Thomas McDonough
Throughout his career, health care business executive Tom McDonough has developed a long list of industry mentors. But as a student in Northeastern’s College of Business Administration, McDonough often looked to sports figures for inspiration—inspiration that eventually would help mold his leadership style. Famed Celtics coach Red Auerbach was one such figure. “He was able to bring together players of varying skills to form a championship team. Business is the same way,” says McDonough. "If you hire people who are the same as you, your management team will not be diverse enough and it is likely you will fail."
In following this philosophy, McDonough has had successful stints as COO at Jardine Group Services Corporation, president at Harrington Services, and CEO at Uniprise, a subsidiary of United Health Group. He’s particularly proud of this nearly decade-long run at Coventry, where he now serves as president. “We came to Coventry Health Care eight years ago when it was in an incredibly challenged position, and fairly broken,” explains McDonough. “Now we’re the most profitable managed health care company in the public sector.”
The health care insurance industry wasn’t always on his radar. As an undergraduate, only one of his three co-op jobs related to the insurance industry. But he still found the real-world experience invaluable. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated, but I knew I wanted to work for a company with opportunities.” He feels that accomplishment comes less from knowing what industry you want to work in, and more about a good, old-fashioned work ethic. “Whatever you do, do it as well as you can everyday,” he says. “If you can’t, you’re in the wrong business and you should do something else. Nothing substitutes for hard work. It’s the transportation that gets you there.”
