Lewis Lipscomb
University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School
Age: 53
“Husband, father, friend, servant leader, physician executive, Ob-Gyn, Catholic, outdoor cook, life-long learner.”
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina; I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi.
Family Members: My wife Leslie, son Webb, daughters Mary Grace and Ava
Fun fact about yourself: I was an early adopter of robotic surgery for benign gynecologic surgery and achieved a world record for the largest uterus ever removed robotically (9 pounds, 7 ounces)!
Undergraduate School and Degree:
Vanderbilt University, Bachelor of Engineering (chemical engineering)
University of Mississippi School of Medicine, MD
Wake Forest University, Residency in ob-gyn
Where are you currently working? Novant Health – SVP, Physician-In-Chief, Women’s & Children’s Institute
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: Award-winning volunteer Chef for the State Employees’ Credit Union Family House’s annual “Men Who Cook” event. I serve as volunteer medical director and on the boards of several pregnancy assistance centers in my community.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Not really academic or extracurricular, but I am so proud of what my kids have accomplished. They inspire me to continue to learn, explore and work hard.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of the times in my career when I chose to follow my conscience, did the hard thing, and took the road less traveled. One example is when I decided to go all in on robotic surgery when very few people saw the value. I was surrounded by skeptics. I believed deeply that the technology would be beneficial for patients. I confronted many obstacles and setbacks along the way, but persisted as I knew it was the right thing to do. I am so pleased to see that now robotic surgery is becoming the standard of care.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? This is a hard one. Bill Putsis stands out because he really challenged me to explore outside my comfort zone. He did a wonderful job of engaging students and drawing everyone into our marketing discussions.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I am blessed to have such a well-respected business school only 90 minutes away from home. I was looking for professors who are leaders in their fields and involved in teaching. I also wanted an in-person program. The Weekend Executive MBA program at UNC Kenan-Flagler is great because our class is together on campus all weekend. This allows the class to form meaningful friendships and connections. The Rizzo Center is a beautiful setting and the facilities are fantastic.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? My fundamental goal in business school is to learn the language of business. It has been so refreshing to learn formally what only my intuition has provided for me during my career in medicine. I feel like I can more effectively lead my teams, establish goals, and achieve institutional success.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? We were traveling with family during my kids’ spring break, which coincided with the due date for a time-sensitive competitive simulation project in our operations class. My teammate and I were excited as we were in the lead as we approached the last few hours of the simulation. We spent some time calculating our final order entry using the newsvendor model, but pressed “enter” accidentally. We immediately went into damage control and were able to salvage a second-place finish. By the time it was all over, my family, including my wife, parents and kids, seemed to have a pretty good understanding about the newsvendor model and how we had messed up!
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? Be prepared to make some personal sacrifices while you are in the program, but know that it is totally worth it! I have been blessed to have a supportive wife and family. They have been my biggest source of strength and motivation. I am so grateful for that.
What was your biggest regret in business school? My only regret is not diving deeper into the subject matter that was hard for me. I have learned so much, but I know I could have learned more.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? This is so tough. I look around my class and see so many people I admire. I have been particularly impressed with Ashley Perez. I met her during our electives and quickly realized how great a leader she is. She keeps everyone in the class included and engaged. She has such a generous heart and is always willing to lend assistance to classmates.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I was seeking an in-person experience. The Weekend Executive MBA program at UNC Kenan-Flagler provided a format and schedule that I was able to incorporate into my normal work week.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I personally financed the program and was grateful to receive a fellowship to cover part of my tuition.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? In the near-to-intermediate term, my goal is to be the most effective leader I can be in my organization. One day, I would love to own and operate a small business.
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