Faith, Family, and Finish Lines: Brett Carey on Leading with Purpose

Brett Carey (see his bio below) has built his life and leadership philosophy around three cornerstones: faith, family, and endurance. As Vice President of Human Resources at The University of Kansas Health System, Brett draws on lessons from his 25+ years at Hallmark Cards, his dedication to triathlon, and his belief that leadership is less about control and more about connection.

In this conversation, Brett shares:

• How small-town values and faith laid the foundation for his leadership approach.

• What he learned from Hallmark about aligning people, purpose, and performance.

• How endurance sports have shaped his mindset for leading through uncertainty and change.

• The importance of simplifying complexity, whether managing teams or competing in a triathlon.

• Why trust, humility, and follow-through are the hallmarks of great leadership.

We also discuss how he balances family, career, and competition, and why he believes that success on the course or in the boardroom comes down to perseverance and purpose.

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About Brett: Brett Carey serves as an executive leader in Human Resources, a loving leader in his faith and family, and practices personal leadership in his passion for triathlon. For the past 5 ½ years, he has served as the Vice President of Human Resources for The University of Kansas Health System. As a trusted advocate, Brett is a strategic HR leader with broad expertise simplifying complex situations through holistic thinking, ideation, and execution. Brett works with the Senior Executive Team as well as Physicians and all employees to ensure he is aligning HR strategies with the health system’s vision and mission. Throughout his career, he has been known for developing solutions to align business priorities while leading teams with collaboration and influencing with interpersonal and organizational savvy.

Prior to the health system, Brett enjoyed 25+ years with Hallmark Cards, progressing from sales and customer development into and through operational and human resources leadership positions. Integral to his personal and professional ethos is the integration and intersection of competitive triathlon and testing the limits of physical and mental boundaries.