An Ally in the C-Suite: Dan Burton’s Decade of Impact as a Servant Leader

Dan Burton has spent nearly fourteen years leading Health Catalyst with a mission-driven approach as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. With a commitment to healthcare improvement and innovation, he shepherded the three-person startup in 2008 to a publicly held company that now employs approximately 1,400 team members across the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Throughout the years, Burton has earned recognition for fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace driven by four cultural attributes: continuous learning, humility, commitment, and excellence.

Under his stewardship, Health Catalyst took the Parity Pledge—a commitment to interviewing at least one qualified woman for every leadership role. What’s more, the company achieved pay parity in 2020 and was named to the Women Tech Council (WTC) Shatter List for seven years in a row. The Shatter List spotlights technology companies actively implementing initiatives to promote and advance women in the industry, helping break the proverbial glass ceiling.

“Dan recognizes and appreciates the challenges women face being an under-represented group in the workplace and, specifically, under-represented in leadership roles,” says Linda Llewelyn, Chief People Officer at Health Catalyst. “With Dan’s constant and full support, we have been able to successfully ensure Health Catalyst women are given the same leadership opportunities as men. By doing so, many more Health Catalyst women team members are more likely to genuinely believe they have exciting growth opportunities ahead of them.” 

Women comprise 42 percent of Health Catalyst’s 7-member Board and 33 percent of Health Catalyst’s 21-member leadership team. 

In addition to the Shatter List, the company has garnered widespread acclaim for its efforts to support women in tech. Fortune recognized the company as a Best Workplaces for Women™ in 2023. Inspire In Utah named Health Catalyst one of the 100 Companies Championing Women in Utah, and Newsweek named Health Catalyst one of America’s Best Workplaces for Women.

Another testament to his commitment to being an ally for the women he works alongside is the career trajectory of Dr. Leslie Falk, Health Catalyst’s Chief Client Success Officer. She and Burton were colleagues at Hewlett-Packard before he asked her to join Health Catalyst 12 years ago, she says. 

“We have been working together now for over two decades,” she adds. “He is the kind of person that you know has your back and your best interests at heart. He willingly and respectfully shares through teaching, coaching, and example how to excel in so many areas that are important to women for their career development, including leadership, communications, business, and sales acumen.

“Dan has encouraged me and allowed me to lead, enabling me to move from an individual contributor into several leadership positions,” Falk continues.

In recognition of his ongoing commitment to women’s empowerment, the Women Tech Council honored Burton with their Decade of Impact award on October 3, 2024, at the Women Tech Awards. The event celebrates outstanding women in technology with ties to the Silicon Slopes community, where, notably, Health Catalyst’s Data Science and Analytics Vice President Jessica Curran was also celebrated for her contributions to innovation, leadership, and impact.

In addition to promoting women in leadership positions, Burton aims to enhance opportunities for women throughout the company and beyond its boundaries. To that end, he has fostered a supportive environment at Health Catalyst by championing the establishment of the company’s six employee resource groups (ERGs). One of the first ERGs established was Women Empowered, whose charter is to unapologetically advocate for the growth and advancement of women at Health Catalyst.

“Dan spends hours listening, learning, and advocating for the ERGs, including having at least one ERG present at monthly team meetings,” Falk says. “It’s not easy to balance the needs of our three stakeholders: clients, team members, and shareholders. Dan ensures that women are represented by our Board, leadership, and team members.”

With Burton at the helm, Health Catalyst has also collaborated with organizations that aim to establish networks and enhance opportunities for women in the technology sector. The Salt Lake City-based company launched the “Women in Engineering” scholarship program, offering tuition and housing support for young women enrolled in Devmountain’s immersive Software Quality Assurance (QA) or Web Development program.

Over the past decade, Burton has established Health Catalyst as a leading provider of data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations. Yet, his exemplary leadership stands out as a powerful reminder of the impact that dedicated mentorship and advocacy can have in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. By championing initiatives supporting women’s professional development and advancement, Burton has created a blueprint for others—to dismantle barriers, promote equity, and work toward a future where every woman can thrive in their career.