Tomislav (Tom) Mihaljevic

CEO & President, Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair, Cleveland Clinic

Education: University of Zagreb

How I Approach My Day: I approach my days with optimism about how our organization can lead change and create new cross-industry partnerships. This will create the healthcare of the future, which will be better not only for our collective workforce but also for our No. 1 priority: patients.

What I Look for in a Leader: Someone who is willing to do the hard things or unpopular things; seeking to make an impact without recognition or spotlight

Favorite Quote: “If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.”

If I Could Trade Places With Anyone: I would like to trade places with our founders to understand how they led during a different time in our history.

What Would Surprise Someone to Learn About Me: I call my mother every day.

An Important Lesson I Learned: In training, there is a myth that needing to call an attending surgeon is a sign of weakness or failure. I have learned that the opposite is true. Asking for help is the courageous thing to do, and it is rewarded.

A Cleveland Spot I Recommend: Marble Room or Mitchell’s