In this episode of the Chief Healthcare Officer Podcast, Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul is joined by Gordon Andersen, Founding Partner at AGL Executive Search, for a deep conversation about the evolving nature of leadership in healthcare.

Drawing on more than two decades of global executive search experience, Gordon shares how the post-pandemic world has fundamentally changed what organisations look for in their leaders and how authenticity has become the rarest, yet most valuable, trait in the talent market. Together, they explore how today’s CEOs must navigate ambiguity, balance empathy with execution, and build cultures that prioritise people and patients over profit.

Key takeaways

• Lead through ambiguity. Post-COVID, boards value leaders who unite teams amid rapid change, AI disruption, and competing worldviews.
• Authenticity on both sides. Mis-hires happen when candidates or employers sell a version that is not real. Name the challenges early.
• Culture and patients over pure EBITDA. Commercial aggression without a patient-centred culture can erode trust and outcomes.
• Cross-industry hires need caution. Consumer-grade speed and UX help, but stakes in healthcare are higher than tech.
• AI is a tool, not a replacement. Automation can process volume, but cannot assess integrity or empathy at leadership level.
• Retention follows clarity. Unclear board mission and equity hopping undermine tenure and impact.
• Plan ahead. Avoid desperation hires with succession and purpose-led searches.

Listen to the episode and let us know what you think using the contact form on our website: https://www.chiefhealthcareofficer.com.

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In this episode of the Chief Healthcare Officer Podcast, Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul speaks with Dr. Peter Bonis, Chief Medical Officer at Wolters Kluwer and Professor of Gastroenterology at Tufts Medical School, about the realities of AI adoption in healthcare. Drawing from recent surveys and global perspectives, Dr. Bonis explores the enthusiasm surrounding AI, the readiness gap among healthcare professionals, and the governance required to ensure safe and effective implementation. They discuss real-world AI use cases—from ambient scribes to imaging and sepsis detection—revealing that success rates often lag behind expectations. The conversation also examines patient safety concerns, the ethical imperative to build trust, and why deliberate, cautious AI integration may be the best path forward for sustainable transformation.

Key takeaways:

• 80% of healthcare professionals want AI to optimize workflows, but only 63% feel prepared to use it effectively.
• Even leading health systems see modest success with AI tools—e.g., 53% high success with ambient scribes, 19% with imaging, 38% with sepsis risk stratification.
• Major barriers to adoption include tool immaturity, financial constraints, unclear regulations, and lack of governance.
• Patient safety risks include hallucinations, context loss, bias, and over-reliance that may erode clinical skills.
• Governance must be ongoing—covering vetting, workflow integration, regulation compliance, and user training.
• Ethical, transparent AI is not just good practice—it’s essential for maintaining clinician trust.
• National healthcare plans, such as the UK NHS strategy, depend on digital transformation, but overpromising could undermine long-term goals.
• Population-level digital literacy gaps can limit the impact of even the best AI solutions.
• Wolters Kluwer is taking a cautious, trust-first approach, blending AI with the expertise of 7,500 clinical contributors to ensure safety and value.
• AI’s future in healthcare lies in operational efficiency, patient navigation, and provider support—but adoption speed must match system readiness.

Listen to the episode and let us know what you think using the contact form on our website: https://www.chiefhealthcareofficer.com.

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Visit Dr Fatih's Website - https://www.fatihmehmetgul.com/

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In this episode of the Chief Healthcare Officer, Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gül sits down with Olga Kozlova—executive headhunter and leadership advisor with 20+ years of global experience in healthcare, life sciences, and innovation. Together, they unpack the evolving landscape of healthcare leadership, from shifting board expectations to the rising trend of hiring executives from outside the sector.

Olga shares hard-earned lessons on what makes (and breaks) a leadership hire, why cultural fit and agility matter more than ever, and how boards can future-proof their organizations by looking beyond the obvious. Whether you're on a board, in HR, or aspiring to a C-suite role yourself, this episode is full of behind-the-scenes insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

Key Takeaways

1. Cross-Industry Talent Is In Demand
   Healthcare boards are increasingly seeking leaders with backgrounds in tech, retail, marketing, and data to drive innovation and patient-centred care.
2. The Cost of a Bad Hire Is Huge
   Rushed hiring decisions based solely on experience often backfire. The real danger lies in poor cultural fit and lack of agility.
3. Executive Search Is Strategy, Not Just Sourcing
   Top search firms invest time aligning with boards to understand company culture, growth ambitions, and future challenges, not just the current vacancy.
4. Hire for Tomorrow, Not Just Today
   The best leaders are those who can scale with the organization, especially as many healthcare companies aim for IPOs or rapid growth.
5. Authenticity Wins Interviews
   Candidates who tell clear, metrics-driven stories (using the Situation-Action-Result model) stand out far more than those with vague, rehearsed responses.
6. Avoid the “Spray-and-Pray” CV Approach
   Reputation matters. Be strategic and selective when sharing your CV with executive search consultants, especially in small, tight-knit markets like Dubai.
7. Psychometrics and Soft Skills Matter
   Leadership potential, cultural fit, and communication style are rigorously assessed, often more than past job titles.

Listen to the episode and let us know what you think using the contact form on our website: https://www.chiefhealthcareofficer.com.

Follow Dr Fatih Mehmet Gül on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfameg/
Visit Dr Fatih's Website - https://www.fatihmehmetgul.com/

Subscribe to the CHO LinkedIn Newsletter - https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chief-healthcare-officer-6939938177927241728/