Her Story
About Marguerite
Marguerite (Margie) Braun never planned on becoming the kind of nurse who straddles two worlds — the quiet, intimate work of bedside care and the fast‑moving, strategic world of healthcare leadership. But her career has always been shaped by one simple belief: people deserve dignity, compassion, and someone willing to fight for them.
Margie found that calling early. Fresh out of nursing school, she stepped into geriatrics and immediately felt at home. She loved the pace, the stories, the way older adults taught her what it meant to show up for someone at the end of their life. Over more than a decade in long‑term care, she became the kind of nurse families trusted — steady, warm, and unafraid to advocate fiercely for her patients. Those years shaped her heart as much as her practice.
But somewhere along the way, another passion began to take root. Behavioral health kept pulling her in — the complexity, the vulnerability, the chance to help people in their darkest moments. She realized she wanted to make an impact not just at the bedside, but across entire systems of care.
Today, as Director of Business Development at Eagle View Behavioral Health, Margie channels both sides of her identity: the clinician who understands what patients need and the strategist who knows how to build programs, partnerships, and pathways that make care more accessible. She helped expand outpatient services, strengthened community relationships, and played a key role in launching a specialized program for first responders and veterans — a population she feels deeply connected to and honored to serve.
Even with the demands of leadership, Margie still works part‑time in a nursing home. It keeps her grounded. It reminds her why she started. And it ensures she never loses sight of the people behind the policies, the metrics, and the growth strategies she leads.
Long before nursing, Margie earned a B.A. in Marketing — a degree that now feels like a secret superpower. It allows her to blend storytelling, relationship building, and strategic thinking with her clinical background, creating a leadership style that is uniquely her own.
Her work has earned recognition, including being named 2025 Rookie of the Year by Summit Behavioral Healthcare and completing the Iowa Hospital Association’s Advanced Leadership Academy. But what matters most to her isn’t the accolades — it’s the impact. It’s knowing that her efforts help someone get care faster, feel safer, or find hope when they thought they had none.
At her core, Margie is still the nurse who believes in dignity, compassion, and showing up. She just does it on a bigger stage now — building systems that help people heal, one program, one partnership, and one patient at a time.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marguerite
01What do you attribute your success to?
When I think about my success, I don't picture awards, titles, or milestones. I think about people. The ones who shaped me, challenged me, believed in me long before I believed in myself.
I grew up watching strong, compassionate women who didn’t just talk about caring for others — they lived it. My Mom, who was also a nurse, taught me what resilience looks like in real time, how to keep showing up even when life throws you a curve ball. My grandmother showed me the quiet power of kindness and strength, the kind that doesn’t ask for recognition but changes people anyway. These women didn’t just influence my career; they shaped my heart.
When I think about motivation, I don't start with my career, I start with my family — especially my husband and my boys. They are the heartbeat behind every risk I've taken and every milestone I've reached.
My husband has always been my biggest cheerleader. The kind of husband who doesn’t just stand beside me, but lifts me up. People often say, “Behind every great woman is a great man pushing her up.” In my life, that’s absolutely true. He believed in my dreams even when they felt impossible. He believed in my strength even when I doubted it. And he believed in my future even when I was holding a newborn baby in my arms.
Because that’s when I made one of the boldest decisions of my life — going back to nursing school with a two‑month‑old. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t convenient. But it was something I felt called to do. And my husband never once questioned whether I could. He simply asked how he could help.
My boys became my motivation. Every late night studying, every early morning clinical, every moment I wondered if I was stretching myself too thin — I reminded myself that I was building a life they could be proud of. I wanted them to grow up seeing a Mom who didn’t just talk about chasing dreams, but lived it.
And that’s why I shares this piece of advice with anyone standing on the edge of something new:
There will always be an excuse not to try. There will always be a reason to wait. But if you feel called to something — you push yourself anyway. You do it scared. You do it tired. You do it unsure. You just do it.
Because sometimes the people who love you see your potential long before you do. And sometimes the bravest thing you can do is believe them.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Let your values guide your decisions. If something doesn’t align with who you are, it’s not the right opportunity — no matter how shiny it looks.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If I could tell young women entering nursing one thing, it would be this: follow your heart. Truly follow it.
Nursing is a world with a thousand doors — pediatrics, OB, orthopedics, behavioral health, long‑term care, emergency medicine. When I was in nursing school, everyone seemed to want pediatrics or adolescents. Those were the “popular” paths. But my heart pulled me somewhere different. I chose geriatrics, not because it was glamorous, but because I believed people deserved just as much dignity leaving this world as they did entering it. That belief shaped my entire career.
The beauty of nursing is that there is room for every passion. There is a place where your heart will feel at home — whether that’s caring for newborns, supporting families, helping people heal after surgery, or sitting quietly beside someone at the end of life. Nursing isn’t just a job. It’s a calling. And your calling will never sound exactly like someone else’s.
I didn’t start in nursing. I went to school for marketing first. And then, with a newborn baby in my arms, I finally decided to pursue what had been tugging at me for years. It wasn’t the “perfect time.” It wasn’t convenient. But it was right. And that made it possible.
It doesn’t matter where you are in life, how old you are, or how uncertain you feel — if your heart is pulling you toward something, listen. Follow it. Trust it.
There will always be reasons not to try. There will always be excuses that feel safer than taking a leap. But your heart knows the truth long before your mind catches up.
And when you follow it, you’ll find your place — the one meant just for you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Stigma still stands in the way of mental healthcare. Despite progress, stigma continues to prevent people from seeking care. Business development teams must work harder to build trust, educate communities, and normalize mental health treatment.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Compassion
I lead with heart — in nursing, in behavioral health, and at home. I believe people deserve dignity, empathy, and someone willing to stand beside them in their hardest moments. Compassion isn’t just a trait for me; it’s a guiding principle.
Advocacy
I fight for people — patients, families, vulnerable populations, first responders, veterans, older adults. I advocate for dignity at the end of life, access to mental health care, and the needs of those who often go unseen. Advocacy is woven into my leadership and my identity.
Family First
My husband and boys are my foundation. They are my motivation, my support system, and my “why.” I attribute my success to them, and I make decisions with their well‑being and pride in mind. Family is not just important to me — it’s central.
Courage
I make brave choices. Going back to nursing school with a two‑month‑old. Switching careers. Stepping into leadership. Choosing geriatrics when everyone else chose pediatrics. I follow my heart even when the timing isn’t perfect. Courage is one of my defining values.
Authenticity
I don’t try to fit into the mold of what others think a nurse or executive should be. I stay true to my instincts, my heart, and my purpose. I believe success comes from being genuine — not from performing or pretending.
Service
I see nursing and behavioral health as a calling. I stay connected to bedside care because service matters to me. I want my work to make a real difference — not just organizational growth, but human impact.
Integrity
I make decisions based on values, not convenience. I choose the path that aligns with my heart, even when it’s the harder one. I lead with honesty, consistency, and a strong moral compass.
Connection
Relationships matter deeply to me — with patients, colleagues, community partners, and my family. I build trust, I listen, and I show up. Connection is one of my greatest strengths and one of my most important values.
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