Marie Wester, MSN, RN

I attribute my success first and foremost to God, who has guided my path, strengthened my resilience, and entrusted me with the responsibility to serve others. My career has never been about titles, but about stewardship — honoring the calling to care for seniors with dignity and to develop leaders with integrity.

Beginning as a Certified Nursing Assistant, I learned that true leadership starts at the bedside. Inspired by my mother’s work in senior living and later shaped by my military service, I developed a disciplined yet deeply compassionate approach to leadership. The Army taught me accountability and strategic execution; healthcare taught me empathy and advocacy. Together, they formed my commitment to lead with both excellence and heart.

I believe success is rooted in service. I am passionate about creating environments where seniors feel valued and heard, and where associates grow beyond what they once believed possible. Watching others exceed their own expectations is one of my greatest joys as a leader. By combining data-driven decision-making with a human-centered approach, I strive to elevate both outcomes and people.

Ultimately, my success is not measured by position, but by impact — the lives improved, the leaders developed, and the standards raised in the communities I serve.

The best career advice I ever received was from my mother: build a foundation so strong and so wide that the only person who can stop you is yourself. She taught me not to allow others to define my potential and to never accept “no” as the final answer when preparation, purpose, and conviction are aligned.

That advice shaped my entire career. From serving as a Certified Nursing Assistant to leading in the U.S. Army and now overseeing multi-site healthcare operations, I have learned that resilience, discipline, and continuous growth create opportunity. When your foundation is built on competence, integrity, and faith, confidence follows naturally.

Today, I carry that same message forward — encouraging others to strengthen their skills, expand their vision, and refuse to be limited by external expectations. When you are prepared and grounded in purpose, your future is not determined by obstacles, but by your willingness to rise beyond them.

To any woman entering healthcare and senior living, my advice is this: focus on becoming exceptional at what you do. Build depth, not just visibility. When your skills are strong, your character is steady, and your work reflects excellence, opportunities will follow naturally.

This industry requires both strength and compassion. Invest in your clinical knowledge, understand the operational side of care, and commit to continuous growth. Seek mentors who will challenge you, welcome feedback, and lean into assignments that stretch you — they are often the experiences that shape true leaders.

Just as important, lead with a genuine spirit. In healthcare, you cannot simply speak words of compassion — you must believe them, feel them, and demonstrate them consistently. Residents and teams can sense authenticity. When your heart is aligned with your actions, trust is built, and trust is the foundation of meaningful leadership.

There will be moments when you are underestimated or when the path feels difficult. Do not allow those moments to discourage you. Let them refine you. Build your foundation on discipline, integrity, resilience, and faith. When you are grounded in purpose, you don’t need to chase recognition — your impact will speak for itself.

Above all, remember that this work is about people. Protect dignity, advocate boldly, and lead with both excellence and heart. When you combine competence with authenticity, you won’t just build a career — you will elevate the lives of others.

One of the greatest challenges in senior living today is balancing operational demands, clinical excellence, and financial sustainability without ever compromising resident care. Leaders are constantly navigating regulatory requirements, workforce pressures, and budget realities — yet the standard of dignity and quality for our residents must remain unwavering. The true test of leadership is ensuring that business decisions never erode the humanity of care.

Another significant challenge — and opportunity — is culture. Healthcare is not just a job; it is a calling. When individuals view the work solely as a paycheck, the quality of care and team cohesion can suffer. However, this presents an opportunity to intentionally cultivate environments where purpose, accountability, and heart are restored to the center of the work. By investing in leadership development and reinforcing mission-driven values, we can transform workplace culture and elevate outcomes.

There is also tremendous opportunity in expanding our platforms and influence. As leaders, we have the responsibility to grow other leaders, strengthen systems of care, and extend our impact beyond individual communities. By developing high-performing teams and empowering others to lead with both excellence and authenticity, we multiply our ability to touch lives.

The future of senior living depends on leaders who are willing to protect the integrity of care while innovating for sustainability — and who understand that influence is not about position, but about the lives we shape along the way.

The values most important to me, both professionally and personally, are faith, service, integrity, genuine care, and giving back to those in need.

My faith is my foundation. It guides my decisions, anchors me in difficult moments, and reminds me that leadership is stewardship. I believe we are entrusted with the responsibility to serve others with humility and excellence.

Service is not just something I do — it is who I am. Whether caring for residents, developing leaders, or supporting humanitarian and veteran initiatives, I am driven by the desire to leave people better than I found them. Genuine care cannot be manufactured; it must come from the heart and be reflected in consistent action.

Integrity is equally essential. In healthcare and in life, trust is built when words and actions align. I strive to lead with transparency, accountability, and courage, even when decisions are difficult.

Ultimately, I believe success is measured not only by outcomes, but by impact — by how we uplift others, protect dignity, and use our influence to serve those who need it most.