Bringing Leaders Together: An Evening with UCL GBSH

The event, graced by the presence of UCL President & Provost Dr. Michael Spence, provided a platform for thought leadership, networking, and celebrating the future of healthcare leadership.

A Gathering of Visionaries

Nora Colton, the Director of the Global Business School for Health, opened the evening by welcoming attendees and highlighting the significance of uniting these two senior groups. The DBA Health programme empowers senior healthcare professionals with cutting-edge research and strategic leadership skills, while HEP is a flagship executive education initiative designed to equip healthcare leaders with the expertise needed to drive impactful change. Bringing these groups together fostered a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights, reinforcing UCL GBSH’s commitment to shaping the future of global healthcare leadership.

Voices from the Community

Following the main course, representatives from both programmes were invited to share their experiences and reflections:

• Refik Gökmen, Consultant Nephrologist at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, spoke on behalf of the Healthcare Executive Programme (HEP), offering his perspective on the programme’s role in enhancing leadership capabilities in the healthcare sector.
• Elizabet Gomes dos Santos, a Doctorate Researcher at UCL GBSH and Service Lead in Oncology at Jersey General Hospital, represented DBA Health and shared insights from her research and professional journey.

Both speakers underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and lifelong learning in navigating the complexities of modern healthcare.

Leadership Insights from Dr. Michael Spence

One of the evening’s highlights was a speech by Dr. Michael Spence, President and Provost of UCL, who shared invaluable leadership insights drawn from his career. Among his key takeaways:

• Leadership is defined by who you are. The signals you send—both consciously and unconsciously—shape your impact.
• Organisational values should be explicit and embedded in conversations about change and transformation.
• Effective leadership requires moving with the grain of an institution. Understanding the culture and pacing change appropriately is crucial.
• Challenges, often perceived as failures, can serve as catalysts for exposure, transformation, and meaningful progress.

His words resonated deeply with attendees, offering a fresh perspective on navigating leadership in complex, evolving institutions.

A Perfect Finale

To conclude the evening, guests were treated to a stunning live performance by a string quartet from the UCL Music Society, adding an elegant touch to an already inspiring event.

With speeches, discussions, and music, the evening underscored the power of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and visionary leadership in shaping the future of healthcare. 

As UCL GBSH continues to foster a strong, global network of healthcare leaders, events like these reinforce the school’s mission to drive innovation and excellence in the field.

Find out more about our Executive Education programme.

Find out more about our DBA Health programme.

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