Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Summary
Episode: Michelle Adamolekun, EVP and Chief People & Culture Officer at Cone Health
Host: Ella Gamble
Release Date: July 19, 2025
Introduction to Cone Health and Michelle Adamolekun
In this insightful episode of Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Ella Gamble welcomes Michelle Adamolekun, the Executive Vice President and Chief People & Culture Officer at Cone Health. Michelle provides a comprehensive overview of Cone Health, emphasizing its role as a leading not-for-profit healthcare network in North Carolina. With a robust presence that includes five hospitals, six ambulatory care centers, 11 urgent care centers, and over 120 physician practices, Cone Health serves the Alamance, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, and surrounding counties. The organization proudly employs more than 13,000 team members, over 1,600 physicians, and approximately 1,000 volunteers.
“Cone Health is one of the region's largest and most comprehensive healthcare networks, dedicated to serving our communities with excellence,” – Michelle Adamolekun [00:33]
Recent Partnerships and Headlines
Michelle highlights a significant recent development: Cone Health’s partnership with Risant Health through Kaiser Permanente, solidified on December 1, 2020. This collaboration has enabled Cone Health to advance its strategic roadmap more effectively, fostering agility and accelerating progress in delivering high-quality healthcare services.
“Our partnership with Risant Health has allowed us to realize our strategic goals at a faster pace and with greater agility,” – Michelle Adamolekun [02:24]
Navigating the Competitive Healthcare Talent Landscape
Addressing the current challenges in the healthcare industry, Michelle discusses the intensified competition for healthcare talent. The ongoing shortage of skilled healthcare workers, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has made recruiting efforts alone insufficient. As a result, Cone Health is prioritizing the development and growth of its existing workforce.
“To succeed in this race for talent, we can't just rely on recruiting efforts only. We've got to grow our own talent in-house,” – Michelle Adamolekun [03:04]
Workforce Development Initiatives
Michelle delves into Cone Health’s strategic workforce development initiatives, which align with the organization’s Vision 2030 strategy. These efforts focus on upskilling the workforce to leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and telemedicine, essential for delivering value-based care.
“We need to ensure that our workforce is skilled and has the capabilities to evolve alongside the technological advancements,” – Michelle Adamolekun [05:25]
Revamping Career Architecture and Launching Cone Health University
A standout accomplishment in workforce development has been the comprehensive overhaul of Cone Health’s career architecture. This initiative provides clear career pathways, enabling team members to visualize their growth within the organization.
“Our team members are excited because they can now see where they might have opportunities to grow,” – Michelle Adamolekun [05:55]
Furthermore, Michelle introduces Cone Health University, a virtual platform designed to centralize all development and training resources. This “one-stop shop” approach aims to facilitate easy access to training, upskilling, and career development tailored to individual aspirations.
“Cone Health University is envisioned as a virtual platform where employees can access all their development and training resources in one place,” – Michelle Adamolekun [07:20]
Cultural Transformation and Strategic Roadmaps
Culture plays a pivotal role at Cone Health, and Michelle emphasizes the organization’s proactive approach to cultivating a positive and intentional culture. Since 2010, Cone Health has consistently conducted culture assessments, allowing for deliberate cultural design rather than default practices.
“We're creating a culture by design and not by default, which is what a lot of organizations are doing,” – Michelle Adamolekun [11:09]
Michelle details the recent development of a three-year cultural roadmap, developed in collaboration with a cross-functional steering committee. This roadmap will guide Cone Health’s cultural initiatives through 2028, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with organizational goals.
“We're putting all of our chips on workforce development...to sustain our organization’s trust and impact,” – Michelle Adamolekun [14:19]
Leadership Advice and Best Practices
Transitioning to leadership insights, Michelle shares valuable advice for aspiring leaders, particularly those aiming for roles such as Chief People Officer or Chief HR Officer:
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Leadership as Action:
Leadership is defined by actions, not titles. It requires active engagement in every aspect of the role.“Leadership is an action. At the end of the day, it's not a position, it's not a title,” – Michelle Adamolekun [15:27]
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Purpose-Driven and Empathetic Leadership:
Leading with purpose and empathy is essential, especially in a people-centered industry like healthcare.“Purpose-driven leadership isn't just a trend. It's a necessity in creating trust and sustaining impact,” – Michelle Adamolekun [15:27]
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Relentless Curiosity:
Effective leaders remain curious, continuously seeking to learn and asking insightful questions.“The moment you stop learning, that's the moment that you stop leading,” – Michelle Adamolekun [16:10]
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Cultural Agility:
Embracing and understanding diversity is crucial for modern leadership.“Cultural competency is not optional. It is leadership from an imperative standpoint,” – Michelle Adamolekun [17:05]
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Staying Grounded:
Maintaining a connection to the human experience is vital, even amidst technological advancements.“Leadership is about connection. Never underestimate the power of just checking in, of a smile, of just listening deeply,” – Michelle Adamolekun [18:15]
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Practicing Self-Care:
Leaders must prioritize their well-being to lead sustainably and inspire others.“You need to model your well-being. You cannot model martyrdom,” – Michelle Adamolekun [18:45]
The Role of Empathy in Leadership
The conversation underscores the fundamental role of empathy in leadership. Michelle distinguishes empathy as understanding and appreciating others' perspectives without necessarily agreeing with them.
“Empathy is about putting yourself in someone else's shoes and striving to understand their perspective,” – Michelle Adamolekun [20:25]
She highlights that Cone Health’s diverse workforce benefits from this empathetic approach, fostering trust and enhancing the organization's impact.
“Our diversity of thought, anchored by empathetic understanding, is what sustains Cone Health,” – Michelle Adamolekun [21:20]
Conclusion
Ella concludes the episode by acknowledging the depth of discussion, covering Cone Health’s strategic initiatives in workforce development and culture, as well as Michelle’s invaluable leadership advice. Michelle expresses her commitment to continuing Cone Health's mission and looks forward to future contributions.
“I'm excited to share these initiatives with our followers and continue making a positive impact,” – Michelle Adamolekun [22:26]
This episode offers a profound look into Cone Health’s strategic focus on workforce development and cultural excellence, guided by Michelle Adamolekun’s leadership. Listeners gain valuable insights into effective leadership practices, the importance of empathy, and the proactive strategies essential for thriving in today’s competitive healthcare landscape.