Kidada Hawkins

Kidada Hawkins boasts a rich career spanning over 15 years in healthcare administration. His remarkable journey has seen him collaborate with numerous struggling hospitals and healthcare systems, expertly orchestrating their transformation to enhance performance and foster a positive community image. Kidada Hawkins is an exceptional, results-oriented leader who thrives on overcoming challenges. His current residence is in Auburndale, Florida.

At the heart of Kidada Hawkins’ professional focus lies patient experience and engagement. With a diverse portfolio that spans both for-profit and not-for-profit systems and rural and urban landscapes, he has navigated a labyrinth of unique challenges and triumphed. Understanding the pivotal role healthcare systems play in thriving communities, Kidada Hawkins has been instrumental in implementing accountability frameworks, healing strained relationships, and streamlining operations to ensure that these critical facilities remain accessible to residents in need. His profound sense of duty as a healthcare administrator deeply influences the communities he serves.

Over the years, Kidada Hawkins has earned a string of certifications, affiliations, and accolades for his dedicated service in Alabama’s healthcare landscape. Becker’s Hospital Review has honored him in 2019 and 2020 as a distinguished African-American healthcare leader. Additionally, he holds memberships with esteemed organizations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives and the National Association of Healthcare Executives, accompanied by his certification in Healthcare Financial Management.

Kidada Hawkins has been an unwavering advocate for prudent financial management in each of his roles. In numerous instances, he assumed leadership in facilities experiencing consistent annual revenue losses, effectively reversing this trend within a few years. His strategies encompass diversifying service offerings, acquiring talent, boosting patient numbers, and reducing costs. Working closely with physicians, Kidada Hawkins is dedicated to finding mutually beneficial solutions that alleviate the workload for healthcare professionals while elevating the quality of care for patients.

Before starting his illustrious career, Kidada Hawkins earned his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and completed two master’s degree programs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This robust educational foundation has prepared him for executive roles within challenging healthcare environments. Fuelled by his passion for community well-being, Kidada finds fulfillment in applying his knowledge and experience to enhance healthcare experiences for everyday consumers.

Contributing to his community, Kidada Hawkins generously serves on nonprofit boards. Throughout the years, he has collaborated with numerous nonprofit organizations, sharing his expertise with community leaders dedicated to making a meaningful impact on those in need.

Stay updated with Kidada by following him on Crunchbase and Vocal Media!

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

We review what we have going on and touch base with team members. Like anyone, I like my day organized. I finish tasks as they come up. I touch base with middle team members to see what’s going on. My favorite part of the day is interacting with the people who make it happen.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Group thinking. More times than not, it’s something that presents itself that we need to solve. I like to bring as many key stakeholders together to talk through what we want to achieve, outline it, agree on the top things we want to achieve, and go from there.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I do like that consumers are more educated in terms of what’s best for them. I think we, as providers, should be accountable and as transparent as possible. While it has created more work, I like that it’s occurring. I would like to see more of a shift towards wellness in general.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Staying organized. I do better when I have my list of priorities laid out.

What advice would you give your younger self?

It’s never personal. I would remind myself that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Spend more time with the people in your organization.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.

More and more of our expense burdens should be focused on wellness versus treating the event. We need to seriously rethink how we can greater incentivize wellness versus episodic care. We need to be more aggressive in educating people appropriately in taking care of themselves outside of just medicine.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Celebrate your team. Remind your team why they chose healthcare.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I step away. I have to be with my family doing something. You can think differently after circling back. Also, make sure to seek counsel.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Focus on culture and quality. Invest heavily in making sure the culture is the right way. Culture wins every time. The number one marketer is your own team members. You must have something that they are proud of.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

Fortunately, God blessed me with great team members and associates. We’ve actually overachieved in most instances, but the credit goes to them. One thing I wish I was able to do more of earlier in my career is to be visible to people in the community who needed to see me. There are very few people of color in healthcare in my community.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

You’re in the business of people regardless of your profession. Never lose sight of that. Cultivate and maintain as many positive relationships as possible. Empower your colleagues and subordinates, as doing so helps maintain relationships and create positive work cultures.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

My calendar app is most useful for keeping me organized.

What is the best $100 you recently spent?

My goal was for my little boy to finally learn how to ride his bike. I bought him a bike and a little bar for his back tire that allows me to hold the bike steady. He now knows how to ride on his own. It’s so satisfying to see him achieve a goal of his. I would pay $1,000 for that feeling.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?

I like The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. I enjoyed it because his philosophy is close to mine.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

Wednesday (Netflix). That was the first series we watched as a family (wife, daughter, and me). We had fun and hope there’s a Season 2.

Key learnings:

• Culture wins out. Plans don’t.
• Stay a people business. It starts with the people who take care of patients, as they need tools to be successful.