DGTL Voices with Ed Marx
Navigating Leadership (ft. Laura Wilt)
January 29, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode of DGTL Voices, host Ed Marx welcomes Laura Wilt, Chief Digital Officer of Sutter Health, for a candid and insightful discussion on leadership, career journeys, and digital transformation in healthcare. Laura shares elements of her personal background, her perspective on assembling and leading multidisciplinary teams, and her strategies for balancing innovation, work, and family. Listeners gain practical advice for aspiring leaders and hear Laura's approach to driving both organizational and personal success.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Opening and Personal Warm-Up
[00:17-01:58]
- Ed and Laura reflect on their history and mutual admiration.
- Ed: “...super impressed with you... fun to watch you just grow into the fullness of your leadership.”
- Laura: “Likewise, super impressed by your career as well, Ed.”
- Laura’s music playlist reveals her home life:
- Children’s music (“Laurie Berkner Band”), Taylor Swift, and The Black Keys.
- “I started to try to listen to classical music in the morning every day just for a little bit. ...someone was saying it organizes the mind. And I thought I need my mind to be organized.” – Laura [01:58]
Guiding Mantras and Values
[02:24-03:31]
- Laura keeps two quotes at her desk:
- “Do more of what makes you happy.”
- “One person can make a difference and everyone should try.”
- “Trying to remember what everybody does matters a lot... You don’t know the kind of difference that you can make any given day. So show up and do your best and think that you can.” – Laura [02:48]
Personal Background and Family Roots
[03:54-05:12]
- Laura’s adoption from South Korea and upbringing on a rural Missouri farm near Kansas City.
- “I grew up living next door to my grandparents, my dad’s family. ...had a great childhood growing up there.” – Laura [03:54]
- Family now regularly gathers at their farmhouse.
- Has not yet visited South Korea; it’s high on her travel wish list.
Career Trajectory: From Ochsner to Sutter Health
[05:12-07:28]
- Laura’s entry into healthcare IT started at Ochsner (joined as consultant in 2011, CIO in 2016).
- “Really enjoyed the people I was working with and felt like we were... helping that system really start using technology in a different way.” – Laura [05:12]
- Move to Sutter was a major personal shift:
- “It was a big personal move for our family... but really thought this was just such a great professional opportunity...” – Laura [06:03]
- Managed a six-month family relocation transition.
Defining and Forging the Chief Digital Officer Role
[07:31-09:00]
- At Sutter, Laura is the first Chief Digital Officer. Her mission: integrate digital, security, informatics, and innovation into one aligned organization.
- “One of the ideas that I’ve been working on ... is how do we bring some of the areas that are part of digital and bring them together? ... That’s what I’ve been working on over the last year and a half.” – Laura [07:45]
- Improved collaboration and shared priorities across teams.
- “There’s been a lot of benefit in bringing them together.” – Laura
Strategic Priorities for Sutter Health
[09:00-10:20]
- Improving patient access to care is a primary focus, especially with online scheduling.
- “Patients getting access to care is actually like a really big opportunity in Northern California... So that’s been our big focus area: what can we do to really make it easier for our patients to come and see us?” – Laura [09:23]
- “We know if we can put it online, that’s where they want to be.” – Laura
Leadership Approach and Collaboration
[10:32-11:11]
- Emphasizes in-person time with C-Suite peers; values open, direct communication (texts, quick calls).
- “My sort of preferred style is just, you know, sending me a quick text or giving me a call if we have something to talk about.” – Laura [10:32]
Cultivating Innovation and Inspiration
[11:35-12:23]
- Draws inspiration from reading, quiet time, solitary activities (walking, occasional workouts).
- “You get most of your ideas come to you when you’re kind of like having some quiet time alone... I don’t have that much of that time, but when I do, I find it’s always really beneficial...” – Laura [11:35]
Early Influences and Work Ethic
[12:43-13:38]
- Parents and grandparents’ example of balancing family business and relationships impressed a strong work ethic.
- “They really demonstrated what hard work looks like to me, and… I really give them a lot of credit for my hopefully good work ethic.” – Laura [12:43]
Advice for Aspiring Leaders
[14:13-15:24]
- “Doing a really great job in your current job is probably the number one thing... Focusing on what you’re doing... making it the best you can be... there’s no better way to demonstrate that you’re ready for the next thing than just crushing the thing that you’re doing.” – Laura [14:13]
- Be kind to yourself; treat yourself with the same compassion as your team.
- “Be as kind to yourself as you would be to your team members.” – Laura
- “Leaders, we tend to beat ourselves up quite a bit, and… we don’t give ourselves the same grace that we might give people who report to us.” – Ed [15:24]
Staying Fresh and Avoiding Burnout
[15:55-16:38]
- Finds energy in connecting everyday work to purpose and helping others.
- “Getting up and really being excited to do what you have to do that day... the context of it is to help, whether it’s to help your colleagues, help your teammates, help patients, that’s what we’re doing.” – Laura [15:55]
- Owns being tired, relies on coffee for a boost.
Achievements: Professional and Personal
[17:04-18:14]
- Proud of leading the “One Sutter, One Platform” digital transformation project.
- “It’s really this idea of how can we make consistent experiences for both our patients and our employees and the users... Our patients are really going to truly have that one experience that we want for them to have.” – Laura [17:04]
- Personally most proud of her children:
- “They are super fun and great to be around and they’re, you know, growing up and the first, the oldest just started middle school so that’s been a... exciting and different experience.” – Laura [18:14]
Closing Reflections and Pro Tips
[20:25-21:01]
- Double down on connecting to purpose and letting that guide decisions and priorities.
- “Connect to your purpose, whatever that is, and let that drive you and let that help you make decisions for how do you spend your time. So I think that it’s really important.” – Laura [20:25]
- Credits her husband as a vital partner:
- “I should also talk about my husband who is wonderful and a great partner and couldn’t do anything without him.” – Laura [20:25]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On quiet leadership:
- “Show up and do your best and think that you can.” – Laura [02:48]
- Personal priorities:
- “Do more of what makes you happy.” / “One person can make a difference and everyone should try.” – Laura [02:48]
- On career progress:
- “No better way to demonstrate that you’re ready for the next thing than just crushing the thing you’re doing.” – Laura [14:13]
- Advice on self-compassion:
- “Be as kind to yourself as you would be to your team members.” – Laura [15:24]
- Finding purpose:
- “Connect to your purpose, whatever that is, and let that drive you... let that help you make decisions for how do you spend your time.” – Laura [20:25]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro & Personal Warm-Up: 00:17–01:58
- Guiding Mantras: 02:24–03:31
- Family and Upbringing: 03:54–05:12
- Career at Ochsner & Transition to Sutter: 05:12–07:28
- Chief Digital Officer Role & Integration: 07:31–09:00
- Strategic Priorities at Sutter: 09:00–10:20
- Leadership Style: 10:32–11:11
- Innovation & Inspiration Sources: 11:35–12:23
- Early Influences and Work Ethic: 12:43–13:38
- Advice for Aspiring Leaders: 14:13–15:24
- Burnout & Recharging: 15:55–16:38
- Proudest Achievements: 17:04–18:14
- Closing Purpose & Shout-outs: 20:25–21:01
Summary
This episode reveals Laura Wilt as a thoughtful, authentic, and purpose-driven leader whose influence at Sutter Health is rooted both in technical acumen and a people-first philosophy. Her career trajectory exemplifies the importance of being present in one’s role, cultivating personal and professional relationships, and staying connected to a sense of purpose. For healthcare leaders and aspiring professionals alike, Laura’s guidance is both practical and inspiring, offering actionable takeaways on self-leadership, innovation, and building organizational momentum.