A message from new CCHL President & CEO Sue Owen, CHE
Tennis great Billie Jean King is often quoted as saying “pressure is a privilege.” As I embark on my new role as President & CEO of the Canadian College of Health Leaders, I’m acutely aware of the responsibilities – and the privilege – associated with this new role.
Today’s healthcare leaders face pressures like no other time; managing Health Human resource challenges while meeting the demands of a growing, increasingly chronic population in an era of fiscal restraint is no small responsibility. And, no small privilege.
As our landscape continues to change, the Canadian College of Health Leaders will look to play a key role in enabling the adaptive leadership required to thrive in our complex environment. While no one organization represents the panacea for all challenges, leaning into the College as not only a community of leaders – but a community of change agents, subject matter experts and, at times, voices of reason – provides capacity for all of us who have dedicated ourselves to service of health care.
In preparation for my new role, I’ve been orienting and onboarding with the CCHL Staff and Board of Directors. I’m grateful to all staff for embracing me so professionally – and to Alain Doucet for his leadership over the past 6 years.
I took the opportunity while in Ottawa to visit the “Roaring Lion” – the now-infamous portrait of Winston Churchill that now lives behind transparent plexiglass at the Château Laurier. There are many clichés that I could now insert into this narrative – Churchill as a leader, strategic perseverance as a critical success factor – the list is really endless. The symbolism that makes better sense, however, is that the famous portrait of a famous leader now lives behind plexiglass to preserve it so that it stands the test of time.
It occurs to me that this is also true of leadership. Enabling and envisioning a future state designed to meet the needs of patients, professionals and systems requires that we foster a system that is also designed to meet the needs of leaders. In other words, we must also preserve leadership.
I know the College will play an important role in achieving this aim. The array of programs and services – education, conferences, chapters, corporate services, LEADS, CHE (and many others) – have been designed to buffet and bolster leadership capabilities from coast-to-coast-to-coast. This year, we will embark on a strategic planning process designed to support “tomorrow’s leaders, today.” Key to our efforts will be a focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, understanding and actioning how we as a community of leaders can support Truth and Reconciliation, and supporting individuals and organizations as they work though the opportunities associated with providing services of increasingly complex populations.
This is an exciting time for the College and I’m glad to be a part of it.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the CCHL community for the words of support and encouragement as I embark on this new role. I’m particularly grateful to the CCHL Board of Directors for their support – and to my own community of leaders whose advice and counsel has been both enabling and inspiring.
Looking forward to 2025.
