SullivanCotter, the nation’s leading independent consulting firm in the assessment and development of total rewards programs, workforce solutions, and data products for health care and not-for-profits, and its strategic partner Lotis Blue Consulting have released The Future-Ready Health System CEO: The Competencies and Attributes That Will Define Leadership in the Next Era of Health Care.

The study, developed utilizing the Hogan Leadership Assessment framework, draws on insights from 20 leading client organizations to define the competencies and attributes that will shape the next generation of health system CEOs.

Together, the firms created the Health Care Potential Index (HCPI) – a data-driven framework that replaces traditional indicators like professional history and tenure with evidence-based measures of leadership potential.

Defining Leadership for Health Care’s Next Chapter

“Health care organizations face a perfect storm of financial strain, workforce fatigue, and growing community accountability,” said Aaron Sorensen, Ph.D., Senior Partner, Lotis Blue Consulting. “The leaders who will thrive are those who combine strategic clarity with empathy, operational discipline with courage, and the ability to mobilize others through trust.”

The study highlights ten essential competencies – known as the “Vital Ten” – that define future-ready CEOs. These fall across four domains validated by industry experts:

• Strategic Mindset – Anticipating disruption and positioning systems for the future.
• Execution Engine – Turning vision into measurable results.
• Cultural Leadership – Building trust and alignment among stakeholders.
• Adaptive Capacity – Leading with calm and agility amid volatility.

Beyond these competencies, the research also examines the characteristics important for success in the job. The findings show that ambition, intellectual curiosity, emotional stability, and empathy form the foundation for sustained effectiveness in today’s complex environment.

Implications for CEO Succession and Leadership Development

For boards and executive teams, the HCPI offers an evidence-based approach to identifying and developing leaders equipped for system-level transformation. It helps organizations assess leadership potential objectively to reduce bias and improve succession planning.

“Future-ready CEOs are defined less by what they know and more by how they think and connect,” added Sorensen. “They balance foresight with judgment and ambition with humility – qualities that are essential to leading through disruption.”

About Lotis Blue Consulting

Lotis Blue is committed to helping organizations forge strong connections between workforce, leadership, and organizational performance. With deep expertise in data and behavioral science, we deliver insight-driven solutions tailored to each client’s unique challenges.

For more information on Lotis Blue Consulting, please visit www.lotisblueconsulting.com.

About SullivanCotter

SullivanCotter partners with health care and not-for-profit organizations to improve performance through integrated workforce strategies. Using industry-leading data, expertise, and analytics, SullivanCotter helps organizations align compensation and workforce practices with their mission and goals.

For more information, visit www.sullivancotter.com or contact us at 888.739.7039.

Note to media: Additional data and interviews are available upon request.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251204023056/en/

“The leaders who will thrive are those who combine strategic clarity with empathy, operational discipline with courage, and the ability to mobilize others through trust.” Aaron Sorensen, Ph.D., Senior Partner, Lotis Blue Consulting.