Ron Williams

We are a wealthy country. We also are the global engine of innovation in health care, whether it's the pharmaceutical industry or the creation of medical devices.

We know a culture doesn't just happen; it is the result of what you do every day.

As CEO of Aetna, I was a buyer of portfolio companies rather than a participant in the value creation process. From the end of the assembly line, what happened in manufacturing wasn't visible to me.

I think about culture and values as curbs on a highway. When the curbs are high enough, a vehicle can veer to the left or right, but the curbs keep the car on the road. It is the CEO's job to build those curbs as high as possible.

A positive, high-performance culture can quickly turn negative if the CEO is not rigorous in constantly articulating values and holding people accountable for both results and values.

Younger participants in the exchanges and who purchase individual insurance paid more, and they just didn't see the value, and therefore, they did not come forward and sign up.

We must find a way to cover those who are no longer healthy but need care.

Much of a leader's responsibility in creating a positive, high-performance culture is setting the right tone and acting on it consistently. That day-to-day execution - the tenor and tone - really makes the difference. One deviation - one exasperating meeting - and the CEO legitimizes bad behavior.

My belief is that a positive culture works best because people want to meet or exceed expectations, not demands.

I believe in the power of a positive, high-performance culture, which begins with strong ethical values at the core.

When I retired from Aetna, I became part of the private equity world. It turned out to be a natural fit.

There are several problems with the ACA's reliance on means-based inclusion criteria and mandatory participation in exchanges - the complexity of the exchange mechanism, and the potential for income-based subsidies to become a disincentive to earn if insurance rates escalate for those beyond the income threshold.