Lisa McVey

Written by Shala Hainer

Chief Information Officer McKesson Technology Solutions, McKesson Corporation Lisa McVey is the chief information officer for McKesson Provider Technologies (MPT) and Physician Practice Solutions. She has overall responsibility for information technology leadership for MPT, the largest division of McKesson Technology Solutions (MTS), and the ambulatory business. McVey joined McKesson in 1994 and currently serves as the MTS-IT liaison for McKesson Corporate IT and is on the Corporate CIO Council. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, McVey is the recipient of the Association of Telecom Professionals' 2010 Enterprise Leadership Award and was named by Women in Technology (WIT) as one of the 2010 Women of the Year in Technology.

McVey is a champion of McKesson’s community efforts and the Georgia chapter of WIT, and she is also active in the Technology Association of Georgia and the CIO Executive Council sponsored by CIO Magazine. She is a member of the WIT Foundation board of directors, Agile Advisory Council and the CSE Deans Development Council for Southern Polytechnic State University.

Womenetics: After originally wanting to enter the healthcare field, how did you evolve into technology?
Lisa McVey: Let’s be honest – we all use technology. McKesson is dedicated to helping our customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes and improving the quality and safety of patient care. We do all of this via technology in one way or another. Being an 18-year employee, I have served in many business leadership roles, and everything I have done through my career has led me into this role. I am a business leader, at the table, using technology to meet our needs and drive success.

Womenetics: As the first female CIO in McKesson's history, do you feel added pressure to perform well? Why or why not?
McVey: I do not feel pressure to perform well because I am a female. In fact, I don’t feel pressure at all. I love what I do. What drives me every day is focusing on our customers as they serve the healthcare industry and helping the business achieve its growth and revenue goals.

With that said, what I value most is people. I truly enjoy stewarding rising talent and mentoring opportunities. I am committed to diversity and inclusion but beyond what we can just see. If leaders can learn to leverage different styles, experiences, knowledge – then we will deliver far beyond what we can only imagine today.

Womenetics: What motivates you to constantly improve performance in your area, such as creating the Data Governance Office for McKesson?
McVey: To stay ahead of what our customers and business needs, I am always looking for better, new or different ways of doing things. My life has been about overcoming obstacles and challenges – why should the way we approach work be any different. I want to be a part of helping to grow the organization, drive leadership and drive efficiencies. I’ve learned that what I do best, and therefore what I enjoy, is either fixing something, starting something or helping to drive change. Through this, I also have the privilege of helping others fulfill their potential.

Womenetics: Please explain your "BCALM" philosophy? How does it help you be a better leader?
McVey: At the heart of BCALM is this – if something is coming off the rails or if there is a major outage – it doesn’t help the team see their leader do the same. It’s during crisis when I become more calm, and my voice softens. We are all going to deal with crisis; it’s how you deal with it that’s important.

B = Balance, which means that you can have it all, but don’t expect to have it all at the same time or exactly when or how you expected.

C = Coach, which means find mentors, be a mentor, listen, study successful leaders, deal with criticism, do what’s right, like the person you see in the mirror.

A = Adapt, which means make the best decisions you can and course-correct when necessary and remember that you are working with people. People have lives and situations they are dealing with too.

L = Lead by fostering collaboration and seeing everyone as a potential business partner. Hire and surround yourself with people who are smarter and carry a big umbrella to protect the team.

M = Measure effectiveness of approach through company’s results and remember true leaders are always elevating the status of others.

Womenetics: You work with several groups to promote women in technology and have even started initiatives within your company. Why are you so passionate about encouraging young women to enter technology fields?
McVey: We clearly have a shortage of young girls and women entering into STEM careers. We do not have sufficient bench strength to attract, retain and promote women into senior leadership roles. This shows its’ ugly head at the board level. Diverse teams will be more productive, come up with creative and well thought out ideas.

Womenetics: You're also dedicated to growing more women leaders and mentoring young women, starting the Georgia Chapter of McKesson’s Employee Resource Group for Women. What obstacles do you see standing in the way of women leaders today, and what advice do you give women to overcome those obstacles?
McVey: There are several things women should be aware of:

1. Yes, you are a woman, but you are a leader. Don’t get on your soapbox about diversity and women. Drive business results. Yes, you can still be an advocate.
   
   
2. Do not try and become or behave like a man. You are not a man.
   
   
3. It’s okay to speak up with your opinion; showcase your results or recognitions. Who else will? You can be confident without coming across with a huge ego.
   
   
4. You are a complete person. Work is only one of the many quadrants of your life. You have family, friends, spiritual, health, wealth, etc. Show up as the whole you.
   
   
5. Have a clear, defined leadership philosophy and identify what you want to be known for. Check to make sure you are known that way.

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Based near Atlanta, Shala Hainer has been writing and copyediting since 1995. Beginning her career at newspapers such as the Marietta Daily Journal and the Atlanta Business Chronicle, she most recently wrote and edited articles for several nonprofit organizations before purchasing a flower shop in 2006. She earned a bachelor’s in communications from Jacksonville State University.