Mays graduate Bruce D. Broussard ’84 receives Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights award

Bruce D. Broussard ’84 has been selected as a laureate of the 2018 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award. The president and CEO of Humana – an accounting and finance graduate from Texas A&M University – accepted the award at the Ripple of Hope Awards Dinner in New York on Dec. 12. His fellow laureates are President Barack Obama, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav. Robert Kennedy’s daughter Kerry Kennedy presented the awards.

The Ripple of Hope Award Award celebrates influential leaders from all communities who are committed to social change, equality, justice, and basic human rights. Past laureates include President Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bono, George Clooney, and Vice President Al Gore.

“I’m honored to receive the Ripple of Hope Award,” said Broussard in an article from GlobeNewswire. “Robert F. Kennedy inspired our nation to rededicate itself to social and economic justice for all Americans, and that critical work continues today.”

A commitment to health care

Kerry Kennedy with Broussard at the awards ceremony.

Broussard’s commitment to improving health care for all closely aligns with Mays’ commitment to enhancing human health as defined by one of the three Mays Grand Challenges: Entrepreneurship, Energy, and Health Care; and ever since joining Humana in 2011, Broussard has transformed the health care industry. Under his leadership, Humana has created an integrated care delivery model that drives lower costs, enhances quality, improves outcomes, and provides a better member experience. He brings to Humana a wide range of executive leadership experience in a variety of health care sectors, including oncology, pharmaceuticals, assisted living/senior housing, home care, physician practice management, surgical centers and dental networks. With its holistic approach, Humana is dedicated to improving the health of the communities it serves by making it easy for people to achieve their best health.

“As CEO of Humana, I’ve committed our company to improve the health of our communities, particularly for older Americans,” said Broussard. “Access to quality health care is essential if we are to achieve the kind of world that Senator Kennedy dreamed of, and while our work is not done, every day we’re making progress toward that goal.”

A proud alumnus

Broussard is committed to not only transforming the health care industry but also to advancing the world’s prosperity by energizing young leaders at Mays. He has engaged both students and community members on several occasions to share wisdom on the tumultuous health care industry and life lessons learned from years of executive experience.  

“A&M’s principles of doing the right thing for the right reasons has really helped out in my decision-making process,” said Broussard during the Dean’s MBA Executive Speaker Series in 2011. “If you do the right thing, the rest will follow.”

Broussard was also welcomed back to Mays in 2016 as part of Dean Eli Jones’ Leadership Series. He had meetings and shared meals with students, faculty members, and administrators before delivering his keynote presentation. He talked about what people are motivated by and how to make customers happy by making employees happy. He also discussed balancing his work life with his family, explaining that making time for both his employees and his family is crucial for a successful business.

“Be flexible. I’ve learned more from the times when things didn’t go as I planned than when they did,” said Broussard. “Take risks. Life is not certain, so you have to be open to what comes along.”