Today is D1

I came to GE Healthcare (small c) on February 7, 2022 - hired as part of the internal communications team. I was to wear two hats:

Hat one: Provide direct communications support for our Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Strategy Officer. Wearing this hat was and is very familiar - embedding myself with the leadership team and driving the business forward through compelling and aligned messaging tied to our strategy. Been there - done that.

Hat two: A completely new and strange one, unlikely to ever be worn again. As part of the announcement to spin off from GE in "early 2023" I was part of something called the Separation Management Office. This team - along with a small army of passionate functional leaders and brilliant consultants?- was to execute against an extraordinarily complex plan to 'untangle' from our corporate parent and seamlessly build, staff, and deliver a standalone, investment-grade healthcare company ready to serve people, patients, and customers on something I've heard at least ten thousand times: Day One or D1.

D1 became such an everyday expression - it was as common as "you're on mute" or "share my screen" - - used so frequently, we rarely gave it a second thought. But today that all ends because today IS D1. In many ways, 2022 felt like a race toward a finish line when in fact, we've only now reached the starting line. Today is D1 at GE HealthCare (big c) and tomorrow we'll say, 'hey, remember D1?' with a fondness in our sleepy, blood-shot eyes.

For many of us, we'll reminisce about working through our operating models, or defining new capabilities that we didn't have before. We'll think back about inventorying our technologies, our policies, procedures, risks, change impacts, and workplans. Hey, remember GLAS or the Brand announcement? Deep Dives? Investor Day? Close Simulation? Form 10? 1X Spin costs? The Beat? ….the spin off bingo list goes on.

Even if I never wear it again, that second hat taught me a lot about myself, the company, and the passion of the teams with whom I'm lucky enough to work every day. Most of all, that second hat taught me about bringing a laser focus to a shared purpose and common goal.

Today we are GE HealthCare.

Tomorrow is D2.

?Let's go!