I was a neurobiology major in college but discovered quickly that I was not a good fit for a job waiting for cells to grow. I did a quick pivot to consulting and entrepreneurship—a better fit for the speed I need. I am passionate about heathcare, particularly bringing better analytics and technology solutions to healthcare problems.
Booz Allen is great because there’s so much going on, and so many projects to get involved in. The fast-paced, chaotic environment just fits me. If there’s a pause in policy development in one area, you can go to another that interests you.
Kristine Martin Anderson leads the firm’s civil health business. She is recognized as a thought leader for her expertise in health information technology (HIT), HIT-enabled quality measurement and improvement, payment reform, health data exchange, and interoperability.
Prior to joining Booz Allen, she was vice president for operations and strategy at CareScience, a software solutions company that she helped launch in 1992 and take public in 2000. At CareScience, Kristine oversaw the launch of several innovative products, including the nation’s first web-based clinical decision support system for hospitals and the nation’s first health information exchange.
Kristine currently serves on the Quality Committee for the Mercy Health System board of directors as well as eHealth Initiative's board of directors. She also serves on the Cost and Resource Use Standing Committee of the National Quality Forum and the Quality and Safety Committee for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.
Kristine is a frequent speaker and has authored several published articles. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business.
Where do you see Booz Allen in 100 years? Helping aliens re-settle in space! Really, I think Booz Allen is all about helping solving major problems of the times. One hundred years ago, I’m sure we couldn’t have imagined what we’d be working on today. I think we’ll still be focused on the next big problem, whatever that may be. Maybe we’ll help form a Jetsons-like society on another planet.
What are the most pressing needs in healthcare right now? Without a doubt, analytics. There is incredible amounts of information to synthesize. Healthcare has always struggled with this area, especially since the industry is only about 10 years into being digital. Another really important area is policy development. There are a growing number of actors and stakeholders in health, and I think that’s a particular area that general management consulting can lend a helpful hand in organizing and aligning.
How do you stay on top during a market downturn? A market downturn is when people really find out what’s essential. What programs and services have to move forward no matter the budget? Once you find the answer to that big question you tend to be able to adjust accordingly.
What about your job keeps you awake at night? Letting a client down. Expecting to be on top of your game and deliver excellent work every day is a heavy bag to carry. Though it’s absolutely a privilege to solve our clients’ problems, you always have to be conscious of not meeting expectations or having a client demand something you aren’t thinking about.
What are three tips for managing and motivating your people? You have to genuinely care about them, and they have to know that. Listen to them, know who they are as people, not just employees. You also have to give them work that they care about. That plays into the recruitment part. Make sure you’re bringing on people who understand what the job is—not every nurse or pharmacist wants to be a management consultant. Last but not least, there has to be some element of fun. No one wants to just grind through the day.
What’s the best business advice you’ve heard? It wasn’t told directly to me, but I heard it at a Wharton business healthcare conference. Andrea Jung, the former CEO of Avon, was telling a story (and I may get the details wrong because this was a long time ago) about how she got caught on a board of directors’ call during her son’s birthday party. Because of all the noise, she felt as though she disappointed both her son for taking the work call as well as the board. She said something like this: “Don’t disappoint people accidently. Decide who you are going to disappoint that day, tell them, then release yourself of guilt. And don’t disappoint the same people all the time.” We all can’t always do what’s being asked of us, and if we try it will make us crazy. As a mother that really resonates with me.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? Be authentic. It’s too much work trying to be someone you’re not.
What are you nostalgic for? Sleeping in.
What’s the most influential book you’ve read? Most recently I read The Heart Led Leader by Tommy Spaulding. It’s a great reminder to connect with people personally, not just professionally.
What can we do to be happier? Spend more time doing what you love.
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