Marianne Navarro, AICP, MBA

Listen to this article

Marianne Navarro, AICP, MBA

Director of Community Development
LifeBridge Health

Self-care connects everything in life: career, interactions and one’s personal life. Is this something you are doing well or is this a goal? What are your secrets if you are succeeding and what are you goals if this is a focus area where you want to learn from others?

Over the past couple of years, I have learned to appreciate and adopt powerful habits to maintain self care such as keeping a daily routine, planning for restful periods, and adopting a healthy lifestyle. These habits, along with accountability practices, have allowed me to reach and maintain professional and personal goals around my work schedule and deliverables, family commitments, and health and nutrition. I’ve found that working with mentors, coaches, and finding friends and partners to keep me accountable and connected to my commitments in all areas of life have also been a gamechanger. I have also been prioritizing spending quality time and planning outings with friends that may have been neglected during the past two years of the pandemic. I believe I have made lasting changes.

Why is community service critical to your career and your personal leadership journey?

Since moving to Baltimore City from the surrounding suburbs more than 20 years ago, I have been continuously engaged with the greater Baltimore community both at work and in my personal life. I have had opportunities to meet and learn from many community leaders that dedicate their time and energy to serving others and improving their neighborhoods. These experiences have allowed me to grow my network of relationships, connections, and knowledge of the city.