Corey Marini

Corey Marini

Chief Audit Executive, Cardinal Health

Prioritizing people and pushing innovation forward

During a recent conversation, Corey Marini talked about the importance of asking tough questions, thinking through multiple options, and being a good problem solver.

You came to PwC as a director. What was your path to that opportunity?

Well, Denver’s a pretty small community, so I had gotten to know some people at PwC through professional associations and networking events. When the firm was looking to stand up its healthcare risk consulting practice, they reached out and I felt like it was the right opportunity. I had responsibility for the local market as well as a national role in the healthcare internal audit practice. I also did some compliance work and enterprise risk management work.

What stands out most from your time at the firm?

Definitely the people. Everybody at PwC is super smart, always pushing the envelope with new thinking, and really open to helping each other. Working there was just an amazing, dynamic experience. It was fast-paced and challenging, with lots of real-time feedback. I just learned so much as a practitioner and a leader.

What do you like about your work now?

I love getting to work behind the scenes to support folks on the front lines. We all know that healthcare is essential. It’s something that we all take advantage of regularly. But, at the same time, the healthcare system can be a little unwieldy. I see my role as helping to make the system even better than it already is—enhancing the pieces that are really good, while thinking about ways to clean up the pieces that are a little messy. And of course, at every step from protecting privacy to embracing new technologies, we want to make sure everything is done thoughtfully—protecting patients and pushing the industry forward.

How do you do that?

At the core of my work is helping figure out what our organization wants to do and how to accomplish that. What are the strategic priorities and goals? And what might get in the way of us being successful? Those are the risks we’ll need to help manage. My job is related to helping think through all of that in a structured kind of way. Internal audit is objective and independent, so it's not making management decisions per se, but it’s about asking tough questions, thinking through possible options, and being a good problem solver.

Reflecting on your career so far, what makes you most proud?

I love the people management piece of what I do, just being able to mentor and guide so many amazing people who are doing great work to support healthcare organizations. As I look back over my career and the folks I've had the privilege of working with, either side by side or mentoring, seeing where they go is awesome and definitely the most fulfilling part of my career. It feels good to be a part of making a difference in a positive way.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I try to lead by example and put myself in another individual's shoes. I believe that everyone is hired for a reason, and that reason is because they’re good at what they do. As a leader, I try to give people the freedom and flexibility to express their greatness, while also being there if they need guidance and support.

What do you think people need to be successful in your field?

I think you really need to have a number of skill sets, including people management. You need to understand the foundation of whatever function you're leading, whether it's finance or IT or whatever. And you need to understand how to look at the horizon—balancing the big-picture, forward-thinking elements that are critical to ensure long-term success, while also effectively managing the day-to-day business.

Outside of work, what makes you feel most fulfilled?

My family, number one. My wife and I both work in healthcare, but she’s a cardiothoracic nurse, so she’s literally saving lives every day. And we have three kids. Our oldest is a freshman in college, and we’ve got two in high school. We all really like to be outdoors—hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. That’s one of my favorite ways to recharge.

What advice can you offer others?

Don't be afraid to take on new challenges. Just try a lot of different things, so you can figure out what you like, what you don't like, what you're good at, what you're not good at. And if people ask you to do something, say yes. Don’t hesitate to raise your hand or apply for something until you can check all the boxes. Just go after it and you'll figure it out along the way.