CNO Roundtable 2026
Q6. What leadership qualities will tomorrow’s nurses need most?
TIMELY TRAITS
Danielle Gabele • Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital
Curiosity. I’m always impressed to hear what the staff is doing to solve everyday problems, which empowers me to represent their needs in the boardroom. Transparency is another must. It is important for leaders to be honest about what they can do, and what they can’t.
Karen Grimley • UCLA Health
Patience, active listening, comportment, and kindness. These behaviors build trust and ensure human-centered, compassionate care. At the same time, we must stay open to innovations that can strengthen clinical judgment and improve outcomes.
Derrek Hidalgo • California Rehabilitation Institute
Understanding of the hospital beyond the “nursing bubble.” Nurses also need to understand and accept that culture can and will change, and learn to actively engage with data, which becomes a powerful tool for meaningful and positive transformation.
Katie Hughes • Casa Colina
Change management and emotional intelligence. Our nursing leaders must be both clinically strong and operationally sophisticated.
David Marshall • Cedars-Sinai
Leaders who can absorb uncertainty, adapt, and keep teams focused will thrive. Data and digital fluency is also a must — leaders must be comfortable translating data into bedside- and unit-level decisions. Finally, the ability to build trust remains essential.
Stacie Miller • Henry Mayo
A strong understanding of the business of healthcare. Nurses play a pivotal role in the success or failure of an organization, and developing business acumen will empower nurses to lead more effectively and drive sustainable, equitable care.
Mark Mitchelson • Adventist Health Simi Valley
A strong understanding of how finance, quality, policy, and workflow intersect. Nurse leaders must be comfortable translating metrics into meaningful action. Emotional intelligence and the ability to remain nimble in a constantly evolving healthcare environment will also be essential.
Theresa Murphy • USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
As patient care moves out of hospitals into the community, RNs with a deep knowledge of their scope of practice and decision-making authority in the independent practice domain will play an important role in supporting RN autonomy and nurses’ contributions to their communities.
Jinhee Nguyen • Huntington Health
Adaptability, creativity, and the courage to drive change. I look for leaders who are true change agents: who think innovatively, challenge assumptions, and are willing to experiment within the constraints of a complex healthcare environment.
Scholastica Ogomaka • Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park
Adaptability, resilience, communication skills, emotional intelligence, and mentoring ability. Technological proficiency is also increasingly critical as workflows become more data-driven. Leaders who can leverage technology effectively will contribute to improved patient outcomes.
Jaime Reiter • USC Care Medical Group
In the ambulatory setting, nurse leaders will need a blend of soft skills to support and stabilize teams, and business acumen to manage operational complexity. Data-driven decision-making is also critical for nurses to build credibility with executive leadership.
Helen Staples-Evans • Loma Linda University Health
An understanding of the operational, clinical, and strategic challenges facing nursing. We offer a two-year nursing leadership residency program that allows bedside nurses to be mentored by nursing leaders, customized to each nurse’s individual interests.
Joyce Volsch • Redlands Community Hospital
Adaptability, resilience, and innovation. Nurse leaders must be able to pivot rapidly, stay grounded, and continually find better ways to deliver quality care. Professional development should build both tech fluency and the human essentials.
Lesley Wininger • Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial
Adaptive, agile leadership (willingness to experiment, comfort with ambiguity, ability to course-correct quickly); strategic vision (identifying emerging challenges and inspiring others towards a common goal); evidence-based decision-making; and emotional intelligence.
Alexis Zamarripa • PIH Health Downey Hospital
Adaptability and the ability to inspire, mentor, and empower teams. Leaders who can guide teams through change, foster resilience, and cultivate growth will be critical. ■
View this article in the May 2026 Flip Mag.
In this Article: Leadership and Management
