LP 40 for 40 – Mano Mahadeva
The Plano Chamber of Commerce’s signature program, Leadership Plano, celebrates its 40th anniversary! For the past 40 years, Leadership Plano has been dedicated to educating, developing, and empowering current and future leaders for the community and motivating them to serve civic, charitable, and business organizations.
We are celebrating the impact of the past 40 years by spotlighting 40 Leadership Plano graduates who have paved the way for future generations, created meaningful change for the community, and continue to serve in leadership roles. This celebratory series, Leadership Plano 40 for 40, is Presented by UBS – The Kravitz Group.
Introducing our next spotlight, Leadership Plano Class 8 Graduate, Mano Mahadeva, Chief Executive Officer of Millennium Physicians. The Dallas Business Journal named Mahadeva CFO of the Year in 2016, recognizing his contributions to the healthcare industry and to companies he serves. His deep experience spans public, private and private equity-backed companies, large and small, where he built and led engaged teams to deliver strong, sustained revenue and profit growth.
Mahadeva has held leadership positions in many professional and civic organizations, including the American Institute of CPAs, the Texas Society of CPAs, The Institute of Management Accountants, The Collin County Healthcare Advisory Board, The Plano Metro Rotary Club, and the Plano Early Lions Club. Mahadeva presently serves as the Governor’s Appointee as the Presiding Officer of the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners for the State of Texas.
In 1998, Mahadeva was elected Chair of the National Association of Community Leadership Programs, an organization which provides graduates of leadership programs tools to help them effectively meet challenges and opportunities in their communities. A 1999 Distinguished Leadership Award recipient, the City of Plano, Texas, proclaimed May 13, 1999, as “Mano Mahadeva Day”.
1. What first made you interested in participating in Leadership Plano?
Plano’s population was one third what it is today and with expected rapid growth, Ii was clear that growth drove future demand for more services, so I wanted to get involved in the community as my way to give back. I had friends who had gone through Leadership Plano – they suggested that I join LP, which they described as a vehicle for meaningful change.
2. What is the most memorable part of your experience (or what is something that was happening in Plano that you remember about that year)?
David McCall was our coordinator for Class 8, his first with LP. His style of leading us through discussions on any topic was thoughtful, deliberate, and intentional. He made us think by asking us thought provoking questions to gain answers instead of a “lecture” on most topics. He framed the questions by using his childhood experiences and civic activities so that we could “live through” those experiences.
3. Why do you think LP is so impactful for our community?
LP is a highly sought after program which offers a “platform” to any individual in Plano who aspires to be a leader in any civic, charitable, or business organization. This very diverse program offers participants a deeper understanding of their city, which creates opportunities for those who want to give back via service.
4. What is one thing you can attribute to LP that is a success in your life or career?
Trust building exercises, including the ropes course, minefield, Human Knot, and Trust Box! Team members who collaborate with physicians must establish trust early on to work well together. The exercises used in our LP classes helped me understand the importance of the topic and ways in which to build a trusting partnership over the three decades of my physician practice management.
5. Why was your class the “Best Class Ever”?
Each class made meaningful impacts in the broader community, and in diverse ways, such that each class was “best ever”!
