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 bringing better analytics and technology solutions to difficult problems. My personal expertise is in health, but my interests are broader.
Booz Allen is great because there’s so much going on, and so many issues with which to get involved. The fast-paced, sometimes chaotic environment just fits me. If there’s a pause in policy development in one area, you can apply your skills in another area.
Kristine Martin Anderson leads the firm’s civil 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 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 in neurobiology 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? Designing safety systems for flying cars, running managed services for functions common across government, setting up settlements in space. Really, I think Booz Allen is all about helping solve the 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 opportunity, whatever that may be.
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 and I have shared it ever since. Andrea Jung, a prominent female CEO, 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. She felt as though she disappointed both her son for taking the work call, as well as the board because of all the noise. I took away the following advice: “Don’t disappoint people accidentally. 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? All of the leaders at Booz Allen were asked to 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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