Garrett Caplin, Chief Executive Officer of Pulse Clinical Alliance, brings a wealth of experience and a robust financial background to his leadership role. He spent eight years in wealth management with prestigious firms such as Morgan Stanley, where he primarily served business owners, including a Fortune 500 CEO of a major department store company. His role involved managing substantial portfolios, advising on investment strategies, and providing comprehensive financial planning services.
Garrett’s career trajectory took a significant turn when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Recognizing the unprecedented challenges and opportunities in the healthcare sector, he felt a strong compulsion to leverage his financial expertise in a new field. The pandemic underscored the critical importance of effective healthcare management and presented an opportunity for Garrett to make a substantial impact.
In 2021, Garrett joined Pulse Clinical Alliance as CEO. His transition into healthcare was driven by a desire to contribute to an industry at the forefront of the global crisis. At Pulse Clinical Alliance, he has utilized his extensive background in finance and strategic planning to address critical issues within the organization. His keen eye for numbers and financial acumen have been instrumental in identifying inefficiencies and implementing solutions that have accelerated the company’s growth.
Under Garrett’s leadership, Pulse Clinical Alliance has seen record growth. He has focused on optimizing operations, enhancing financial performance, and expanding the company’s reach within the healthcare industry. His strategic initiatives have not only improved the company’s bottom line but have also positioned Pulse Clinical Alliance as a key player in the healthcare staffing and management sector.
Garrett’s ability to navigate complex financial landscapes and his strategic vision have been crucial in steering Pulse Clinical Alliance through a period of rapid change and uncertainty. His leadership is characterized by a commitment to innovation, a deep understanding of financial dynamics, and a dedication to making a positive impact on the healthcare industry. As Pulse Clinical Alliance continues to grow and evolve, Garrett’s experience and leadership will be pivotal in driving the company towards future success.
Leadership Story at Pulse Clinical Alliance
Pulse Clinical Alliance is a Joint Commission-certified company specializing in workforce and technology solutions for public and private healthcare systems. With an impressive track record of placing over 5,000 healthcare professionals, Pulse Clinical Alliance represents more than 100 healthcare systems across the United States. The company’s remarkable growth was recognized in 2022 when it was ranked number 453 on Inc. 5000’s Fastest Growing Companies list, having grown by 1,850 percent in 2021 alone.
In his role, Garrett oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization, where his strategic leadership has been transformative. He has spearheaded the rebuilding of the company’s entire infrastructure, driving exponential growth from $1 million in revenue to $19.5 million last year, with projections estimating close to $35 million in 2022. His financial acumen and strategic planning have been pivotal in this growth trajectory, ensuring that the company scales efficiently while maintaining high standards of service.
Garrett’s tenure at Pulse Clinical Alliance is marked by a strong commitment to operational excellence and impactful service delivery. He takes pride in the positive feedback from clients, particularly the stories of patients receiving exceptional care due to the skilled healthcare professionals Pulse Clinical Alliance provides. “What I enjoy most is the positive stories that we hear from our clients and knowing that people were taken care of because we helped provide the nurses to care for them,” he shares.
Under Garrett’s leadership, Pulse Clinical Alliance has not only grown financially but also enhanced its reputation within the healthcare industry. The company’s ability to rapidly scale while maintaining quality service is a testament to Garrett’s vision and effective management. As Pulse Clinical Alliance continues to expand, Garrett’s leadership will undoubtedly continue to play a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare workforce solutions.
Dedication to Family and Team
Outside the workplace, Garrett is first and foremost a family man. His immediate and extended family mean the world to him, and his wife Lindsey, daughter Jolie, and their dog Rocky are the focal points of his life. “Everything I do is for them,” Garrett shares, emphasizing the central role his family plays in motivating his professional endeavors.
Inside the workplace, Garrett is a fast-paced, dedicated leader with a strong focus on financial growth as well as fostering a positive workplace community and culture. He believes that a positive work environment is crucial for achieving the best results. “People want to come to work instead of having to come to work,” Garrett notes, underscoring his commitment to creating a work atmosphere where employees are motivated and engaged.
Garrett’s leadership at Pulse Clinical Alliance reflects his dual focus on driving financial success and building a supportive, thriving workplace culture. His approach ensures that the company not only achieves impressive growth but also maintains a positive and productive environment for its employees.
Leading by Example
Developing as a leader, in Garrett’s opinion, involves the ability to reflect on mistakes and learn from them. He emphasizes the importance of this reflective process in personal and professional growth, acknowledging that mistakes are inevitable but they become valuable learning experiences when one takes the time to understand and improve from them.
Additionally, Garrett believes that leading by example is extremely powerful. He notes that many emerging leaders lack the “lead by example” mindset. For Garrett, true leadership means being in the trenches with the team, facing challenges together, rather than giving orders from a distance. “I believe the leader should be in the trenches with the team taking grenades rather than barking orders from the back lines,” he says, highlighting his hands-on, involved approach to leadership.
This philosophy not only fosters trust and respect among team members but also ensures that leaders are fully aware of the realities and challenges faced by their teams. By embodying the qualities and work ethic he expects from others, Garrett sets a standard for excellence and dedication within Pulse Clinical Alliance.
Commitment to Positive Impact
Garrett oversees the day-to-day operations, manages profit and loss, and spearheads new sales initiatives at the company. He finds the most satisfaction in witnessing salespeople or recruiters achieve significant victories. Seeing their excitement and sense of accomplishment after diligently working on a task is a highlight of his daily routine. Additionally, receiving stories from nurses or positive feedback from patients about how the clinicians have positively impacted their lives brings him great joy. He attributes his success to his ability to focus on long-term goals. Garrett believes that many individuals become discouraged by not seeing immediate results and often abandon their efforts prematurely. In contrast, he believes truly successful individuals learn from initial setbacks, using that knowledge to eventually achieve success. Honesty, integrity, and tangible results are values he holds in high regard.
Recipe for Success
Garrett subscribes to the belief that success stems from both teamwork and individual leadership. He recognizes the importance of collective effort, as reflected in the saying, “there is no ‘I’ in team.” However, he also emphasizes the necessity of having leaders within the team who can inspire and serve as role models, fostering a healthy sense of competition in the workplace.
When recruiting, Garrett prioritizes certain qualities in candidates. He seeks individuals who embody honesty, integrity, and an outgoing personality. Moreover, he values candidates who demonstrate a willingness to learn and possess minimal or no ego, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented work environment.
Advice for Fearless Decision-Making
Garrett’s boldest professional leap was joining Pulse. Despite having a thriving business in the wealth sector, he opted to take a chance by leading Pulse. This decision involved leaving a secure opportunity behind, underscoring his willingness to embrace risk in pursuit of growth.
Offering advice to those stepping into leadership roles for the first time, Garrett emphasizes the importance of not succumbing to fear-driven decisions. He advises against hasty choices motivated by fear, pointing out that some of life’s greatest opportunities lie beyond fear’s grip.