It’s been about two weeks since I joined Avanos, and already, I’ve felt the energy, dedication, and heart that define this organization.

What brought me here? One word: purpose.

Avanos is grounded in a powerful Vision: getting patients back to what matters. That commitment to improving quality of life spoke to me immediately. But what truly inspired me was the opportunity to help shape what’s next for Avanos’ people and culture.

We are at an exciting inflection point, one marked by transformation, growth, and the courage to reimagine how we work, lead, and innovate. I see a leadership team deeply committed, not just to operational excellence but also to reimagining how we attract, engage, and grow our people in bold, intentional ways. That combination of ambition and intention is rare, and energizing!

What has stood out most, though, is the people. Passionate, dedicated, and ready to build something extraordinary. A culture poised for renewal. That matters to me. Because when you focus on people – when you make space for them to be seen, valued, and heard – you unlock performance in its truest, most sustainable form.

In Avanos, I saw a place where I could serve with purpose, live my values, and partner with others to create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The Values That Guide Me

Leadership, for me, is about courage. It’s about speaking hard truths, breaking down barriers, and cultivating environments that allow others to shine.

It’s about being willing to fail fast in the pursuit of progress rather than remaining stagnant. It’s about showing up with integrity, embracing ambiguity, and viewing obstacles not as roadblocks, but as challenges to overcome.

I believe in the power of your voice in the room, because if you’re at the table and you’re silent, you’re missing the moment to create impact.

I believe that every person is destined for greatness, and we all need people in our corner who remind us of that truth. Our responsibility as leaders is to create the conditions where that greatness can flourish.

I learned this from my mother, Pamela Chang, a nurse who worked three jobs to put me through school. She taught me that kindness, hard work, and diplomacy can change lives, and that mindset continues to fuel my work today. From her, I inherited not just resilience but the deep belief that “if you put in the time and effort, good things will happen.” That belief still guides me.

My First 90 Days: Listen, Learn, Act

In these first 90 days, I’m embracing a simple yet powerful approach that has served me well in the past: Listen. Learn. Act.

I’ll be spending time with our people – across roles, regions, and levels – to understand what’s working and what needs our attention. I want to hear the stories, the frustrations, the hopes. I want to hear what excites and challenges our employees, and what support they need to do their best work.

Simultaneously, I’ll be working closely with our leaders to shape a people strategy that’s inclusive, aspirational, and actionable. Our focus will include:

• Building a high-performance, values-driven culture
• Expanding leadership development and talent pipelines
• Prioritizing employee wellness, psychological safety, and engagement
• Creating systems that foster innovation, collaboration and accountability

We’ll also lean into partnerships, because driving real change takes collaboration across departments, across communities, and across perspectives. We’ll get farther together than we ever could alone, and as Avanos CEO Dave Pacitti shared recently:

“Partnership is in our DNA. Whether it’s collaborating with clinicians to improve our devices, advancing innovation with research institutions, or forming alliances to broaden access to care, we are at our best when we partner with purpose. The challenges facing healthcare today are too complex for any one organization to solve alone, … and the most impactful ideas often come when diverse perspectives unite around a common goal.”

As I begin this journey, I’m energized by what’s possible when purpose meets people. Together, we have the opportunity to shape a culture where everyone can thrive, contribute, and grow. I’m excited for what we’ll build – and become – together.

Let’s build that future – together.