Meet Kathy F. Bernhard, a leader in succession planning and leadership development, whose work with TLD Group has transformed how healthcare organizations navigate leadership transitions.
Addressing Leadership Challenges in Healthcare
Kathy partnered with a major non-profit health system in New York to address a leadership transition challenge. The CEO and other senior executives were nearing retirement, prompting concerns about who would lead the organization into the future. The leadership team recognized the need for a well-defined, data-driven process to select the next generation of senior leaders, particularly the CEO. The goal was to ensure a smooth transition, accepted by both the Board and the broader organization.
Crafting a Strategic Succession Plan
Kathy crafted a detailed Success Profile outlining the qualities needed for the next CEO, gathered through interviews with key stakeholders. Through interviews with 25 key stakeholders, including Board members, she gathered insights to create a clear understanding of the competencies and attributes required for the next CEO. After the Success Profile was approved, the internal candidate was assessed against it through additional stakeholder interviews as well as a Hogan assessment.
This rigorous process produced a development plan and coaching framework for the candidate, leading to his promotion first to COO and then to CEO. Under his leadership, the organization introduced a High Potential Competency Model, which allowed for similar assessments and development plans across senior teams, deepening the organization's leadership pipeline. TLD Group also supported the rollout of talent reviews to ensure that the leadership development process was embedded at all levels of the organization.
The results speak for themselves: "Kathy has been a critical partner for several years. With her professional guidance, our organization was able to successfully manage many OD initiatives, including the recent succession of several C-Suite executives," shared Susan Bornstein, former CHRO.
Achieving a Seamless Leadership Transition
Kathy’s work led to a smooth and successful CEO transition, with multiple internal promotions that further strengthened the organization’s leadership structure. The transition was more than a momentary change; it provided the organization with a sustainable strategy for future succession.
Building Strong Partnerships
Kathy’s role in this process allowed her to build strong relationships with the leadership team and Board members and see the positive impact of the work she spearheaded from inception to completion. The experience provided her with deep insights into how leadership transitions can be managed effectively, especially in complex healthcare environments where continuity and trust are paramount.
Evolving the Future of Succession Planning
As Kathy looks to the future, she sees exciting opportunities for evolving the succession planning process. Traditionally, organizations have focused on creating lists of potential leaders, but Kathy advocates for a more dynamic approach that emphasizes "succession readiness." This approach includes actionable development plans and accountability to ensure that leadership transitions are not only planned but actively prepared for.
"Too often, succession planning is reduced to creating an inventory of names without considering and creating accountability for the development needed to ensure successful transitions," Kathy explains. Focusing on readiness enables organizations to navigate leadership changes more effectively and maintain long-term success.
Through her work with TLD Group, Kathy continues to drive forward-thinking strategies that empower organizations to build resilient leadership pipelines, ensuring that future leaders are prepared to step into critical roles when the time comes.
For more information and to contact Kathy, please reach us at info@tldgroupinc.com.
