Compassionate Leadership in Action

Moderator: Penny Cook, President & CEO, Pioneer Network

Panel:
Jill Vitale-Aussem, President & CEO, Christian Living Communities / Capella Living Solutions
Deke Cateau, CEO, A.G. Rhodes
Donna Moore, COO, Isakson Living

Change that supports a transformed culture for people. It’s what Pioneer Network and the culture change movement have advocated for over 20 years now, and the need for it has never been more evident.

Throughout the pandemic, we saw remarkable examples of how the principles and practices that guide the culture change movement have made a difference in the lives of residents and team members.

One of those principles is so eloquently stated by The Eden Alternative, “Wise leadership is the key to meaningful and lasting change. For it, there can be no substitute.”

One characteristic of a wise leader is compassion. Merriam-Webster dictionary tells us that compassion is “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” What does it look like in practice? How does the wise leader support a culture of compassion in their organization? What characteristics do they share?

We know there are many compassionate leaders in our field, and we are pleased to be able to bring together three who have risen to the call during this past year as they have led their organizations through these challenging times.

Our panelists are leaders at organizations known for their compassionate cultures. Donna Moore, as COO at Isakson Living, Deke Cateau, as CEO, at A.G. Rhodes, and Jill Vitale-Aussem, who through most of the pandemic served as CEO of The Eden Alternative and is now CEO of Christian Living Communities.   Each will share the beliefs and values that guide their leadership philosophies and discuss how they have put them into action to grow and support a culture of compassion in their organizations.  They will also provide tangible ideas you can take away as you work to support and grow a culture of compassion in your organization.