In honor of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting women in leadership positions at Brightview Senior Living. Our first interview is with Marilynn Duker, CEO.
What qualities make a great leader?
A belief that if you hold true to your core values, your culture and your commitment to your associates, you will be successful. Also, having a genuine interest in people and helping them to succeed, being truly open to the ideas and opinions of others, having humility and empathy, being collaborative, and taking the long view (don’t sacrifice your principles or your long-term success for short-term gain).
Why do we need more women in leadership?
Everything is made better, stronger and more successful if there is diversity among the people at the table making decisions. I believe women bring a different voice than men and a different perspective, as do people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. The more voices that are heard, the more successful we will be.
Fortune and Great Place to Work® recognized Brightview Senior Living as one of the 2019 Best Workplaces for Women. What makes Brightview a great workplace for women?
The majority of our workforce is women, and we have women in many leadership positions throughout the company, so hopefully we understand the unique issues women face in the workplace and do our best to help support our women associates. It’s really important to us to be an equitable workplace for all! To be a Great Place to Work, we absolutely have to be a great workplace for women!
What does the 2021 International Women’s Day theme “Choose to Challenge” mean to you?
It means we all have a responsibility to “choose to challenge” inequities where we see them and to work for change, to make the world a better place for everyone.
What advice would you give your younger self when looking back on your career?
I credit having several really important mentors, beginning early in my career, as being a major factor in my growth and success. I would tell my younger self the importance of never getting too comfortable with where you are and what you know - keep pushing yourself to learn something new, try something different as this is how you grow.
Brightview Senior Living builds, owns, and operates award-winning vibrant senior living communities in eight states along the East Coast: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. We offer senior Independent Living, Assisted Living, Enhanced Care, and Wellspring Village™, a specialized neighborhood for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Schedule a personal visit to experience our communities firsthand.
