Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: Advancing Nurse Leadership and Multi-Generational Trust with Dan Collard

Date: December 4, 2025
Host: Scott Becker
Guest: Dan Collard, Co-Founder of Healthcare Plus Solutions Group

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Dan Collard, co-founder of Healthcare Plus Solutions Group (HPSG), focusing on the advancement of nurse leadership and building multi-generational trust in healthcare organizations. Scott Becker and Dan dissect HPSG’s recent acquisition of a nurse leadership development firm, discuss the concept of human-centered leadership, and explore themes from Dan's upcoming book Genfluence. The episode also touches on the revised edition of "Rewiring Excellence" and the ongoing effort to provide practical, evidence-based tools for healthcare leaders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dan Collard’s Background and the Operator’s Lens (00:52–01:29)

• Dan introduces himself as both the husband of a nurse and an "operator at heart," highlighting his dual perspective on the healthcare field.
  • Quote: “I'm the husband of a nurse... And then when I did get into healthcare, I always introduced myself [as] an operator at heart.” (00:52)
• This operator's lens keeps his focus grounded in the day-to-day realities of frontline healthcare staff and leaders.

2. HPSG’s Recent Acquisition: Elevating Nurse Leadership (02:00–05:28)

• HPSG recently acquired You Leadership, a company founded by Kay Kennedy, Susan Campos, and Lucy LeClaire, specializing in nurse leadership development.
• The decision was informed by independent research with the American Organization of Nurse Leaders and the American Nursing Association, involving around 5,000 nurses and revealing a significant demand for leadership development, especially post-COVID.
• The acquisition aims to broaden development opportunities for various levels of nursing leaders—down to charge nurses and clinical supervisors, who often lack sufficient leadership training.
  • Quote: “There was a greater thirst than ever for... leadership development, helping someone, especially... the newest leaders in the industry post Covid, really feel like they were a better version of themselves on an ongoing basis.” (02:14)
• Collard emphasizes that this partnership is about growing impact, leveraging shared vision and evidence-based practice.
  • Quote: “Sometimes it's just as much about things fit and common cause and common commitment to that impact as it is anything.” (05:49)

3. The Human-Centered Leadership Model (03:59–05:28)

• You Leadership's approach is grounded in the concept that "it begins with you, but it's not about you"—nurse leaders must care for themselves to care effectively for their teams and ultimately patients.
  • Quote: “Nurse leaders do a really good job taking care of everybody, but they don't always do a good job taking care of themselves.” (04:14)
• Their research has been published in over 30 peer-reviewed journals, giving HPSG’s curriculum academic credibility and practical relevance.

4. New Book Release: Genfluence (06:49–09:12)

• Genfluence, written with Dr. Katherine Meese, seeks to "mythbust" generational stereotypes in healthcare workplaces and provide a research-driven framework for cross-generational leadership.
  • The book avoids simplifications like "Boomers act this way, Gen Z that way," and instead examines the role of technology and history in shaping workplace attitudes.
  • Quote: “Oftentimes it ends up being almost too stereotypical... In the absence of fact, we tend to make up our own stories about people.” (07:30)
• The book also introduces the idea of professional workforce influencers—leaders who shape culture across all ages.
• Genfluence will be available through ACHE, Amazon, and HPSG’s website, shipping from December 15th, and has already become a #1 new release on Amazon in its category.
  • Quote: “We decided to write a book that... serves as a mythbuster... and we wanted the book to be useful for operators... the ABC123 how to lead a multigenerational workforce.” (07:44)
  • Quote: “So we took the two concepts, we mashed them together, and that's where the name genfluence came from.” (08:54)

5. Rewiring Excellence: The Living Book Approach (11:08–14:11)

• Collard discusses the upcoming second edition of Rewiring Excellence, a follow-up to the influential "Hardwiring" books, reflecting their ongoing commitment to practical improvement.
  • The book builds on industry feedback, focusing on “less is more” by refining existing strategies instead of adding more tasks.
  • Quote: “Maybe it's not a matter of 18 new to do's. Maybe it's just a matter of looking at the work that you do and tweaking and fine tuning that work.” (11:44)
• The book is dynamic—reader and field feedback continues to shape its content.
  • New additions include updated behavioral-based interview questions sourced directly from industry leaders via LinkedIn and other networks.
  • Quote: “It's a living, breathing book and we're just going to kind of try to keep that tradition.” (13:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On nurse leadership development needs:
  “There was a greater thirst than ever for development, leadership development... helping someone, especially perhaps some of the newest leaders in the industry post Covid, really feel like they were a better version of themselves on an ongoing basis.” (02:14) – Dan Collard

• On the human-centered approach:
  “It begins with you, but it's not about you.” (04:03) – Dan Collard, quoting You Leadership’s motto

• On fitting partnerships:
  “Sometimes it's just as much about things fit and common cause and common commitment to that impact as it, as it is anything. We want it to be a great business decision, obviously, but... we're cut out of the same cloth...” (05:50) – Dan Collard

• On breaking generational stereotypes:
  “Oftentimes it ends up being almost too stereotypical... In the absence of fact, we tend to make up our own stories about people.” (07:30) – Dan Collard

• On updating legacy leadership strategies:
  “Maybe it's not a matter of 18 new to do's. Maybe it's just a matter of looking at the work that you do and tweaking and fine tuning that work.” (11:44) – Dan Collard

Important Timestamps

• 00:52 – Dan Collard’s background and operator’s view
• 02:00–03:52 – Rationale and process of HPSG’s acquisition of You Leadership
• 03:59–05:28 – What sets You Leadership apart and the human-centered leadership philosophy
• 06:49–09:12 – Genfluence: origin, goals, and availability
• 11:08–14:11 – The evolution and expansion of Rewiring Excellence

Episode Tone and Final Thoughts

Dan Collard's approach is consistently constructive, practical, research-driven, and focused on the empowerment of both leaders and teams in healthcare. Both he and Scott Becker maintain a conversational, collegial tone—full of genuine admiration, curiosity, and a shared sense of mission to improve healthcare leadership at all levels.