Lisa Tseng, M.D., is an entrepreneurial leader who has developed several innovative businesses, products and systems within UnitedHealth Group, the nation’s largest health company and a Fortune 6 company. Needless to say, she has made a significant impact on the company.
Currently an executive vice president at Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, Tseng leads cross-functional teams that improve operations, increase profitability and deliver high level customer satisfaction for states and major customers. Earlier in her Optum career she founded hi HealthInnovations, a national hearing aid company. She also built a network of urgent care clinics and led Optum Complex Population Management, which delivers care to individuals with medically complex conditions in 36 states.
Committed to the professional growth of the next generation of leaders, Tseng serves as an informal mentor to younger Optum colleagues. “I feel a personal responsibility to ‘pay forward’ the guidance and support I’ve received from various mentors,” she says.
Previously, she served on the National Leadership Team of the American Medical Student Association and was the National President of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association.
This Optum executive believes that diversity is vital to the success of any organization competing in the global economy. “As the world continues to evolve and become more connected, it is important that businesses bring in talented people with a range of experiences and perspectives,” she explains. “No one person has all the answers, so it is crucial to develop teams with diverse backgrounds and ways of solving problems. Studies show that diverse companies outperform industry norms. For example, a McKinsey study of 366 public companies found that those in the top quartile for diversity were also 35 percent more likely to have financial returns above national industry medians.”
Tseng has this bit of advice for other women: “As my mentors advised me, I would encourage women to ‘hit the wall hard.’ By giving your best effort and stretching yourself, you can achieve better results than if you accept the status quo.” She also shares her personal philosophy: “Be accountable, adaptable and ambitious.”