HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 30, 2023 – Dr. Ellen Zane, a nationally renowned health care leader who serves as High Point University’s Health Care Executive in Residence, mentored HPU students on campus on Oct. 24.
Zane, CEO Emeritus of Tufts Medical Center, conducted a life skills seminar titled Leadership and Communication in Dynamic Economic Times for Health Care. She also taught a health care management class and shared lunch with a small group of human relations students. Communication skills become increasingly important as business and health care executives climb in their careers, she said.
Zane retired in 2011 as president and CEO of Tufts Medical Center and Tufts Children’s Hospital, the third-oldest medical center in the country and the sixth-largest employer in Boston, Massachusetts. She holds two faculty appointments at the Tufts University School of Medicine as assistant professor in the Department of Medicine and as assistant professor of public health and community medicine. Additionally, she holds a faculty appointment as adjunct assistant professor of health policy and management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. From 1994 to 2004, she served as network president for Mass General Brigham, originally Partners Healthcare System, which represents one of the largest physician networks in America.
“My background is completely in health care management, so many of my examples are associated with the health care world, but that doesn’t mean that the issues aren’t applicable to all of us in any career,” said Zane. “They are foundational ideas.”
Leaders must use communication skills to set the tone with a variety of audiences, Zane said. Those audiences include:
- Customers or patients and their families
- Employees and unions
- Other business leaders, partners and competitors
- Shareholders
- Government officials
- News media and the public
Zane shared tips for being an effective communicator with each of those audiences. She advised keeping the message simple, clear, respectful, truthful and repeating it as often as needed.
“Understanding how to talk differently to different audiences is what communication is about,” said Zane. “We’re all in sales. We are trying to help people to see it our way. Lastly, don’t shy away from difficult questions. Embrace them. Being a leader, in large part, is being fearless.”
Cooper Clark, a sophomore business administration major from Charlotte, North Carolina, said she found the presentation inspiring.
“One key point from Dr. Zane’s presentation that I took to heart was when she stated the ability to listen to others—without thinking about something else, formulating your response or making snap judgments—is a powerful skill for everyone, especially leaders, to have,” said Clark. “I loved how Dr. Zane explained that this skill can cement relationships as the other person feels like the leader has empathy and cares about what they have to say.”
Clark also appreciated Zane’s explanation that people listen better and more deeply when something is said in a few simple words. Not only do people remember the words, but they begin to believe the meaning and message behind them as well.
“After listening to Dr. Ellen Zane, I can say without a doubt that her message about the importance and power of communication will help me during my time at High Point University and in my future career,” said Clark. “In this day and age, people seem to shy away from in-person communication, or communication in general, because it is not always easy. However, as Dr. Zane pointed out, ‘Good communication is the difference between good and great leaders.’”
HPU’s Access to Innovators program includes dozens of global leaders, such as:
- Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, HPU’s Innovator in Residence
- Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph, HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence
- Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall, HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence
- Domino’s CEO Russell Weiner, HPU’s Corporate Executive in Residence
- Former U.S. Ambassador and FCC Chairman William “Bill” Kennard, HPU’s Global Leader in Residence
- Sean Suggs, Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC) president, HPU’s Technology Executive in Residence
- ABC News’ “Nightline” Anchor Byron Pitts, HPU’s Journalist in Residence
- American Actor, Producer and Television Producer Dean Cain, HPU’s Actor in Residence
- Dee Ann Turner, former vice president at Chick-fil-A and HPU’s Talent Acquisition Expert in Residence
To view a full lineup, visit www.highpoint.edu/accesstoinnovators.