In the fast-paced world of technology, where innovation and adaptability are paramount, Kris stands out as a beacon of success and inspiration. With a background deeply rooted in engineering and a career spanning various organizations, Kris has mastered the art of leading tech teams to achieve excellence. Her journey, marked by influential mentors, a relentless pursuit of improvement, and a commitment to fostering a culture of growth and resilience, offers valuable insights for leaders across sectors. In a recent conversation with Josef, a seasoned scientist and consultant, Kris shared the secrets to her success, the importance of living in the gray, and her vision for the future.
The Power of Living in the Gray
Kris attributes a significant part of her success to embracing the complexity of life and work. “I constantly preach to try to live in the gray; nothing is black nor white,” she explained. This philosophy has allowed her to navigate challenges with flexibility and creativity. From her early years, influenced by her father’s encouragement to explore and tinker, Kris learned that problems are often opportunities in disguise. This mindset has been instrumental in her ability to innovate and lead effectively, seeing everything as a workflow that can be improved.
Growing up, Kris’s parents, especially her father, encouraged her to believe in her limitless potential. This foundational belief has carried through her career, enabling her to push boundaries and seek continuous improvement. “My parents told me I could be and do whatever I wanted,” Kris recalled. This early support laid the groundwork for a career characterized by a refusal to accept limitations and a drive to explore and innovate.
Creating a Culture of No Limits
Kris’s upbringing, where she was told she could achieve anything regardless of gender, has profoundly shaped her leadership style. She carries this forward into her teams, fostering an atmosphere where perfection is not the goal, but continuous improvement is. “No matter what—an application, a piece of hardware, a human—there’s always things that we can be doing to improve ourselves and make something better,” she emphasized. By promoting a safe space for failure and learning, Kris ensures that her team members feel empowered to take risks and grow from their experiences.
This approach was evident in how Kris managed her engineering teams. She understands the importance of releasing products and iterating based on feedback (being agile) rather than striving for unattainable perfection from the outset. “It’s the balance of, ‘we can’t be developing forever because we’re never going to get it out there (in production)’. But knowing and understanding, okay, this is good enough (MVP) for now,” Kris explained. This iterative, agile mindset accelerates innovation and cultivates a culture where team members are encouraged to experiment and learn.
Mentorship and Cheerleaders
The importance of mentors and champions in Kris’s career cannot be overstated. Reflecting on her journey, she highlights figures like Sarah Richardson, who have been pivotal in her development. “Sarah is one of the best human leaders ever, always speaking up for what the team is doing,” Kris shared. These relationships have provided Kris with guidance and the confidence to pursue her goals. She underscores the significance of intentionally seeking out such relationships, encouraging reflection on past connections, and staying open to new opportunities.
Kris’s career has been shaped by several vital mentors who recognized her potential and supported her growth very early in her career. In fact, Kris makes mention of the ‘best training ground’ she ever received while working at Cerner Corporation in the mid to late 2000’s. The experience and connections of countless friends and mentors whom many are still driving significant change within the healthcare industry today. One such figure is Dr. Doug McNair, with whom Kris worked during her tenure at Cerner. “I got to spend so much time with Dr. McNair, working on problems and just having conversations and seeing how his brain worked,” Kris recounted, “Just witnessing how he approaches questions and being a part of it had such an impact on how I viewed innovation, opportunity, products. It was career altering.” Along with Dr. McNair, several other notable figures were mentioned relating back to other significant and formidable moments that altered and propelled Kris’s career path: Paul Gorup, David Cohen, Joann Burns, Dick Flanigan, Heidi Zimmerman, Joe Geris, Dr. Jeffery Wall, Dr. David McCallie, Jeff Dindak, David Pierre and many moreThese experiences were formative, providing her with invaluable insights, mentorship and inspiration.
Balancing Failure and Accountability
Creating an environment where failure is not stigmatized but seen as a learning opportunity is crucial for Kris. She acknowledges the delicate balance required: “It’s verbally having that conversation (with the team member), doing kind of your dissection of it, documenting it, and providing support to improve.” Kris stresses the need for accountability alongside support, ensuring that mistakes are permissible and that repeated errors must be addressed with clear boundaries. This approach fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement while maintaining the necessary standards for success and team growth
Kris believes in giving her team the space to fail and learn from their mistakes, but she also understands the importance of accountability. “It’s the balance of supporting them and knowing where that accountability stands,” she said. This balance ensures that team members are encouraged to take risks and are held responsible for their actions, fostering a culture of growth and improvement.
Looking Forward: Personal and Professional Growth
As Kris looks to the future, her vision of success is deeply personal. “A happy, successful marriage, happy kids—that makes me the best version of myself,” she stated. This holistic view of success underscores her belief in the interconnectedness of personal and professional well-being. By prioritizing her family and personal happiness, Kris aims to bring her best self to her leadership roles, inspiring her team through her example of balance and fulfillment.
Kris’s forward-looking vision also includes addressing ongoing challenges in her leadership journey. She acknowledges the struggle of balancing the drive for change with the realities of organizational processes. “Sometimes, being in that position as a leader can internally bother me because I’m like, we can make these changes,” she admitted. Despite these challenges, Kris remains committed to driving innovation and supporting her team in navigating the complexities of the tech landscape.
For leaders looking to emulate Kris’s success, it’s essential to:
1. Embrace Complexity: Recognize that solutions often lie in the gray areas, requiring flexibility and creative problem-solving. Adopt a mindset that nothing is purely black or white; seek out the nuances and hidden opportunities in every challenge.
2. Foster a No Limits Culture: Encourage team members to believe in their potential and continuously seek improvement. Create an environment where everyone feels empowered to innovate and improve without the fear of failure.
3. Seek and Be a Mentor: Actively look for mentors and be open to mentoring others, building a network of support and guidance. Reflect on past connections and experiences to identify potential mentors or mentees. Be proactive in fostering these relationships.
4. Balance Accountability and Support: Create a safe space for failure while maintaining clear boundaries and standards. Encourage learning from mistakes, document lessons learned, set clear expectations, and hold individuals accountable for their actions.
5. Prioritize Holistic Success: Strive for a balance between personal happiness and professional accomplishments to bring your best self to both arenas. Recognize the interconnectedness of personal and professional well-being. Ensure that personal fulfillment supports and enhances professional effectiveness.
Kris’s journey from a curious child who was encouraged to tinker and explore to a leader in tech innovation is a testament to the power of mentorship, resilience, and a growth mindset. Her ability to navigate complexities, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and balance personal and professional aspirations makes her an exemplary figure in tech leadership. Through her story, Kris inspires others to embrace their potential, seek out meaningful relationships, and lead with both heart and mind. As we look to the future of technology and leadership, Kris’s insights and experiences offer a guiding light for aspiring leaders aiming to make a meaningful impact
Kris Nessa is a Chief Technology Officer of Healthcare at SHI International Corp, where she spearheads innovative initiatives and drives technological advancements in the healthcare sector. Focusing on strategic leadership and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, Kris is part of a dynamic team dedicated to improving patient outcomes by co-creating safe and modern digital solutions for healthcare providers.. She is passionate about creating environments where innovation thrives, and teams feel empowered to take risks and learn from their experiences. Kris’s journey, enriched by mentorship and a commitment to personal and professional growth, offers valuable insights for leaders navigating the complexities of tech and healthcare.
