Today marks 90 days since Susan Brown stepped into the role as Proximity Institute President and CEO – a period of excavation and enrichment that she describes as “uncovering Proximity’s strong foundation to bring clarity and strength to the path forward.”

This approach, grounded in looking, listening, and learning, has enabled Susan’s pursuit of three ambitions for Proximity.  

Defining our future

The team and board have been engaged to define Proximity’s purpose and values. “This is inspiring work that will galvanize us in our efforts in hospital leadership development and ultimately contribute to improved care for the people of Ontario,” says Susan.

Proximity’s current purpose and values were put in place after its leadership development and change leadership mandate was ratified. “We now have five years of experience to draw on to evaluate if these are enduring and reflective of who we are today,” says Susan.

As the 2022-2026 strategy comes to a close, articulating Proximity’s reason for being will help determine where the charity is heading next and how it will get there.

Increasing our impact

In just five years, Proximity has gained the attention and support of many Ontario hospital leaders through its leadership development initiatives.

“We are known for some valuable outputs – data that deepens awareness of the sector’s CEO leadership, Proximity Picks Curated Readings that bring forward leadership best practice, and engaging networks and roundtables on shared leadership priorities, to name a few,” says Susan. “Our approach has always been shaped by stakeholder priorities, and now it is about choosing what we will carry forward into the future.”

A cross-cutting enabler will be an inaugural strategic communications plan to reinforce Proximity’s renewed purpose, advance its strategy, and engage more of the sector’s leadership in its work.

Enriching our team

Initially a startup, Proximity has reached a stage of maturity that will benefit from clarity of roles, structure, and process. “While still honouring the agility and flexibility that has served us so well in the past,” Susan adds. 

“It has been a joy getting to know everyone on the Proximity team, and I am deeply committed to identifying the essential drivers of engagement and success to enable their important work,” says Susan.

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As Susan reflects on these ambitions and her first 90 days in the role, the word collaboration comes to mind. “There is something about partnering and building together that I’ve carried forward throughout my career, and my approach here at Proximity is no different.”