Leading Through Learning: How Tampa General Hospital Is Building Collaborative Leaders from Within
Healthcare leadership today requires more than technical expertise, it demands agility, collaboration, and the ability to solve complex problems in real time. At Tampa General Hospital (TGH), a pioneering approach to leadership development is doing just that—and the results are transformative.
Under the guidance of Qualenta Kivett, Executive Vice President and Chief People and Talent Officer, and Alice Pauquette, Vice President of Learning & Development, TGH has launched a bold initiative that reimagines how leadership is cultivated: through Action Learning.
From Classroom to Real-World Impact: A New Model for Leadership Growth
Rather than rely solely on traditional training, TGH has introduced a hands-on, peer-driven Action Learning program that brings together leaders from across clinical, operational, and administrative areas. The goal? Strengthen strategic thinking, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and solve real organizational challenges.
Through a structured, facilitated process, leaders learn how to define problems, ask better questions, analyze data, and present solutions to executive leadership. More importantly, they learn how to listen to each other, work through ambiguity, and navigate complexity together—skills that are essential for healthcare’s evolving landscape.
Coaching Meets Collaboration: From Individual Growth to System-Wide Change
This initiative builds on a foundation of executive coaching, helping participants carry forward their development goals into a group setting. Working with Action Learning Facilitators and executive sponsors, teams explore challenges that matter deeply to the organization. Along the way, they develop leadership behaviors aligned with TGH’s mission of healing, teaching, and innovation.
At Tampa General Hospital, leadership is more than a role—it’s a way of being. Through our AKTiVe model, we’re cultivating leaders who show up with authenticity, lead with kindness, communicate transparently, and embrace vulnerability. These aren’t just values—they’re daily practices that shape how we collaborate, solve problems, and care for one another. Action Learning gives our leaders the space to live these values out loud, and the impact is felt across every corner of our organization. As Alice Pauquette, Vice President of Learning & Development, explains: “When our leaders put AKTiVe into practice, it shifts the entire culture. We see teams becoming braver, more collaborative, and more open to learning from one another.”
The shift from top-down direction to peer-guided exploration is one of the most powerful aspects of the program. As one participant shared, the experience “encouraged us to trust the process, take ownership, and build something meaningful—together.”
A Culture of Inquiry: Building Leaders Who Think and Act Strategically
The program’s early outcomes are compelling. Leaders report increased confidence, deeper collaboration, and a stronger sense of purpose. Just as important, they’ve developed habits of reflection and inquiry that carry over into their day-to-day roles.
By embedding action learning into its leadership strategy, TGH is not just developing leaders—it’s nurturing a culture where curiosity, critical thinking, and shared ownership thrive. It’s leadership development with real-world impact.
At TLD Group, we’re proud to partner with visionary leaders like Qualenta and Alice who are raising the bar on what leadership growth can look like—immersive, intentional, and deeply human.
Is your organization ready to turn complex challenges into leadership opportunities? Let’s talk.
