Why Great Leaders Put Their People First — John King

In our very first episode, Sue Owen sits down with John King — former Board Chair of CCHL and recipient of both the College's Mentorship Award and Distinguished Leadership Award — for a conversation that is as honest as it is inspiring.John takes us through a 45-year career that spanned hospitals, association management, health authorities, and government — from Saskatchewan to Alberta to the halls of Ontario's Ministry of Health, and finally to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. But what makes his story remarkable isn't the titles. It's what he did with the unexpected turns.In this episode, John and Sue explore what it really means to stay open to opportunity, why every leader has a responsibility to mentor, and why — after everything he has seen — John believes the single most important investment a leader can make today is in their people.About John King: John King has over 45 years of experience in the healthcare field. After leading several hospitals in Western Canada including Foothills Medical Centre and the Calgary Regional Health Authority. John relocated to Ontario in 1999 to serve as Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. He later joined St. Michael's Hospital as EVP and Chief Administrative Officer before retiring in 2012. John is a past Chair of the CCHL Board and has received numerous honours, including the Distinguished Service Award from CCHL and The Order of the Polar Star on behalf of the King of Sweden.