Claire Trautz, MBA, Independent Consultant, formerly Senior Director, Operations at UnitedHealthcare

What is your current role?

I have over 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry, with expertise spanning both the provider and payer sectors. I’m passionate about optimizing healthcare operations and driving transformational changes that improve performance, accelerate delivery, and enhance experiences for members, patients, and providers. Most recently, I served as a Senior Director of Operations at UnitedHealthcare, where I was responsible for aligning and advancing Operations and Government Programs (Medicare and Medicaid) business strategies to drive growth, enhance member experiences, and achieve organizational goals. I left UHC in May 2025 to pursue new opportunities in the healthcare startup space and am currently working as an independent contractor, consulting for a small health tech company that fosters a vibrant community of professionals at the intersection of healthcare and technology.

Why did you join the TRUST?

I joined the TRUST in 2022 after hearing glowing recommendations from women in my network. I was attracted to the organization’s focus on fostering a community of like-minded healthcare professionals and its commitment to mentorship and advocacy. Since joining, the network has become an invaluable resource for both personal and professional growth.

What has been your favorite part of being a member of the TRUST?

The community. Seeing the ripple effect of women supporting women is both inspiring and motivating. It reinforces the power of mentorship, advocacy, and shared success.

What is the best career advice you’ve received?

One of the best pieces of career advice I received was to seek opportunities that align with my core values—authenticity, integrity, autonomy, and growth. When your work resonates with what truly energizes you, it becomes much more fulfilling. Regularly check in with yourself to ensure that what you’re doing aligns with those values. If it doesn’t, make decisions that are true to yourself, guided by alignment, discernment, and self-trust.

Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that influenced your leadership or professional path?

A pivotal moment in my career came early in my time at UnitedHealthcare when I was tasked with leading a cross-functional team to operationalize our Medicaid Rdeterminations strategy, ensuring members do not lose coverage. The project was large-scale and came with a high level of complexity and pressure. I’ll never forget the sense of responsibility I felt — not only for meeting the business goals but also for ensuring a seamless experience for our most vulnerable members.

What made this moment transformative was realizing how much leadership is about fostering trust and connection within teams, especially when the stakes are high. I found that, while technical expertise and strategic thinking were critical, what truly drove the success of the project was having the ability to listen, empower my team members, and ensure we were all aligned in our mission. This experience taught me the value of emotional intelligence in leadership — how crucial it is to cultivate empathy, build strong relationships, and lead with authenticity. This experience reinforced my belief that leadership isn’t just about being in charge; it’s about helping others rise to their full potential, especially in challenging times.

What emerging trend in health care are you most excited about?

AI is a hot topic in healthcare right now, and I’m particularly excited about its potential in predictive analytics for patient care. By enabling more proactive, personalized treatment plans, AI can significantly improve patient outcomes. Additionally, AI’s ability to streamline administrative tasks such as scheduling, billing, and documentation allows healthcare professionals to spend more time on direct patient care, enhancing efficiency, the patient experience, and reducing physician burnout. I’m also interested in how AI will impact healthcare companies financially—whether through cost savings or new revenue streams.

How do you balance the demands of your professional and personal life?

Balancing work and life is always a challenge, and I’m still learning to navigate it. One approach that has worked for me is communicating openly with colleagues and clients about my availability and capacity. This helps manage expectations. While it may seem simple, it requires intention to shift from a mindset of over-functioning, especially after years of being in performative roles where doing more was often rewarded.

Do you have a project or initiative you were particularly proud of leading?

A project I’m particularly proud of was leading the operational response during a major cyber-attack. In the face of an unprecedented crisis, I coordinated cross-functional teams to ensure continuity of care for millions of members. We implemented emergency measures to continue providing coverage, including temporary administrative relief for affected members and advanced funding for providers. The success of this initiative not only ensured that our members continued to receive critical care during the disruption, but it also helped strengthen the resilience of our operations in the long term.