Leadership Rooted in Humanity: Kris Fortman

In this episode of Leadership Matters by The Bailey Group, host Kaylee Thomsen sits down with Kris Fortman, CEO of Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, to explore what it truly means to lead with heart, clarity, and courage over the long haul. Kris shares her journey from growing up with a professor father at the University of Minnesota, to conducting healthcare research at HealthPartners, to global work at Medtronic, and ultimately stepping into a mission-driven CEO role in cardiovascular health. She reflects on the early mentors and strong female leaders who shaped her leadership style, why kindness and accountability must work together, and what it was like to inherit a broken culture and quietly turn it around by focusing on people, listening deeply, and building an executive team that can think big while staying grounded in the mission. Kris also talks candidly about hiring lessons, the hard but deeply kind work of helping people find the right role, her passion for women’s heart health and education, and how coaching from The Bailey Group has strengthened both her leadership and her team. If you are a purpose-driven leader looking for honest, practical insight on culture, confidence, and sustainable impact, this conversation delivers grounded wisdom you can use right away.