In today’s volatile health ecosystem—shaped by shifting regulations, workforce pressures, rising costs, and AI-enabled disruption—one thing remains constant: the critical role of effective, agile, and collaborative leadership. As McKinsey’s 2025 article “Scaling the 21st-Century Leadership Factory” argues, tomorrow’s leaders cannot be built through chance or attrition. They must be deliberately cultivated, starting at the top. At The Leadership Development Group (TLD Group), we wholeheartedly agree—and go one step further. Our Health Ecosystem Leadership Model (HELM™) was first introduced in From Competition to Collaboration.  The authors, Bob Sachs and Tracy Duberman, agree the time has never been more urgent to equip leaders with the HELM skills to envision the future, align stakeholders, manage complexity, and take collective action.  These are the core capabilities echoed and validated by McKinsey’s latest research on next-gen leadership.

Define the Leaders You Need — and Why
McKinsey urges CEOs to “take the pen” and define the attributes they want to cultivate. HELM does just that. It starts by identifying ecosystem challenges unique to healthcare—siloed decision-making, fractured partnerships, and competing interests—and prepares leaders to overcome them with capabilities such as curiosity, influence without authority, systems thinking, and the ability to resolve tension and act under uncertainty. HELM in action: We partner with health systems, payers, and life science organizations to co-design leadership models grounded in shared purpose and strategic vision. The result? Leaders who think beyond their roles and act as architects of cross-sector change.

Engage High Potentials with Purposeful Stretch
Leadership isn’t developed in the classroom alone. As McKinsey notes, CEOs must get high-potentials “into the field” quickly, supported by stretch assignments and real-time learning. TLD Group builds these opportunities into every leadership development journey—through action learning projects, coaching, and interprofessional collaboration that mirrors real-world complexity. HELM in action: Our customized academies pair rising leaders with mentors, faculty, and real-time initiatives across clinical, administrative, and community boundaries. The result? Leaders prepared not only to lead, but to transform.

Build a Culture of Experimentation and Learning
“Fail fast, learn faster” cultures don’t emerge on their own. They must be modeled and reinforced through the organization starting with top leadership. HELM prepares leaders to lead with curiosity and with the courage to test new ideas, embrace feedback, and adapt plans while learning in the face of uncertainty. HELM in action: We help organizations reframe leadership from knowing the answer to asking better questions. From community health initiatives to boardroom strategy, HELM-trained leaders build trust and co-create value—even under pressure.

Scale with Intention, Not Aspiration
As McKinsey warns, slogans like “hire and develop” are not enough. Development must be a system. TLD Group operationalizes this with data-informed assessment, coaching, and talent pipelines that align with organizational priorities. HELM in action: Our integrated approach includes leadership assessments for selection and development, cohort-based programming, and succession planning that spans sectors and disciplines—ensuring the right leaders are ready when it counts.

The CEO's Role: From Sponsor to Steward
Both McKinsey and TLD Group agree: leadership development must be owned by the C-suite. For HELM to take root, CEOs must model collaboration, prioritize leadership growth, and align incentives accordingly. That includes creating time and space for relationship-building, interprofessional dialogue, and shared reflection.

Leading in a Time of Fracture
The future of healthcare depends not just on innovation, but on the people who can lead it. HELM isn’t a theoretical model—it’s a blueprint for building leadership factories capable of delivering results at scale. As McKinsey puts it: “The one role that won’t be disintermediated by AI is that of the leader.” We agree—and would add: the ecosystem leader. A leader who sees across silos. Who acts with purpose. Who builds trust and drives transformation—together. At TLD Group, we’re here to help build the

Is your organization equipped to lead through complexity with clarity and collaboration? TLD Group is here to help you scale leadership for system-wide transformation. Let's talk!