Guthrie’s Post

You should listen to Kent Thiry. I was fortunate to stumble on our DaVita investment in 2019 (which we just wrote a little about at commonshares.substack.com! Shameless plug: subscribe free!) DaVita and its CEO, Kent Thiry, taught me a lot about leadership and a business' value proposition to customers and the world. I bought the stock not just because it was cheap, but because of its value proposition to both the payers (insurers & government), and to its clinical patients. At this point, that value prop cannot be replicated. That value prop was built by Thiry and his team over decades. He had one goal: "We're going to build the best damn kidney dialysis company in the world", and he did. When we bought, CEO Kent Thiry had been leading DaVita 20 years. He first joined when operational issues nearly bankrupted the company. He turned it around and consolidated the dialysis industry. In the process, shareholders made ~40 times their money over Thiry's ~20 year tenure, 20% compounded. Thiry took the scale from consolidating the industry and reinvested a portion of the gains to improve the lives of thousands of patients with ESKD (end-stage kidney disease). Mortality rates at clinics fell. Hospitalization rates fell. And more. All while growing profits and maintaining strong returns on capital. I listened to the attached fireside chat while doing my due diligence. You should, too. Thiry and DaVita should be a business school case study. He's a phenomenal human being with clear principles and a strong set of ethics, an excellent leader, a business builder, and steward of capital, all rolled up into one person. He's also a great example of how to live your life: watch how he treats employees. Watch how they care. At one point in the chat, Thiry also dismisses the idea of tension between a successful, capitalist healthcare enterprise (that rewards shareholders with profits) and an enterprise that benefits patients, insurers, and the world. He focused on ways to create so much value that the tension entirely disappears because everyone wins. Thiry, now retired, passed the baton to COO Javier Rodriguez, his right hand man of many years who shares the same values. For years, and even under Rodriguez today, the company doesn't begin its quarterly earnings calls by talking about profits, the economy, strategy, etc. They begin with a piece of data about how they've recently improved the patients' lives or reduced the payers' costs. It turns out, this is actually the lynchpin of the entire moat and business model. It took me a month to find the all evidence and understand, but it's painfully simple: DaVita makes ESKD patients healthier than anyone else does, so they live longer, healthier, happier lives. At the same time, the fact they're healthier means they cost the insurers and governments less money. DaVita then negotiates a piece of the cost savings, and that's the excess return on capital shareholders earn.

From Blue Uniform 🚔 to Corporate Changemaker 🏢 : A snippet of Herm's DEI Journey In a recent conversation with Hermann Trepesch, the Global Director of DEI at Sanofi, I was captivated by his extraordinary journey from a career in policing to becoming a trailblazer in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the corporate world. Herm's journey from policing to becoming Sanofi's Global DEI Director isn't just a career change; it's a powerful narrative of transformation and purpose. His path from addressing trust issues within communities as a police officer to advocating for diversity and inclusion in the corporate realm highlights a bold shift towards impacting broader societal change. Herm's decision to follow his evolving passions after 20 years in policing, especially transitioning during a global pandemic, showcases the courage it takes to not just dream about making a difference, but actually doing it. His story is a beacon for anyone in the DEI space, proving that our backgrounds don't limit us—our visions do. Let's embrace the power within us to drive meaningful change, inspired by leaders like Herm. Because in the journey of creating a more inclusive world, every step counts. #DEI #CareerChange #Inspiration #Sanofi

Talk about good timing: our white paper was published just in time for Women's History Month! Thrilled to be part of a powerhouse team of intelligent women leaders who worked so diligently on this paper, "Empowering Tomorrow's Female Leaders: Unveiling the Core Ingredients for Fostering Women's Pathways to Leadership." It's designed to ignite change and empower others! Here's to breaking barriers, inspiring others, and creating a more inclusive world. More to come from this amazing subcommittee. https://lnkd.in/ee-Ax_Um #WomenEmpowerment #ChangeMakers #TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork"

For 14 years, DAIP has remained deeply committed to supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) employees. DEI isn't just a buzzword for us. It's what we call "heart work," and we recognize it as a necessary cornerstone for any thriving workplace and the assurance that all employees are granted access, opportunity, and safety. This month, DAIP's Amanda Román and Katie Neves co-authored an article for Providence Business News (PBN) that dives into the resilience required of DEI leaders as they navigate dynamic, multi-layered challenges with unwavering dedication. But here's the real talk. These roles involve more than just one’s professional responsibilities–they also require a profound personal emotional journey. This emotional toll is just one reason why it’s more crucial than ever that leaders address the human toll of DEI, so that practitioners have the cross-organizational support they need to succeed. Check out DAIP’s blog https://www.daip.us/blog/ to read the full PBN article on page 3. How do you manage the emotional weight and navigate competing priorities while leading DEI within your organization? Share your insights below!

OBIT: Lillian H. Johnson

We usually don't post about awards. It hasn't, historically, been our style. Instead, our team celebrates amongst ourselves. We call the client to give them the good news. A statuette is carefully placed on a shelf in our office. However, today marks a special exception. We're excited to share that not one, but two of our projects have been nominated for the Anthem Awards, a festival recognizing mission-driven work. These projects share a common thread: they are solutions-focused and elevate the voices of individuals and organizations we deeply believe in. And each project serves as a reminder of the privilege I have in working with the talented team at Cultivator Content Labs. Below are the links where you can watch and, if moved, vote for them in their respective categories, helping bring their powerful messages to a broader audience. Human Rights Foundation - Wear Your Values https://lnkd.in/gcCwM3NB ClimeCo - Plastic Free Coastlines https://lnkd.in/gt65AE3r

Do you know a dynamic leader? Here is a way to recognize them.

Have you learned from a GREAT local family business in our region? Worked with or for one? Done business with them? If the answer is yes, consider nominating them for an award! There are company and people categories. Learn more here!

Recommended by Emma Watson

I was honored to contribute to an article by Sachin H. Jain, MD, MBA in Forbes, discussing the difficult but necessary topic of what to do when a colleague passes away. It's crucial to not only honor the memory of those we've lost but also to give our colleagues the space and support they need to say goodbye and grieve. Our workplaces should be places where compassion and humanity guide us through all of life’s moments, including the most challenging ones. #WorkplaceWellbeing #GriefSupport #Leadership https://lnkd.in/gyu3sFtU