HCI Webinar Recap: Empowering Leaders Through Clear and Immediate Impact, with Mark Newman

In the latest HCI Webinar, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Mark Newman about empowering leaders through clear and immediate impact. Below is a summary of the main points from their conversation! Check out the full episode and let us know what you think!

Watch the episode here:

Quick Recap

Jonathan and Mark discussed their shared location in Orem, Utah, and Mark's background as the founder and CEO of Nomi Health, a prolific investor, advisor, board director, and founder of HR tech, healthcare, and AI-focused companies. They also discussed the importance of creating meaningful and impactful work for their teams, the significance of diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, and the importance of empowering frontline staff to control their destiny and address issues promptly. Mark also shared his personal experience of becoming a first-time parent and encountering the healthcare billing system, which inspired him to create a company that transforms healthcare experiences for people earning less than $150,000 annually in America.

Mark's Background and Nomi Health

Jonathan and Mark discussed their shared location in Orem, Utah, and Mark's background as the founder and CEO of Nomi Health, a prolific investor, advisor, board director, and founder of HR tech, healthcare, and AI-focused companies. Mark previously founded and was CEO of HireVue, which was acquired by The Carlyle Group in 2019. He has received numerous recognitions for his work and has spoken at universities and industry events nationally and internationally.

HR Tech Industry Challenges

Jonathan and Mark discussed their experiences in the HR tech industry, emphasizing the importance of creating meaningful and impactful work for their teams. Mark shared his journey of building his own companies, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that came with it. They also touched on the idea of designing work in a way that allows people to derive meaning and purpose, regardless of the job's nature.

Diversity and Inclusivity in Hiring

Mark discussed the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, highlighting how it leads to better performance and longer team stays. He shared his experience at Westminster, where despite having a top-notch finance program, the school was initially overlooked by major banks for hiring. However, once students from Westminster got a chance, they excelled in their roles. This led to the idea of giving more people a shot through video interviews, which has now helped millions of people get hired annually. Mark expressed his satisfaction with the meaningful work he's been able to do in this field.

Transforming Healthcare Experiences for Affordability

Mark shares his personal experience of becoming a first-time parent and encountering the healthcare billing system. He describes how he was offered a 30% discount for paying his hospital bill in full, which led him to question the healthcare cost structure. This realization inspired Mark to create a company that transforms healthcare experiences for people earning less than $150,000 annually in America. His company has successfully reduced healthcare costs, making healthcare more accessible and affordable, which has had positive impacts on various sectors, including education and state economies.

Finding Passion and Purpose in Work

Mark and Jonathan discussed the importance of finding one's passion and purpose in life and work. Mark emphasized the significance of having a "thing" that drives motivation and fulfillment, using the example of a janitor at the space center who felt his role was crucial to the mission. Jonathan shared his own journey, switching from accounting to a career he loved, and highlighted the value of diverse interests and skills in achieving collective goals. They agreed that leaders should foster a culture that allows individuals to find their unique contributions and passions, even in seemingly mundane tasks.

Early Career Experiences and Success

Mark discussed the importance of early career experiences in determining success. He shared his own experiences, including working at Cafe Rio and Hogle Zoo, and how these jobs shaped his understanding of himself and his career path. He emphasized that asking the question "How old were you when you got your first job, and why" was a critical indicator of early career success.

Empowering Frontline Staff for Destiny Control

Mark discussed the importance of empowering frontline staff to control their destiny and address issues promptly. He shared a personal experience where a team member, Tj, called out a problem that affected a small percentage of candidates, emphasizing the need to fix it to maintain the company's values. Mark concluded that when frontline staff are empowered to address issues, the organization is at its healthiest.

Empowering Employees to Act Like Owners

Mark discussed the importance of empowering employees to act like owners and the challenges of managing an organization's health. He emphasized the need for irrefutable truths and the difficulty of assessing and managing organizational health. Mark also highlighted the difference between an organization filled with people who have jobs and one where people can own their craft. He concluded by encouraging the audience to reach out to him for more information about his work at Nomi.

Listen to the webinar here: