BIV is proud to recognize eight exceptional corporate executives with 2023 C-Suite Awards.
Six CEOs and two CFOs were recently featured in BIV's print edition, including Fraser Health Authority president and CEO Dr. Victoria Lee, who will be recognized with a BC CEO Award at an in-person event Nov. 15.
Lee leads the delivery of critical health programs and services in one of the largest and fastest-growing health networks in Canada. Before joining Fraser Health in 2010 as a medical health officer, Lee worked at international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank in the areas of health systems, policy and financing. Lee serves on the boards of CARE Canada and DIGITAL – Canada’s digital technology supercluster – and holds postgraduate degrees in public health and business administration from Johns Hopkins University.
The following Q&A with Lee has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
What has been your greatest business or career success to date?
Serving as the CEO and president of one of Canada’s largest, most diverse and fastest-growing health systems for the past five years has been an unparalleled privilege. It has been a journey marked by dynamic challenges, from steering through the tumultuous waters of the COVID-19 pandemic to the weight of historical climate events. The standout moment in this journey is etched in my memory: The early days of the pandemic. I vividly recall being stationed 24/7 in the emergency operations centre, facing an onslaught of complex decisions. It was a time when black-and-white answers were elusive. What remained clear was our North Star: The well-being of approximately two million people who span 20 municipalities, 600 schools, 32 First Nations communities and six Métis Chartered Communities, along with the 45,000-person Fraser Health family. This, indeed, became our “go-to board” for making some of the most challenging decisions. We continually asked ourselves, “What is the right thing to do for the people we serve?”
With this framework, we were the first in the province to transition vital services – such as testing, immunizations and contact tracing – to online platforms. Collaborating with provincial partners, we set national standards in infection prevention and control. We embraced community collaboration to provide culturally safe care and proactively planned for rising mental health and substance-use care needs with services such as a virtual psychiatric unit. Our pursuit of innovation continues, exemplified by a system-wide digital twin poised to redefine health-care delivery. These milestones underscore the strength of our team, the unwavering support of our community and the immense privilege of leading during a critical period in our history.
Best piece of advice you’ve received?
An enduring piece of advice harks back to my Grade 3 teacher, who illustrated a small and giant bucket on the chalkboard. She impressed upon us the significance of dreaming big, explaining that, when it comes to dreams, if yours are the same size as the small bucket, even if you achieved 100 per cent, you would achieve less than the person that fulfilled 10 per cent of the larger bucket of dreams. This simple yet profound lesson has remained an unwavering guide throughout my life, instilling in me a growth mindset and the ability to perceive challenges as opportunities for self-improvement and making a positive impact.
How do you lead?
I’ve been fortunate to have had national and international leadership opportunities, including with organizations like the International Federation of Medical Students’ Association. Leadership for me is a continuous voyage of learning, marked by constant review, reflection and the unwavering pursuit of improvement. My family, friends, colleagues and mentors have been pivotal to my leadership development. I ardently believe that genuine leadership transcends titles and authority; it’s about igniting inspiration, fostering empowerment and serving others. It involves forging a shared vision, a common goal and a culture of collaboration, all aimed at bringing about a meaningful difference in the lives of people and communities.
Biggest personal and professional areas of growth over the past year?
The past year has unfolded as a period of profound personal and professional growth for me. On a personal level, I’ve engaged in regenerative activities like deep reflection and volunteerism. I’ve revisited creative outlets, reigniting my passion for photography and even embarking on the journey of learning to play my mother’s mandolin. Professionally, my focus has centred on “leapfrogging” our health system transformation by adopting and adapting innovative solutions from diverse sectors. You’ll find me immersed in discussions (“geeking out”) about convergent policies to solve wicked problems, quantum computing and AI for good.
Tickets are available to BIV's 2023 C-Suite Awards on Nov. 15 in Vancouver. More information on the event and this year's award winners is available here.
