-Kent Thiry
A Lifetime of Leadership
Kent J. Thiry led a healthcare company from the brink of bankruptcy to the Fortune 500.
He’s created nonprofits and civic organizations focused on positive changes that directly impact individuals and communities. As an architect of good government initiatives, Thiry has helped shape public policy so more Americans are included within the democratic process.
All of his endeavors have one thing in common: They are intended to have a systemic impact.
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 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.
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 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 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.
Kent currently serves as co-chair of Unite America, a philanthropic venture fund that invests in nonpartisan election reform to foster a more representative and functional government.
Education
Kent Thiry graduated with honors in political science at Stanford University, where he was a member of the school’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter. He later earned his MBA, with honors, from Harvard Business School.
Leadership Positions
- Founder/chair, AdvanceEDU – Kent and his wife Denise founded this school 2 years ago. It is designed specifically for young adults who need to work while they pursue a college degree. AdvanceEDU provides an exceptional quantity and quality of success coaching for each student, as well as actual work experience, all at a fraction of the cost of a normal school.
- Global board, The Nature Conservancy – The largest environmental organization in the world and a leading protector of Colorado’s open spaces.
- Former chair, Energize Colorado Gap Fund – Raised over $50 million dollars to provide COVID relief grants to Colorado small businesses with an emphasis on businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans and businesses in rural communities.
- Fundraising chair, CLIMBER Fund
- Founder/chair, Colorado Thrives
- Advisor, DSST Public Schools
- Board, Sondermind – Kent J. Thiry joined shortly after the founding of this innovative and high growth company focused on increasing access to and effectiveness of mental health care.
- Former advisory board, Harvard Business School
- Former board, Oxford Health Plan
- Former board, Varian Board
- Former chairman/CEO, Vivra
- Partner, Bain & Company
- Co-founder, The Aspen Group
Family
One of six children, Kent J. Thiry, grew up in the small town of Mequon, Wisconsin with his father, a partner in the information systems division of a large accounting firm, and his mother, who was a stay-at-home mom. He was taught to be disciplined, study hard, and give every endeavor his best. Kent Thiry was continually inspired by the regular people making a hands-on difference in the community. Kent Thiry and his wife Denise O’Leary have two adult children and live in Colorado.
Awards and Recognition
- Military Times ‘Best for Vets’ Employer, 2010-2019
- Newsweek Green Rankings, 2009-2018
- Training Top 125 – 2004-2020
- Colorado Governor’s Citizenship award for growth and innovation, 2020
- The International Bridge Builders Award, University of Denver, 2016
- The Woodrow Wilson Award for Denver Corporate Citizenship, 2013
- The Ellerin Achievement Award, Harvard Business School Healthcare Alumni Assoc., 2013
- Kent Thiry: “Mayor” of DaVita, Harvard Business School Case Study, May 2010.
- Kent Thiry and DaVita: Leadership Challenges in Building and Growing a Great Company, Stanford Graduate School of Business Case Study, 2006
- Becker’s Hospital Review “150 Great Places to work in Healthcare,” 2014-2016
- Communitas Award, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013
- FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies, 2006, 2007, 2009-2020
- The Denver Post Top Work Places, 2013-2020
- WorldBlu Freedom- World Blu recognizes companies where employees have an unusually strong voice in providing input and, in DaVita’s case, actual votes. For example, DaVita held an election to select the name of the company, as well as to select the Core Values. Centered Workplaces™ – 2008-2018
- Dow Jones Sustainability Index – 2016, 2018
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