.
• Career Journey & Entrepreneurship
  • Shayla walks us through her 20-year healthcare journey: From an administrative fellowship at Cone Health and hands-on service at Duke Health, to international consulting and leadership as a hospital CEO in Miami.
• The Evolving Role of AI in Healthcare
  • Shayla candidly discusses her early resistance and eventual embrace of artificial intelligence. She now sees AI and machine learning as essential tools for predictive analytics and accelerating patient care solutions.
• Pivotal Challenges & Lessons Learned
  • Shayla opens up about her toughest career transition—from hospital COO to a consulting manager at Deloitte. She emphasizes that humility, a willingness to “learn what not to do,” and resourcefulness from her West Virginia upbringing helped her succeed in new roles.
  • Advice: What got you to where you are may not get you to your next level. Stay adaptable and connected to your “why.”
• Mentorship & Influence
  • Shayla highlights the importance of never meeting a stranger and seeking wisdom from every level of an organization, especially frontline staff.
• Current Challenges & Opportunities in Healthcare
  • Challenge: Navigating rural health transformation and the uncertainty following major legislative changes (like the "One Big Beautiful Bill act").
  • Opportunity: Rethinking private equity’s disruptive—but potentially positive—role in healthcare, especially in expanding access and innovation.
• Looking Ahead
  • Shayla is excited about growing System Partners, expanding her We Win Wednesday LinkedIn series to showcase healthcare leaders, and getting more involved in mentorship, speaking, and panel opportunities.

Connect with Shayla Higginbotham & System Partners:

• Follow Shayla and System Partners on LinkedIn
• Check out the weekly We Win Wednesday series featuring inspiring healthcare leaders.

Final Thought Jarvis leaves us with a challenge: Use this episode as a chance to listen, learn, and go lead well.

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