Profiles in Leadership - UW-Milwaukee

Cover Story
Profi les in Leadership
Leading a Not-for-Profi t in a For-Profi t World
Jackie Fredrick
(EMBA ’88)
President & CEO
The BloodCenter of Wisconsin
Leaders of not-for-profi t organizations
face identical challenges to
their counterparts in for-profi t
organizations, said Jackie Fredrick,
Presi dent and CEO of The BloodCenter
of Wisconsin. “We require the same skills,
talents, and expectations that are required
in any organization that wants to be world
class.”
The BloodCenter of Wisconsin is a
nationally respected transfusion medicine
organization that is the sole supplier of
blood and blood products to over 50
Wisconsin hospitals. It also provides
diagnostic laboratory services nationally,
transfusion-related medical services, and
internationally recognized blood research.
The BloodCenter has annual revenues of
approximately $100 million.
“Let me describe the complexities of The
BloodCenter for you,” Fredrick said. “We
are part of the biotechnology industry, a
pharmaceutical manufacturer, a wholesale
and retail pharmacy, and a national
diagnostic lab. We have a physician group
practice and an academic research
institute. We are a charity and stewards of
the gift of life. And, we are a growing
organization, contributing to the economic
development of our community.”
Within that challenging environment,
Fredrick described four leadership man -
dates that guide her as she manages the
tension between business excellence and
delivering a charitable, community purpose:
Creating a tremendous sense of mission
and vision. “Our mission and vision —
advancing patient care by providing
life-saving solutions grounded in
unparalleled medical and scientifi c
expertise — is what inspires our people
and creates their greatest sense of
purpose.” Leaders need to nurture the
mission of their organization.
Engaging employees and building the real
talent of an organization. To attract the
same talent without the same fi nancial
rewards that for-profi ts can offer, Fredrick
said, not-for-profi ts must focus on providing
the maximum environment for people to
achieve their potentials — through a
sense of purpose, by creating challenging
and exciting opportunities, and by
offering opportunity for innovation.
Cultivating connections and relationships
with a wide variety of constituencies, both
internal and external. In not-for-profi ts
especially, it is crucial that these relationships
be built on trust.
Striving to have the best business and
operating practices. “At the BloodCenter,
we work very hard to be strong fi nancially,
and to benchmark our practices against
such leading organizations as General
Electric (Six Sigma), Mayo Clinic (brand
management), and Ritz Carlton (customer
experience).”
“ I learned so much of what I practice as a leader today from UWM’s business school. And the
BloodCenter continues to send employees to the Lubar School — its EMBA program, PhD program, and
Strategic Leadership Series. It helps our people to effectively operate in this very broad, complex world. ”
— Jackie Fredrick, President and CEO, The BloodCenter of Wisconsin
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