The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2024 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 20, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 21.
Next is Steven Sousa, senior vice president of health and social services at CGI Federal, and finalist in the Healthcare Executive of the Year, Public Company, category. Here, he talks about recent achievements, shares career advice and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2024?
One of my most significant accomplishments in 2024 was the establishment of our Health Innovation Center. This center is a testament to CGI’s commitment to leveraging our global alliance partners and our decades of experience in data modernization. By combining our domain expertise, systems integration capabilities, and our deep understanding of data, we’re able to conceptualize truly innovative solutions for some of the nation’s most critical healthcare challenges.
What sets this center apart is our ability to feed and create AI approaches that are practical and account for the paramount importance of data. In today’s complex healthcare landscape, where data is often fragmented and siloed, this capability is essential for developing effective solutions. By harnessing the power of AI, we can extract valuable insights from vast datasets, improve decision-making, and enhance patient outcomes.
The Health Innovation Center allows us to bring agencies with similar missions together and collaborate with our alliance partners to develop next-generation solutions. This collaborative approach enables us to share best practices, leverage complementary expertise, and create more comprehensive and impactful solutions. Ultimately, we’re working to connect disparate data sources and create AI-driven solutions that save time, money, and effort. Through the Health Innovation Center, we are positioning CGI as a leader in healthcare innovation, helping to address the pressing challenges facing our nation’s healthcare system.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
Our primary focus area going forward is automation and AI in the healthcare domain, but with a realistic approach. While the excitement around AI is understandable, it’s crucial to avoid the pitfalls of overhyped technologies like blockchain. The key to successful AI implementation lies in addressing underlying challenges like poor data quality and management.
Given our history of data modernization, we’re committed to helping our clients think through the entire process. This includes ensuring their data is identifiable, accessible, adequate, and usable for the desired outcomes. By focusing on data-driven decision-making, we can leverage AI to create meaningful and practical solutions.
In today’s complex federal healthcare environment, where data is often fragmented, siloed, and of varying quality, this approach is essential. By addressing data challenges and harnessing the power of AI, we can drive innovation, improve efficiency, and enhance patient outcomes. For example, AI can be used to analyze vast datasets to identify trends and patterns, predict patient outcomes, and optimize resource allocation.
By focusing on automation and AI, we are positioning CGI as a leader in healthcare innovation, helping to address the pressing challenges facing our nation’s healthcare system.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
As Marcus Aurelius would say, “Take full account of what each person can contribute, and make use of their specific strengths.” In other words, you should recognize and leverage the unique talents and expertise of others, even outside your area of expertise.
And while I wouldn’t put him on the same level as Aurelius, I think Michael Dell couldn’t have said it better when he said, “Try never to be the smartest person in the room. And if you are, I suggest you invite smarter people – or find a different room. . . . We are all gifts to each other, and my own growth as a leader has shown me again and again that the most rewarding experiences come from my relationships.” Simply put, embrace and collaborate with those around you, even if they come from different backgrounds or expertise.
Careers rarely follow a single path. The interactions and connections you have along the way can be very powerful . . . use them.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know about?
Not everyone knows that my family owns and operates one of the longest standing candy companies in Portugal, Pérola da ilha, (which means ‘Pearl of the Island’) based on the small island of Sao Miguel, Azores.
My family started the company in the early 1960s and it has always embodied a commitment to value and a superior product – a fundamental foundation for how I operate daily.
I’m always inspired by my family’s entrepreneurial spirit, starting from humble beginnings and establishing a business in a kitchen, experimenting with various recipes and techniques and continually investing to expand their production. I often wonder what life would have been like if I’d decided to use my business acumen in support of the family business.
Quoting the greatest candymaker of all time, Willy Wonka, “There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination (and a bit of sugar) . . . And don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted. He lived happily ever after.”