By Sofía M. Villamil Durán
Research and Communications Assistant to the Provost
“Where there’s conviction, there’s no risk.” — Steve Wiggins
On Tuesday, February 18th, 2025, entrepreneur and healthcare innovator Mr. Steve Wiggins joined Professor Bill McGahan’s class to discuss his personal and professional trajectory and social entrepreneurship. With a career spanning multiple ventures, Mr. Wiggins has launched over seven startups, led Oxford Health Plans to a prestigious ranking among the top 300 companies on the Fortune 500 list, sold a company to CVS in a deal valued at over $8 billion, and advised two U.S. presidents on healthcare policy. His expertise lies “at the intersection of technology and healthcare,” making this event a unique opportunity for students at La Universidad del Sagrado Corazón’s Business School as part of the University’s ongoing efforts to promote entrepreneurship.
Mr. Wiggins began by sharing his backstory. Growing up in Minnesota during the 1970s, he witnessed his family’s office supply business go under amid tough economic times. Faced with these challenges, he said he had no choice but to “figure it out.” Taking an unconventional route, Mr. Wiggins started working for a carnival, touring with them across the U.S. while gaining valuable skills and raising money for his education. He’d later even write his admissions essay about this experience, citing it as the key reason he got accepted to college.
A pivotal moment in Mr. Wiggins’ life came when his best friend suffered a traumatic spinal injury. This deeply impacted him, compelling him to work at a rehabilitation center where he assisted people who had faced similar injuries — mostly young men and Vietnam War veterans. Mr. Wiggins was, as he put it, “at the bottom of the totem pole” there, taking patients to the commode, bathing them, and dressing them, among other daily tasks. He found the work incredibly meaningful, and he still remembers the names of the men he helped, having forged strong bonds with them as he accompanied them through difficult moments. It was during these formative years that Mr. Wiggins first recognized a major gap in the healthcare system: once discharged, many of these individuals had nowhere to go but nursing homes due to their need for round-the-clock care.
Motivated to improve their quality of life, Mr. Wiggins spoke to his professors at Macalester College about his vision and began conducting in-depth research at the library. “I’d use microfiche,” he said, nodding toward Prof. McGahan. “Remember those?” Through diligent work, his idea blossomed into an honors thesis outlining how to create a better housing outcome at a reduced cost for people with disabilities. Upon submission, his professors told him the thesis looked like a full-fledged business plan, and they encouraged him to bring the project to life.
Mr. Wiggins began “knocking on doors and picking up the telephone,” determined to build group homes for individuals with disabilities in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis–Saint Paul). After much effort, a hospital corporation agreed to sponsor him. He remarked that amazing things happen when you reach out and remain resilient and focused in spite of rejection. From there, he worked tirelessly on applications for government funding — even persevering after a car crash destroyed two binders worth of finalized paperwork. He never gave up on turning his objective into a reality.
As his non-profit, Accessible Spaces, Inc., gained traction, Mr. Wiggins expanded the project. Now, the organization operates over 160 apartment buildings nationwide and has become the largest provider of healthcare services and housing for people with high levels of disability in the U.S. Mr. Wiggins’ success led to a job offer from the hospital corporation that first believed in his dream, furthering his involvement in the healthcare industry where he would go on to found a Fortune 300 company. His pursuit of knowledge also eventually led him to Harvard Business School, where he often offered to drive healthcare CEOs invited by the graduate school from the airport just to learn from them even more.
Mr. Wiggins underscored that he was giving us all of this context and background to demonstrate there’s no shame in starting however you can; what matters is that you start. Later, he would describe this step as ‘beginning to walk toward your dreams’ and figuring it out along the way.
Prof. McGahan, who Mr. Wiggins described as “the most sought-after investment banker in healthcare at his prime,” also highlighted how Mr. Wiggins’ curiosity, resilience, and openness to change and reinvention contributed greatly to his success. He referenced the story of the car crash and the wrecked binders as a prime example of that and further commented on the value in not trying to solve a problem before first understanding it. Tying the talk into his class directly, Prof. McGahan then explained how his students’ assignment for the year was going to be to put together their own enterprise that addressed a social problem. He mentioned how the class had discussed, for example, tackling the invasive species crisis in Puerto Rico.
The floor then opened for student questions, during which time Mr. Wiggins shared valuable advice. He stressed that opportunity often finds those who remain attentive and committed to the world around them. In an age of constant distractions like our phones and social media, he reminded students of the value in being present. We must take in our experiences; that’s how his idea for Accessible Spaces, Inc., first came about. Without being observant, it wouldn’t have been possible. As he continued, Mr. Wiggins emphasized the importance of adaptability and lifelong learning, both of which have driven his ongoing presence in the world of business and innovation. He also spoke candidly about the significant role of courage, confidence, and openness in navigating both professional and personal growth. He mentioned taking the risk of knocking on the door and reaching out, for instance. You must have the courage to approach others and become comfortable with being uncomfortable, the confidence to continuously work on your mission when they say ‘yes’ and walk away with your head held high when they say ‘no,’ and the openness to drop your guard and build a relationship. His final piece of advice came when I was able to ask Mr. Wiggins what he’d tell his younger self. He shared, “I’d tell him not to be so insecure or defensive — and that he’d turn out just fine.” With that, the lecture concluded, leaving students not only inspired but equipped with the tools and mindset to pursue their own ventures and create meaningful social change.