Named one of the 100 most influential leaders in healthcare, Nancy Schlichting led Henry Ford Health System through one of the most challenging economic chapters in Detroit's history. As President and CEO, she successfully grew the organization from $2.5B to $5B — a rare feat during a downturn.

Her approach? Put people first, even when budgets were tight.

“I used to say that my job is to care for the people who care for the people,” explains Schlichting.

That meant staying committed to education, leadership development, and building a culture of inclusion, even when others were scaling back.

For Schlichting, investing in people wasn’t a nice-to-have. It was the strategy, and it paid off. Watch the full story to hear how she did it.

Looking for more learning and development resources? Here's a round up of expert advice on how to navigate talent development during uncertain economic times.