Defining the Constant Edge Amid Constant Change
March 10, 2022
Today’s health care market is ever evolving and competitive, with customers demanding the latest technology and service solutions. Keeping up with this demand requires dedication to the art of evaluating emerging trends and players. In my role as vice president for partner solutions at National Alliance with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, I work with a dynamic team to make sure we are providing our clients this constant edge.
Asking questions
My career has been driven by innate curiosity. Having started with BlueCross in 2004 as a research analyst, my background is firmly rooted in market research. As my official responsibilities grew, I continued to ask questions, research trends and offer solutions.
As I close in on my 18th year at BlueCross, I realize the key to success is balancing high-level strategic thinking with curiosity about, and understanding of, the details of how things really work. The best leaders know enough about what's going on at the grassroots level to be able to adequately inform the strategy they're pushing forward. You can't do one without the other.
Listening and learning
I’ve been there. I understand the problems. What I want to bring to our clients is this drive to find solutions. I love talking with clients, hearing what challenges they have and brainstorming ways to help solve those issues as a business partner.
Collaborating for the win
Keeping up with the ever-changing market requires collaboration within your own company and with external business partners. We know our team can’t succeed without other players coming to the table and buying into our vision. We have to be able to articulate that vision and drive it forward.
I’m proud of our joint work with other business units at BlueCross to make sure all our boats rise together. Our mobile app is one notable output of this teamwork. We determined a business need, wrote a business case and produced the work together. This is the kind of mindset my team brings to our work with clients.
One of our key strategies is flexibility in working with external solution providers, both preferred partners and vendors our clients select. I’ve had a long history of getting in the trenches with these vendors to make sure we are delivering the results our clients demand. Collaborating and building relationships with vendors is key to growing and retaining business, especially when clients are often tempted to look elsewhere.
Maintaining the constant edge
We talk a lot about the constant edge. For us, that means always thinking about the next challenges our clients may face and how we can help them thrive in the face of those challenges. If we can’t solve problems, we are not successful. Our approach is to pivot as needed so our clients are positioned to win.
Our curiosity about the details, our understanding of the issues and our commitment to making solutions work in an ever-changing environment — that is what defines the constant edge.
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