A Mission Born of Observation and Intention
Ms. Sperkacz’s path into healthcare wasn’t the result of a single defining moment, but rather a series of small, powerful ones. As a young professional entering hospital environments, she recalls being struck not just by the clinical complexity of care, but by its emotional nuance.
“I noticed how the smallest gestures—a nurse remembering your name, a doctor sitting down to listen—had an outsized impact on people,” she says. “Those moments felt sacred.”
It was a realization that would guide the trajectory of her career. Over time, Ms. Sperkacz moved fluidly through different corners of the healthcare world: research institutions, patient support programs, operational leadership roles. But no matter where she worked, her compass always pointed back to one question: ‘How can we make healthcare more human?’
Apex Health: Reimagining Systems with Soul
Today, at Apex Health—a leading healthcare organization with a significant footprint across the Middle East— Ms. Sperkacz’s philosophy is being realized on a wide scale. The organization, known for its operational excellence and innovation-led approach, has fully embraced her human-centered vision.
“Our mission is simple: Redefining care by uplifting the human experience—one interaction at a time,” Ms. Sperkacz says. It’s more than a motto; it’s a strategic framework that underpins everything from organizational culture to bedside care.
Under her guidance, Apex Health has launched a host of transformative initiatives. Real-time feedback systems capture patient and staff sentiment within hours of interaction. AI-powered platforms analyze emotional cues, allowing leaders to respond not just to complaints, but to concerns that haven’t yet been voiced. “We’re no longer just reacting—we’re anticipating,” she explains.
But Ms. Sperkacz is quick to note that technology is a means, not the end. “Tech should enhance connection, not replace it,” she says. “It’s not about digital transformation for its own sake. It’s about emotional transformation—using the tools we have to create spaces where people feel respected and understood.”
Leading From the Heart—and the Head
Ask Ms. Sperkacz how she defines leadership, and her answer is immediate, almost instinctive: “It’s a sacred responsibility.”
For her, leadership isn’t about command and control; it’s about care and connection. It means holding space for vulnerability, modeling empathy, and making values actionable—even in the face of organizational inertia.
“Early in my career, I thought leadership was about doing,” she says. “Now I know it’s about being. Being present. Being curious. Being willing to evolve.”
That evolution has been shaped, in part, by mentors who modeled “compassionate courage”—a term she uses to describe leaders who pair vision with vulnerability. But it’s also been shaped by the people she considers her greatest teachers: patients, families, and frontline staff. “They tell you what’s working. They show you what matters. You just have to listen.”
That philosophy came into sharp focus during one of the most challenging chapters of her career: leading a cultural transformation initiative within a legacy institution where resistance to change was palpable. “We weren’t just introducing new policies,” she says. “We were asking people to rethink what leadership, care, and accountability looked like.”
“I was standing in the middle of resistance and saying, ‘We’re still going forward.’ “When you lead from the heart, you will face pushback,” she says. “But the real test is: Can you stay open? Can you keep listening, even when it’s hard?”
In times of uncertainty—whether pandemic-induced or system-inherent— Ms. Sperkacz relies on what she calls her “anchor triad”: clear communication, emotional presence, and collective courage. “Leadership isn’t about having all the answers,” she says. “It’s about holding the space until the answers emerge.”
