At 35, Meeta Gandhi is among the youngest hospital COOs in the region, overseeing operations and shaping workplace culture at Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital on Florida’s East Coast. She says leadership starts with being human — a mindset she has developed over her career.
Ms. Gandhi joined Orlando Health in April from Charlotte, N.C.-based Novant Health, where she began her career as an administrative fellow and later served as manager and director of operations at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center.
Her leadership approach has evolved as health system executives face ongoing workforce pressures and increasing complexity across care delivery and operations.
“Starting my career with an administrative fellowship with a large organization gave me the perfect opportunity to get my hands dirty and work with our front-line team,” Ms. Gandhi said on the “Becker’s Healthcare Podcast.” “I focused on staying curious — seeing what’s working, what’s not working and how I can help.”
That experience shaped her leadership approach today. “There are many responsibilities as a senior leader, but I’ve never lost touch with engaging with the front line, listening and staying curious,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of leaders — and front-line teams — prioritizing themselves as responsibilities grow.
“We can’t fill others’ cups if we haven’t filled our own,” she said, noting that healthcare’s increasing demands make that focus even more critical.
Based on her experience, and during Women’s History Month, Ms. Gandhi shared five leadership habits she believes leaders should incorporate — focused on transparency, well-being, connection and workforce engagement.
They are:
1. Lead as a human first. “How are we bringing our authentic selves to work and building trust with front-line teams?” Ms. Gandhi said. “Teams don’t expect us to have every answer; they want transparency. Showing up consistently builds trust and helps teams perform at their best.”
2. Ask what’s not working — and act. Leadership requires listening and responding, she said. Acting on employee feedback helps reinforce that front-line voices matter and strengthens organizational culture.
3. Protect time that grounds you. For Ms. Gandhi, this includes small but consistent routines — such as having a cup of coffee, exercising or listening to a podcast. “Those moments help reset and provide energy to invest in others,” she said.
4. Prioritize meaningful connection. “It’s easy to become all-in on your role, but it’s important to stay connected to the people you love,” Ms. Gandhi said. “That connection provides energy and perspective to lead effectively.”
5. Invest in the next generation. Ms. Gandhi emphasized mentorship and sponsorship as critical to building confidence in future leaders and strengthening leadership pipelines, particularly as healthcare grows more complex.
While all five are important, she noted leaders do not need to implement them all at once.
“It takes time, and we should give ourselves grace,” she said. “If I could encourage one thing, it would be protecting time that grounds you. Start there, take care of yourself and the rest will follow.”
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