Matt Arsenault (MAcc ’03), chief financial officer of Baptist Health South Florida, returned to FIU Business on March 12 as part of the Wertheim Lecture Series, offering students practical advice on navigating careers in finance and beyond.
Arsenault encouraged students to seek out experts and actively build knowledge, focus on strengths rather than weaknesses, and remain open to change. Tools such as audiobooks and podcasts, he noted, can support continuous learning.
“You don’t have to know everything. Today it’s both harder and easier — being proactive requires more effort in this hybrid environment,” he said. “Look outside through a different lens at big companies.”
Reflecting on his own path, Arsenault said he did not begin with a defined career plan. After graduating, he took a job teaching high school history.
“A 21-year-old teaching 16-year-olds. That first year was really hard, I struggled,” he said. “Think of one thing you did well, build on those strengths and thread from there.”
That mindset carried into his early career in healthcare. Shortly after joining Baptist Health, Arsenault was asked to present financial results to the organization’s board.
“Healthcare finance is horribly complicated; I tried to simplify and educate clinical leaders,” he said, adding that the approach comes down to building the right team. “You find other people whose strengths are your weaknesses, sharpen your skills, and build a great team.”
Arsenault urged students to view challenges as part of growth and to stay flexible as opportunities evolve, noting that early struggles often drive long-term development. His own pivot into accounting came after exploring different interests and discovering a path that fit.
FIU Business Annual Wertheim Lecture Series Featuring Matthew Arsenault – March 12, 2026
View event photos on Flickr
“Once I decided to pivot, I dove in headfirst and then leveraged my skills as a good communicator,” Arsenault said. “You can’t discount luck… be prepared for luck to come at you. No matter what path you decide to pivot, you can do it.”
The session highlighted how career paths are rarely linear, reinforcing for students that adaptability, curiosity and communication skills can open unexpected opportunities. During the Q&A session, students asked about healthcare costs, supply chain management, technology and leadership skills.
Roderick Kumengisa, a student in the Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management program, asked how the different parts of Baptist’s supply chain work together.
“Baptist has a centralized distribution center in Doral that delivers supplies to each of our hospitals every night — the right product, in the right place, at the right time and at the right price,” Arsenault said. “Data and analytics are combined with a hyper-efficient process, along with strong engagement from clinicians and the teams responsible for purchasing.”
Healthcare MBA student Angie Socarras, who has worked for five years as a medical assistant, asked what qualities and competencies are needed to make an impact.
Arsenault pointed to communication, empathy and strong interpersonal skills.
“Be able to connect with people. Be an active listener,” he said. “Leverage technology — there are more opportunities to learn what it’s capable of. If someone says it costs $3 million, say we can do it another way.”
Today, Baptist Health South Florida is a $7 billion enterprise with 11 hospitals and 30,000 employees. FIU College of Business, noted Dean William Hardin, educates many of the system’s employees.
“It’s up to us to create an environment that allows high-quality healthcare to exist and deliver it in the best way possible so everyone can have access,” he said. “We create the future not only in healthcare but as business leaders, and we wanted to bring a leader who has an FIU affiliation.”