In about two years with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Melissa Flicek has helped transform the Eagan-based health insurance nonprofit’s data foundation. She has defined data and technology governance standards, minimized complexity in the technology ecosystem, and pivoted focus to AI—the latter to drive operational efficiencies and improve customer experience. Flicek is personally motivated to demystify health care: Diagnosed with a benign brain tumor and kidney cancer, she spent 21 days in the neuro ICU during the Covid-19 pandemic, learning the complications of the health care system. As an executive in the industry, she is committed to working to improve patient experience.