Few leaders embody the intersection of service, compassion and discipline quite like Tyler Hippey, MBA ’22. Not long ago, he was managing a demanding intensive care unit (ICU), and today he’s the director of operations at Corewell Health. 

Hippey’s career spans critical care units, naval missions and the complex world of health care leadership. His commitment to leadership led him to be awarded the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurse Leaders in 2023 while serving as the ICU nurse manager. The Daisy Award is a national recognition program that honors nurses who go above and beyond in both clinical care and compassion. 

Hippey believes that great leadership is not only about the results you achieve but also about how you lead and care for those who follow you. He described the award as one of his proudest achievements in his career, especially because it came from his peers. “To get it from the people you’re leading just means that much more,” he said. 

Hippey’s drive for leadership and learned experiences shaped much of his career, showing that he is not only passionate about ensuring smooth and efficient operations but also about making sure the people under his leadership are well cared for.

“When you get to the level of nurse manager or director of operations, you have to care for the people doing the job,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how good you are and how efficient you are if you don’t care for the people under you.”

Hippey’s journey into health care began back in middle school, sparked by a career questionnaire that pointed him towards the field. He followed that path, earning his bachelor’s in nursing, becoming a registered nurse, and later serving six years on active duty in the Navy as a naval officer.

But what later led him to pursue his master of business management? 

“I knew I wanted to get into leadership and move up the career ladder,” he said. “Going to Davenport for business was the best choice for me, and it really catapulted my career.” 

He credits both Davenport and the GI Bill for enabling him to further his education. “Davenport has a good track record with military veterans, and that factor helped the school stand out,” he said. In the 2024-2025 academic year, Davenport enrolled 161 veterans, 34 active military personnel and 62 military dependents. 

While attending Davenport through a virtual seven-week accelerated course, Hippey was also working full-time as a nurse manager. He said it was challenging to balance a demanding job, personal priorities and school, especially since he was frequently on call and could be required to report to work at a moment’s notice.

Drawing on the discipline, structure and resilience shaped by his military experience, Hippey approached furthering his education as another challenge to overcome. Balancing work life and academics was demanding, but he continued to push forward, each step bringing him closer to earning his degree.

Though his new position as director of operations has taken him away from bedside care, he takes pride in supporting his team in other ways by ensuring the nurses have the resources and tools they need to focus solely on patient care. Nursing holds a special place in his heart, as both his wife and brother are also in the profession.

“Nursing has opened many doors for me, including the opportunity to travel to places such as Japan, Australia and Uzbekistan,” said Hippy. “I recommend nursing to others because of the wide range of career opportunities it offers.”

Hippy’s story is a testament to what can happen when passion meets purpose. Whether serving in the Navy, managing an ICU or leading operations, he remains focused on lifting others. For him, leadership is not about titles, but about the people one serves along the way.

When asked what legacy he would like to leave behind, Hippey referred back to the importance of leadership and lifting others

“If I were to leave Corewell tomorrow, I hope people would remember me as a people leader.”