Kent Thiry was CEO of DaVita, a healthcare company providing life-saving kidney care for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure or end stage renal disease, from 1999 to 2019. His unconventional leadership and successful restructuring plan catapulted the company from the brink of bankruptcy to the Fortune 500 list while simultaneously leading the industry in patient clinical outcomes.

Kent’s leadership was highly teammate (or employee) centered. During his tenure at DaVita, which grew to include over 65,000 employees in 12 countries, Kent instituted an unusual array of employee friendly programs to create a sense of community, offer personal and professional growth opportunities, and ultimately contribute to each teammate realizing their full potential along life’s journey.

Kent, along with his team, transformed the DaVita workplace into a community with shared responsibility, grew revenues 11-fold, and fulfilled his pledge to make DaVita one of the first Fortune 500 companies to have a majority diverse board. As a result, DaVita emerged as the leading clinical innovator in the kidney care community, as well as leading clinical outcomes in every country it provided care.

DaVita’s success prompted both Harvard and Stanford to write leadership and work culture case studies on the company.  Today, DaVita is known for a distinctively engaged work culture and developing well-rounded general managers and leaders. Kent J. Thiry is regularly invited to speak on these subjects at top universities, companies, and not-for-profit leadership groups.

Since stepping down as Executive Chair of DaVita in June 2020, Kent J. Thiry has continued his hands-on involvement in nonprofits and civic groups that primarily focus on economic mobility, education, the environment, democracy renewal, healthcare and community leadership

DaVita Village Network – When a teammate, or a family member, suffered a personal tragedy, other teammates from around the country would contribute money and/or vacation time, and the company would match (typically 2-3x the amount raised) to rescue that family from extreme hardship

KT Community Foundation – When a group of teammates committed to a service project in their local community, they could apply for a grant from this foundation to purchase the supplies, equipment, whatever was required.  Kent Thiry and Denise O’Leary funded 100% of these grants

KT Family Foundation – Teammates could apply for scholarships for their pre-college children.  The money could be used immediately or saved for college.  Kent J. Thiry and Denise O’Leary funded 100% of these grants.

DaVita Children’s Foundation – Teammates could apply for scholarships for their college age children.  DaVita funded 100% of these grants.

Academy – All US teammates, regardless of title or pay, were invited to a two-day session where the Mission, Core Values, and our aspirations were discussed, as well as self-awareness tools being shared with all.   Executives were required to attend.  Thousands of teammates attended – for many it was their first business trip in their life.”

Bridge of Life – A DaVita founded group which did medical missions overseas.

Tour DaVita – An annual 3-day bike ride dedicated to raising money to fund the Bridges of Life Medical Missions.  The company paid all expenses for lower paid teammates.  The Ride would raise over $1 million a year for the cause.

Shining Stars – Front-line teammates who were role models for clinical excellence and our Core Values were invited to attend the annual Management Retreat, attending all the sessions with management from around the world.

Night of Honor – Managers who were role models for our Core Values would be honored at an annual dinner, with all senior executives present.

Profit Sharing – Kent initiated a comprehensive profit-sharing program that covered nearly every teammate across the entire company.

Reality 101 – Each new executive spent a week working in the front-lines and/or taking the same training course as frontline teammates, in order to build a deep understanding of the work being done, and its challenges.