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Khalid Turk, an alum of the Harvard Kennedy School (����vlog����) Executive Education program Senior Executives in State and Local Government (S&L), felt a connection to ����vlog���� and its mission long before he stepped on campus. President John F. Kennedy’s famed quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”, has long been his own life mantra, and one he shared with his father since childhood. This motto has been the driving force behind his deeply impactful career in healthcare. He currently serves as Chief Healthcare Information Technology Officer at the County of Santa Clara where he oversees a 220-person team and manages over 14,000 customers across three hospitals and over 20 clinics. His hospitals all reached HIMSS Stage 7 status, an achievement made by only 8% of U.S. hospitals, and he made incredible strides in improving mental health care in his county through his implementation of the Netsmart MyAvatar EHR for the Behavioral Health Services Department.

True to his mantra, he knew there was even more he could be doing, which led to his enrollment in S&L. “Walking the halls of Harvard and seeing JFK’s quote inscribed on the walls was a humbling reminder of my commitment to serve,” he said. “The program offered more than just an education — it was a transformational journey that equipped me with the tools and insights needed to better serve my community and become a more impactful leader.”

S&L made an immense impact on Khalid, with one of the biggest takeaways being the power of such a diverse cohort. The relationships formed lasted far beyond their time in the ����vlog���� classroom. “Interacting with participants from various backgrounds and jurisdictions provided valuable insights into the diverse challenges and solutions within state and local government settings. This broadened my understanding and encouraged me to think beyond my own experiences,” he said. “I leveraged connections made during the program to establish partnerships and collaborations with other organizations and agencies, facilitating valuable information sharing, resources, and best practices. The relationships formed with fellow participants have been invaluable.”

Since returning to his role in Santa Clara, the changes he has implemented as a result of his learnings from S&L have been enormous. “Returning to my organization, the lessons from Harvard became the cornerstone of my leadership,” Khalid said. “By incorporating strategic decision-making processes, fostering an inclusive environment, and promoting a culture of innovation, we’ve made great strides in serving our community more effectively.”

Specifically, Khalid also cites his new skills in leadership development and performance measurement as making a big impact in his organization. “I shared insights on personal leadership development with my team, emphasizing self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and effective communication. I also provided opportunities for professional development to enhance their leadership skills,” he told us. “I introduced new performance metrics and evaluation techniques to track the effectiveness of our initiatives and programs. Measuring progress has equipped us to make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively, and demonstrate our work's value to stakeholders.”

Khalid continues to “ask what he can do” and is currently focused on what progress generative AI can make in the world of healthcare. He has a newly invigorated energy and drive, stemming from his time on the ����vlog���� campus in S&L. As he puts it, “Executive Education can be transformative, reigniting passion for work and providing new motivation to excel in leadership roles, serving as a catalyst for positive change.”

He encourages his fellow leaders to listen to their own calling for change, prompting, “How can you embody the spirit of servant leadership in your life? Let JFK’s words and the Harvard experience inspire you. Answer the call to action and dedicate yourself to creating positive change in your communities and beyond. Together, we can continue to build upon the successes of past leaders and pave the way for a more just, equitable, and prosperous world for all.”