Today we are joined by Helen Angus, CEO of AMS Healthcare, Toronto, Ontario Canada.
Helen has a Masters of Science in Planning and started her career as an urban planner but very early began working for the Government of Ontario. She has worked in a range of government roles, including working on the first comprehensive plans for cancer and chronic kidney disease services and on programs to combat violence against women and end human trafficking.
In 2016 Helen was appointed as Deputy Minister of Treasury Board. In 2018 she became Deputy Minister of Health and in 2020 led the Ministry of Health’s response of the Covid 19 pandemic.
Helen is now the CEO of an Ontario-based charity that funds research in the area of AI and Compassion and is a distinguished fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto.
Helen describes in her conversation with us, how she learned to spin plates in her many different roles in government. Let’s dive in!
Key moments in the podcast:
00:41 Helen's Early Career and Mentorship
02:37 Leadership During COVID-19
03:46 Personal Hobbies and Well-being
05:35 Helen's Podcast and Memorable Stories
07:48 The Role of Design in Helen's Career
11:17 Navigating Government and Health Systems
21:08 Courage and Accountability in Leadership
25:00 Implementing Large-Scale Changes
30:11 Final Reflections and Wisdom
Here is what stays with us from this conversation:
Embracing Complexity to Forge Impactful Careers
Transform diverse career challenges into stepping stones toward greater purpose and societal change.
Pivot boldly toward new paths that align with your values and create lasting impact.
Harnessing Mentorship and Cultivating Resilience
Seek mentors who challenge and empower you to grow beyond your perceived limits.
Stand firm in the face of adversity, turning obstacles into opportunities for transformation.
Prioritizing Reflection and Inner Strength
Make space for reflection and self-care to unlock clarity and sustain your leadership energy.
Draw strength from grounding routines that fuel both personal well-being and professional excellence.
Designing Leadership to Drive Systemic Change
Lead with a designer’s mindset, reimagining complex systems to deliver innovative solutions.
Leverage foundational skills to inspire transformation and create meaningful impact at scale.
Demonstrating Courage at Critical Crossroads
Lead with bravery, even when the stakes are high, to drive meaningful change and navigate uncertainty.
Face challenges head-on, inspiring confidence and progress in the face of resistance.
Revolutionizing Healthcare Through Vision and Collaboration
Break down barriers to foster collaboration, empowering teams to achieve extraordinary results.
Champion innovation to reimagine care, improving lives and delivering measurable outcomes.
Igniting Transformational Leadership
Listen deeply and lead with empathy to connect your vision with the needs of those you serve.
Inspire greatness by cultivating loyalty, motivation, and a shared sense of purpose within your team.
Set bold, ambitious goals to achieve transformative outcomes that redefine what’s possible.
Helen Angus exemplifies the transformative power of compassionate leadership in healthcare. Her insights and experiences serve as valuable lessons for anyone navigating leadership roles, especially within complex systems. We look forward to sharing more incredible stories in future episodes as we continue exploring critical crossroads on "Forks in the Road."
What was mentioned:
Daniel Goldman, on the power of positive storytelling
Podcast: Compassionate Minds, Conversations with Healthcare Leaders: https://www.ams-inc.on.ca/ams-podcast-compassionate-minds/
AMS: Advancing Healthcare with compassion at its core:
https://www.ams-inc.on.ca/
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Connect with Helen Angus
This is an original podcast by Flyntrok. We help organisations, communities and individuals change and adapt to a new world. You will Find Flyntrok on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.
Hosted by Stephen Berkeley and Anne Boland
Produced by Rajeev Nedumaran of Inscape Media.
Music by Damian Smith of Bespoke Music.
Artwork by Ben Tibbin of Mozmo Creative and
Social Media Creations by Alana Rauert of Muse Communications.
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