In this episode of the Chief Healthcare Officer, Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gül sits down with Olga Kozlova—executive headhunter and leadership advisor with 20+ years of global experience in healthcare, life sciences, and innovation. Together, they unpack the evolving landscape of healthcare leadership, from shifting board expectations to the rising trend of hiring executives from outside the sector.

Olga shares hard-earned lessons on what makes (and breaks) a leadership hire, why cultural fit and agility matter more than ever, and how boards can future-proof their organizations by looking beyond the obvious. Whether you're on a board, in HR, or aspiring to a C-suite role yourself, this episode is full of behind-the-scenes insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

Key Takeaways

1. Cross-Industry Talent Is In Demand
   Healthcare boards are increasingly seeking leaders with backgrounds in tech, retail, marketing, and data to drive innovation and patient-centred care.
2. The Cost of a Bad Hire Is Huge
   Rushed hiring decisions based solely on experience often backfire. The real danger lies in poor cultural fit and lack of agility.
3. Executive Search Is Strategy, Not Just Sourcing
   Top search firms invest time aligning with boards to understand company culture, growth ambitions, and future challenges, not just the current vacancy.
4. Hire for Tomorrow, Not Just Today
   The best leaders are those who can scale with the organization, especially as many healthcare companies aim for IPOs or rapid growth.
5. Authenticity Wins Interviews
   Candidates who tell clear, metrics-driven stories (using the Situation-Action-Result model) stand out far more than those with vague, rehearsed responses.
6. Avoid the “Spray-and-Pray” CV Approach
   Reputation matters. Be strategic and selective when sharing your CV with executive search consultants, especially in small, tight-knit markets like Dubai.
7. Psychometrics and Soft Skills Matter
   Leadership potential, cultural fit, and communication style are rigorously assessed, often more than past job titles.

Listen to the episode and let us know what you think using the contact form on our website: https://www.chiefhealthcareofficer.com.

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In this episode of the Chief Healthcare Officer Podcast, Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul speaks with Dr. Arlen Meyers, Co-founding President and CEO of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (SoPE), about the evolving role of physicians in driving healthcare innovation. Dr. Meyers shares his personal journey from academic head and neck surgeon to medical entrepreneur, highlighting how clinicians can contribute to innovation without leaving their practice. Together, they explore the concept of Intrapreneurship, the importance of creating a culture of innovation within hospitals, and the mindset, means, and motivation required for successful transformation. The episode offers valuable insights for healthcare leaders and caregivers seeking to turn ideas into real-world impact.

Key takeaways:

· Physicians can innovate without leaving clinical work—through startups, intrapreneurship, education, or policy.

· Innovation needs the right mindset, access to resources, and strong personal drive.

· Innovation thrives on diverse input—from nurses to engineers to global collaborators.

· Clinicians can lead AI solutions tailored to real healthcare problems, not just trends.

· AI has potential, but ROI, accuracy, and workflow impact must be evaluated carefully.

· Leadership must model and support innovation to embed it into hospital culture.

· Frontline staff often have the best ideas—leaders must empower them to share.

· Medical education lacks entrepreneurial training—real learning comes from experience and networks.

· Many breakthroughs are born from personal hardship and a desire to fix broken systems.

· SoPE offers tools, mentorship, and community to help healthcare professionals innovate.

Listen to the episode and let us know what you think using the contact form on our website: https://www.chiefhealthcareofficer.com.

Follow Dr Fatih Mehmet Gül on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfameg/
Visit Dr Fatih's Website - https://www.fatihmehmetgul.com/

Subscribe to the CHO LinkedIn Newsletter - https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chief-healthcare-officer-6939938177927241728/

In this captivating episode of the Chief Healthcare Officer Podcast, Dr. Fatih Mehmet Gul sits down with world-renowned metabolism and obesity expert Professor Antonio Vidal-Puig of the University of Cambridge. With a career bridging clinical medicine, groundbreaking metabolic research, and strategic leadership, Antonio shares deeply human insights into the evolution of healthcare, team dynamics, academic medicine, innovation, and how cultural intelligence can shape global partnerships.

From his thought-provoking “adipose tissue expandability” hypothesis to his real-life lessons in crisis leadership during COVID-19, Antonio brings a rare blend of scientific depth and visionary thinking. Whether you're a researcher, healthcare executive, or aspiring leader, this episode will spark new perspectives on resilience, collaboration, and the future of medicine.

Listen to the episode and let us know what you think using the contact form on our website: https://www.chiefhealthcareofficer.com.

Follow Dr Fatih Mehmet Gül on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfameg/
Visit Dr Fatih's Website - https://www.fatihmehmetgul.com/

Subscribe to the CHO LinkedIn Newsletter - https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chief-healthcare-officer-6939938177927241728/