Analysis of Lois Quam's Leadership and Impact

Lois Quam has continually worked for a better tomorrow. In 2005, Quam was named Norwegian American of the Year. She believes there is much to learn from Norway: From balancing work and life, allowing parents to fully participate in the economy while still being active parents, to how successfully Norway is immersing itself in new energy technologies such as wind and biomass. As an arctic oil producing nation with a carbon tax since 1993, Norway has reinvested its oil wealth to become a world leader in renewable energy.8,

Internationally recognized as a visionary and leader on universal health-care reform and the emerging NGE, Lois Quam embodies the skill sets needed to succeed in this new economy. Named in 2006 by Fortune magazine as one of America's “50 Most Powerful Women,” Quam has worked as head of Strategic Investments, Green Economy & Health at Piper Jaffray, a leading international investment bank; served as president and CEO of the Public and Senior Markets segment at UnitedHealth Group, a $30 billion division she helped create and run; chaired the Minnesota Health Care Access Commission, which led to legislation that brought health insurance to tens of thousands of Minnesotans; and served as a senior advisor to Hillary Clinton's task force on health-care reform. She graduated magna cum laude from Macalester College in St. Paul and went on to attend the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, earning a master's degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.

Recognizing this, President Obama recently appointed Quam executive director of the State Department's Global Health Initiative. This $63 billion project will help developing countries improve their health care systems, with a special emphasis on women, children, and newborns.12 In accepting this position, Quam decided to step down as CEO of the company she founded and hand leadership to Norwegian Terje Mikalsen, co-founder and former chairman of Norsk Data.
“Although we are sad to see Lois leave the firm, Tysvar will continue to follow through on her vision to help bring the new green economy to scale and make quality health care affordable and accessible to everyone,” Mikalsen said on Tysvar's Web site. “We wish Lois all the best as she assumes her new position at the State Department. Her vision and leadership will help improve health care delivery and access for millions of people around the world.”13

On Earth Day Lois Quam gave a speech at the University of St. Thomas on the emerging opportunities in the NGE after which she said, “I enjoyed sharing How we can all use these key capabilities as a platform for doing something you love. Imagine: helping to build the NGE with a purposeful passion. It doesn't get much better than that!”14

In another speech she illustrated her philosophy:

As individuals, organizations, and countries answer the call for action, we look forward to achieving Lois Quam's vision of the future.

1.  How does Lois Quam use emotions and moods in her speeches to convey her viewpoint? Cite examples to support your statements.

2.  Based on what you have learned about Lois Quam, create hypotheses about the attitudes of her colleagues at Tysvar while using the three basic components of attitudes in your theories.

3.   Take a moment to research the Global Health Initiative. Why do you believe Lois Quam was chosen to lead this program?

4.   Research question: Search news reports, Web sites, and blogs to find out more information on Tysvar. How is the company faring in its quest to make the world cleaner and safer for future generations? What implications might that have on Tysvar's employees, their attitudes, and job satisfaction?