Dr. Carolyn Swinton, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, NCC, ACC, knows a lot and feels a lot about the importance of leadership. When our SC WHY Team decided to launch a podcast to spread big ideas and best practices on leading highly resilient teams, she was one of the first people we wanted to talk to.

Over the course of her career, Dr. Swinton has served in numerous clinical leadership roles, including Chief Nurse Executive, Prisma Health; Affiliate Faculty, University of South Carolina College of Nursing; and Clinical Associate Professor, Clemson University School of Nursing. She is currently the Founder and CEO of Reveille Executive Coaching & Consulting Services, LLC, and she has been partnering with SCHA on our "WHY We Lead" training designed to help hospital leaders in mid-level management positions enhance and cultivate skills and qualities necessary to successfully lead their teams, drive teamwork and engagement, and embrace change.

As we dug into Dr. Swinton's personal story more deeply, our conversation centered around the importance of empathy, self-awareness, and personal growth for effective leadership in healthcare. Dr. Swinton emphasized mentorship, coaching, and personal development for leaders and highlighted the impact of these practices on leadership effectiveness.

Dr. Swinton is a fount of wisdom and left us with some profound thoughts on leadership, including the importance of understanding one's personal values and long-term goals as a leader and the freedom that comes from realizing one doesn't have to be perfect.