Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Building Leaders at Every Level with Courtney Holladay
Mar 2, 2026
Courtney Holladay, VP and Chief Learning Officer at MD Anderson and industrial-organizational psychologist, explains how leadership is built at every level. She talks about embedding development across a 27,000-person workforce. Topics include designing a Leadership Institute, breaking down silos across disciplines, and preparing future leaders early through coaching and hands-on practice.
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Personal And Professional Roots Shaped Her Role
- Courtney Holladay joined MD Anderson motivated by personal ties as her mother is a cancer survivor treated there.
- Her professional background in industrial-organizational psychology shaped her approach to leadership development across a 20+ year career at the institution.
Leadership Is Everyone's Job At MD Anderson
- MD Anderson treats leadership as a capability for everyone, not a title, reinforced by senior leaders visibly participating in development programs.
- Leaders publicly sharing 360s and coaching participation normalized development and made it part of hiring criteria.
Design Development As Learn Practice Apply
- Design leadership development beyond classroom training by combining mentoring, coaching, and team development into a learn-practice-apply model.
- Be intentional about program objectives so development directly moves organizational performance metrics.