DGTL Voices with Ed Marx

Episode: Building Communities in Healthcare (ft. Renee DeSilva)

Release Date: April 2, 2026
Guest: Renee DeSilva, CEO of the Health Management Academy

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode of DGTL Voices, host Ed Marx chats with Renee DeSilva, CEO of the Health Management Academy, to explore the importance of community in healthcare, authentic leadership, career evolution, and the future of work. Together, they reflect on personal journeys, share practical advice for professionals aspiring to the C-suite, and discuss how the Academy builds powerful forums for collective advancement in healthcare.

Main Themes & Discussion Highlights

Renee's Background and Influences

• Musical Tastes and Personal Mantra (01:15-01:54)

  • Renee is a "90s R&B and hip hop fan" with Mary J. Blige and Jay Z on her playlist.
  • Life mantra rooted in stoic principles: "You don't control what happens, but you do control your response to what happens." (01:54)
    • "Control your response, and you have more agency than you often think you do." – Renee DeSilva (01:54)

• Early Life in Rhode Island (02:33-03:16)

  • Grew up as the youngest of four in a tight-knit community, toggling between being the little sister and an only child.

• Pivotal Moment: Early Motherhood (03:24-04:09)

  • Had her first daughter at 19, which sharpened her focus and resilience.
  • "Having Jasmine was a moment... it really locked me in and gave me a level of just wanting to do well by her." – Renee DeSilva (03:45)

Career Path: From Accidental Beginnings to CEO

• Entering Healthcare by Chance (04:25-05:20)

  • Started at Accenture (consumer products) but shifted to healthcare via the Advisory Board—a "happy accident."
  • "I think I was an accidental healthcare leader." – Renee DeSilva (05:20)

• Diverse Roles and Skill-Building (05:36-07:13)

  • Progressed from sales & marketing to talent management and executive roles.
  • Emphasizes skill and relationship development over title or linear career progression.

• Importance of Talent (06:52-08:16)

  • Became Chief Talent Officer, then CEO; credits her growth orientation and unique experience for thriving as a CEO.
  • "A good talent strategy is either an unlock for the organization or… you're handcuffed by it." – Renee DeSilva (06:22)

Leadership Insights

• Feedback as a Gift & "Running to Criticism" (08:16-09:19)
  • Believes in embracing feedback, even if difficult.
  • "Growth is always on the other side of your comfort zone. Feedback is a gift, even if it's hard to hear." – Renee DeSilva (08:25)
• Overcoming the "Zone of Silence" at the Top (09:32-10:06)
  • "If you have created for yourself a sort of zone of silence where you're not getting the feedback, that can be really challenging." – Renee DeSilva (09:36)
• Key Mentors & Learning Vulnerability (10:29-11:58)
  • Early mentors taught her precision and the importance of vulnerability as a leader.

The Health Management Academy: Mission and Impact

• Mission & Vision (12:16-13:25)
  • "We believe in the power of community to drive health forward."
  • Forums bring together health system leaders and industry partners.
• Cross-Pollination through Forums (13:49-14:26)
  • Forums intentionally mix different leadership roles (e.g., CIOs, CFOs) to foster collaboration.
  • "The lines of any executive role these days are quite blurred... we figure out the right ways to dot connect across multiple constituencies." – Renee DeSilva (13:49)
• Upcoming Objectives (14:56-16:09)
  • Expanding to serve independent health systems.
  • Engaging in shaping policy on Capitol Hill to impact the broader ecosystem.

CEO Life & Behind-the-Scenes

• A Peek into Renee’s Week (16:37-18:32)
  • 40% spent directly with members (e.g., producing events, calls with health system CEOs).
  • Significant time with her own board and internal team operations.
  • "I'm constantly calibrating my time spent and ensuring that it's going in the right direction." – Renee DeSilva (18:23)
• Little-Known Facts about the Academy (18:54-19:45)
  • Academy hosts ~60 events per year.
  • The Academy has a co-investment arm; $230 million deployed in five years.
  • Tracks the cost of coffee at venues as a fun economic indicator.

Notable Moments

• Favorite Event Venues (20:03-20:41)
  • Montage Laguna Beach noted as a standout event property.

Core Leadership Lessons

• Key Skills for Aspiring CEOs (21:20-23:06)
  • Team-building: "If I have one superpower, it’s that I can read talent, and I know how to build really effective teams."
  • Relationship development and confidence: Being comfortable not having all the answers and not falling in love with your own ideas.
  • "Having some distance between how you view yourself is super helpful... you’re gonna get some things right, and... you’re gonna get some things wrong." – Renee DeSilva (23:06)
• Learning from 360 Feedback (23:29-24:33)
  • Acknowledging the “facts” of others’ perceptions, regardless of agreement.
  • "Would people want to work with you or for you?" – Renee DeSilva (24:10)

Personal Reflective Stories

• Sports as a Life Lesson (24:49-25:49)
  • Completing track season in high school instilled grit and accountability.
  • "If you start something, you have to finish it. You’re accountable. That has definitely stayed with me." – Renee DeSilva (25:49)
• On Running Today (25:52)
  • "If you ever see me running, you should run too, because somebody is chasing."

Notable Quotes

• "You don't control what happens, but you do control your response to what happens." – Renee DeSilva (01:54)
• "I think I was an accidental healthcare leader." – Renee DeSilva (05:20)
• "A good talent strategy is either an unlock for the organization or… you're handcuffed by it." – Renee DeSilva (06:22)
• "Growth is always on the other side of your comfort zone. Feedback is a gift, even if it's hard to hear." – Renee DeSilva (08:25)
• "The lines of any executive role these days are quite blurred... we figure out the right ways to dot connect across multiple constituencies." – Renee DeSilva (13:49)
• "If you have created for yourself a sort of zone of silence where you're not getting the feedback, that can be really challenging." – Renee DeSilva (09:36)
• "If you start something, you have to finish it. You're accountable. That has definitely stayed with me." – Renee DeSilva (25:49)
• "If you ever see me running, you should run too, because somebody is chasing." – Renee DeSilva (25:52)

Final Reflections & Future Challenges

• On Leadership Mindset for the Next Decade (28:20-29:00)
  • The compact between employers and employees is changing rapidly.
  • Leaders must actively shape workplace culture for a new generation.
  • "What is the future culture of the workforce, and how do we just constructively build that in collaboration with our teams?" – Renee DeSilva (28:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:15 — Renee’s playlist and musical influences
• 01:54 — Foundational life principles
• 03:24 — Pivotal moment: Becoming a young mother
• 04:25 — Entering healthcare
• 05:36 — Career progression and talent management
• 08:16 — Philosophy on feedback and criticism
• 10:29 — Mentorship and vulnerability
• 12:16 — Health Management Academy’s mission and reach
• 13:49 — Cross-role collaboration at Academy forums
• 14:56 — Strategic direction and advocacy
• 16:37 — Renee’s weekly routines as CEO
• 18:54 — Surprising facts about the Academy (events, investment)
• 21:20 — Top leadership and career lessons
• 24:49 — Early lessons from track and field
• 28:20 — Future of work and workplace cultures

Tone and Spirit

The conversation is candid, reflective, and practical—marked by mutual respect, curiosity, and warmth. Both speakers share personal anecdotes and actionable advice, making this a lively, human-centered exploration of what it means to lead and build community in the modern healthcare landscape.

For Listeners

This episode offers a blueprint for career resilience, the value of constructive feedback, and why intentional community-building will shape the future of healthcare leadership.