#169 - Building a People First Culture in Healthcare

In this inspiring episode of The ASHHRA Podcast, hosts Luke Carignan and Bo Brabo welcome Sandeep Randhawa, Chief People Officer at Renown Health in Reno, Nevada. Recorded in the dog days of summer 2025, Sandeep shares his transformative approach to creating a people-first culture at Renown, a not-for-profit health system serving a 100,000-square-mile region with 8,000 dedicated employees.

Sandeep dives into Renown’s deliberate people strategy, emphasizing why "people first" is more than a buzzword. Post-COVID, Renown’s leadership, led by CEO Dr. Brian Erling, committed to aligning strategic initiatives with a focus on empowering employees to deliver exceptional care. From revising organizational values to include "people first" to fostering community partnerships, Sandeep reveals actionable steps for sustainable workforce development.

Key insights for healthcare HR leaders:

• Define "People First": Renown’s vision prioritizes compassion, collaboration, and valuing employees to enhance community impact.
• Daily Commitment: Embed people-first principles through transparent communication, mission moments, and recognition programs like "Every Day Amazing."
• Strategic Focus: Sandeep spends 80% of his time on forward-thinking people strategies, from workforce development to professional growth, ensuring alignment with long-term goals.
• Cultural Transformation: Transparent town halls and employee feedback shape a culture of trust, loyalty, and pride, even in tough financial times.

Discover how Renown grew from 7,200 to 8,000 employees by prioritizing people over quick financial fixes, fostering a culture that resonates from the workplace to the community. Sandeep’s insights, drawn from his extensive experience at CommonSpirit and Dignity Health, offer a roadmap for healthcare leaders navigating complex environments.

Tune in for practical tips on building a resilient, engaged workforce and learn why putting people first is the key to organizational greatness. Listen now on ASHHRA.org or Apple Podcasts. Connect with Sandeep on LinkedIn for more HR wisdom!

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