When Nicole Welch first began her career in HR, she never imagined she’d one day be representing healthcare before legislators, leading in an organization with nearly 2,000 employees, or serving as Chief Human Resources Officer of Foundation Health Partners, an independent health system that didn’t yet exist.

In this conversation, Nicole – who also happens to be my wife – opens up about her journey from “accidental leader” to executive decision-maker, and the surprising lessons she’s learned along the way.

We talk about the evolution of her leadership style, from sweating every detail to realizing not everything is a crisis. 

Nicole shares why she believes HR should be a strategic partner rather than the “police,” and how her team strives to support the people who care for patients every day. 

She also reflects on the value of informal mentors, the power of emotional intelligence, and the importance of being intentional in relationships at work.

This is easily the most unusual conversation I’ve recorded, but I think you’re going to love it.

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My free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results—without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets