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Why I joined SmartCo Future Health…

Jill de Bene

4 June 2025

Trust.

Trust is the foundation of everything. At SmartCo Future Health, we build honest, reliable relationships by openly sharing company goals and decisions. We deliver on our promises to employees and customers, upholding the highest ethical and operational standards.

Trust has shaped my career from the beginning. In 1998, my MSc dissertation focused on bringing three Trusts together, exploring clinical collaboration for a Public-Private Partnership investment in a single District General Hospital. My role was to assess how far collaboration with a neighbouring NHS Trust could go – an endeavour that relied on both strategy and trust in uncertain outcomes.

Research confirmed what many leaders experience: collaboration is common, yet often unsuccessful. As Chris Huxham noted, partnerships frequently struggle. Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a key influence in my thinking, emphasised the importance of leadership cultures that empower individuals while creating space for partners to contribute and grow.

For collaboration to work, trust must be built deliberately. It requires acknowledging the vulnerability that comes with uncertainty—whether in shifting clinical services or broader strategic decisions. Clear communication and structured frameworks make this possible.

At SmartCo Future Health, we don’t just value trust – we actively build it. Our long-standing expertise in creating collaborative structures has shown that trust strengthens cross-functional teamwork. As Davis and Lawrence observed, when trust is in place, teams rely on each other’s expertise and judgments, leveraging their unique strengths.

Trust isn’t just a principle. It’s the foundation for lasting success.

About Jill

With over 30 years of leadership experience across the NHS and private sector, Jill brings deep expertise in digital transformation, complex programme delivery and people-first change. She’s passionate about using technology as an enabler to drive better health outcomes and operational efficiency.

About SmartCo Future Health

SmartCo Future Health is an award-winning consultancy shaping the future of healthcare. We bring a best-in-class team and future-focused approach; empowering clients, programmes and partners. We are a people first business, prioritising employee well-being, flexible working and equal opportunities for all.

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