Episode 475 Servant Leadership in Healthcare with Michael Korpiel

In this episode of the Lead Up Podcast, host Mike Harbour welcomes longtime healthcare executive Michael Korpiel for a conversation on values-based leadership in today’s hospital environment.

Michael shares insights from a career spanning public, private, academic, and faith-based health systems, including his experience as an interim CEO and how that season reshaped his leadership approach. The discussion explores the power of permission in leadership, the difference between long-term planning and decisive execution, and how servant leadership creates sustainable operational results.

They examine what it means to lead a service-driven organization under financial and workforce pressure, why culture is never an HR initiative but a CEO responsibility, and how mission and values must move beyond statements on the wall to daily operational decisions. Michael also discusses the importance of leader visibility, physician engagement, continuous improvement, and building an organization you would trust with your own family’s care.

The episode closes with practical reflections for the next generation of healthcare leaders on anchoring to values, building trust across all levels of the organization, and leading with both clarity and humility in a high-pressure industry.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave a 5-star review on your streaming platform. Mike encourages you to reach out to him at Mike@harbourresources.com to share your thoughts on this episode and suggest topics you would like him to cover in the future.