Arizona in general and Metro Phoenix are among the hottest growth spots in the country. Numerous factors are touted to explain this, but certainly notable is the exceptional business leadership that characterizes our business community. So, we have a responsibility …
We are fortunate to live in a growth state with so many influential business leaders making decisions every day for Arizona. Through my time as chief executive officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and chair of Greater Phoenix Leadership, I’ve learned that, as a leader, we must keep a learner’s mindset so that we can continue to find new ways to drive meaningful, positive change. Over the years, our beliefs have been challenged, which has shifted our business perspectives. It’s our responsibility to embrace uncertainty, stay flexible and encourage collaboration that moves the needle for Arizonans.
GPL is acutely aware of the impact businesspeople have on the broader community. Not only do business decisions for their own company ripple through their local business community — and sometimes beyond — but also on the general population through impact on their employees. This edition of In Business Magazine spotlights the topic in profiles of Valley notables in varied industry sectors and representing diverse social and business perspectives.
An aspect of business operations where the leadership exerts immense impact is company culture. In this month’s feature article, “Creating a Resilient Company Culture,” Margaret Graziano explores ways leadership can navigate change in this era of immense volatility and complexity.
Regular guest columnist Bruce Weber offers further insights in his Capacity column, this month addressing “The Next Generation of Future Leaders: Redefining Leadership” with a telling quote from President Ronald Reagan: “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets people to do the greatest things.”
This December edition of In Business Magazine also looks at changes in our built and accessorized world. Gensler’s design professionals Jay Silverberg and Benjamin Ayers discuss facilitating growth of a new “science village” in their Space feature “Silicon Desert: Lab of the Future,” particularly relevant to our community as a burgeoning tech hub. And the Assets column spotlights state-of-the-art telecom technology in Phone 3.0.
The broad range of other important topics includes the usual coverage of technology and new businesses and trends. I am very pleased to help bring you this December edition of In Business Magazine. Enjoy the read.
Sincerely,
Pam Kehaly
Chair, Greater Phoenix Leadership
President and CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Pam Kehaly is president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue). With a mission to improve the quality of life for all Arizonans, she is leading the 3,000-employee company to inspire health through inventive programs, services and health insurance products. With more than 30 years of experience in the health insurance industry, Kehaly has developed an expertise in collaborating with doctors and hospitals to drive results. Since joining AZ Blue, Kehaly has led the company to No. 1 market share, with 23% growth by focusing on consumer needs and company culture.
