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Kent Bradley

Chief Health and Nutrition Officer at Herbalife Nutrition

Kent Bradley, M.D., MPH, MBA

Biography

Dr. Kent Bradley is the Chief Health and Nutrition Officer at Herbalife Nutrition and the Founder of BTN Advisors. He has a diverse background spanning military service, healthcare leadership, and board roles at multi-billion dollar companies.12

Dr. Bradley is a retired Army colonel and a graduate of the United States Military Academy. He has a master's degree in public health from the University of Minnesota, an executive MBA from the University of Denver, and a medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.12

Prior to joining Herbalife, Dr. Bradley held senior executive roles in the public and private sectors. He was the former president of Safeway Health, a health technology solution and service provider, and served as the senior vice president and chief medical officer for Safeway.124

Dr. Bradley has served on numerous boards, including the board of directors for CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in the United States.1 He is actively involved in multiple community health and well-being initiatives and is the founder of Core Communities, a nonprofit organization supporting healthy communities.1

As the CEO of BTN Advisors, Dr. Bradley is passionate about activating change and challenging individuals and organizations to tap into their leadership potential.23 He is also an adjunct faculty member at the Daniels College of Business and has a certificate in corporate governance from INSEAD.23

Key Positions

  • Chief Health and Nutrition Officer, Herbalife Nutrition (2020 - Present)2
  • Chairman, Nutrition Advisory Board, Herbalife Nutrition (2018 - 2023)2
  • Founder, BTN Advisors (2015 - Present)23
  • President, Safeway Health (2012 - 2015)2
  • SVP, Chief Medical Officer, Safeway (2011 - 2015)2

Highlights

May 13 · linkedin

Lessons From A Bridge I learned a lot about the various stress loads of trusses in my civil engineering class at West Point.  Bridges were especially fascinating.

When two “I” beams are combined the load capability can be increased well beyond what either of the two beams could withstand individually but only if properly fit together.

If an organization is a bridge then its people are its beams.  Each beam shows up with its inherent stress load factor.  How we put it together and reinforce them makes a huge difference.  In other words, design matters. 

How we think about the organizational design centers on structure.  Inherent in the structure are lines of authority, operating philosophy, systems and processes, number of staff, etc. 

But what causes the failures of most bridges after they have been in use for some time?  Failures tend to happen at known stress points – typically at the junctures of the beams.  In order for a bridge to work properly for the extent of its lifetime, each beam is required to reinforce and support another. Similarly, people need to feel reinforced and supported.  How the beam behaves in the context of its design is the essence of organizational dynamics.

Of all the many parts of the bridge the one that may not be recognized is its bolts.  The Golden Gate bridge has 600,000 bolts that keep the bridge together.

The bolts, for me, represent TRUST.  The intangible element that allows for each part to rely on each other.  A high trust environment it is the single most important buffer to temper the impact of stress.

We can design for many things and often rely on experts to help us understand how to architect and at times build for a stated purpose – efficiency, growth, even agility and speed.  But I have found few who truly understand the need to intentionally and deeply talk about trust. 

No bridge will stand without bolts.  That means that people must trust people in order to lock arms together.  Trust is one of the most often quoted element that drives business success.  The customer must trust in your brand..that is why we create a brand promise.  Staff must trust in their teammates and managers.  The list goes on.  Trust is to be nurtured, cared for, and protected.  For when it is gone…it is nearly impossible to gain back.

Changes are inevitable but losing trust is nonnegotiable. 

May you build towards your future with bolts that will withstand the test of time because of the way you have nurtured and protected your bond of trust.

#trust #leadership #musingsonleadership #btnadvisors

Related Questions

What are some of the key projects Kent Bradley has led at Herbalife?
How did Kent Bradley's military background influence his career in healthcare?
What is the mission of Core Communities, the nonprofit organization founded by Kent Bradley?
Can you provide examples of the educational tools Kent Bradley has developed for Herbalife?
What are the main focus areas of BTN Advisors under Kent Bradley's leadership?
Kent Bradley
Kent Bradley, photo 1
Kent Bradley, photo 2
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Experience

Chief Health and Nutrition Officer at Herbalife Nutrition (March 2020 - Present)
Chairman, Nutrition Advisory Board at Herbalife Nutrition (April 2018 - May 2023); Founder at BTN Advisors (April 2015 - Present); Adjunct Faculty, Executive Education at Daniels College of Business (August 2010 - Present)

Education

MPH, Epidemiology from University of Minnesota-School of Public Health; MD, Medicine from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; International Directors Program, International Business

Location

Fort Collins, Colorado Area