A port in the storm of an uncertain industry

A SEAT AT THE BIG TABLE: Shanna Marzilli enjoys her role at the state’s largest health insurer as it works to transform the process of health care delivery. With her are Jonathan Holway, left, a strategy analyst for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and Jeremy Duncan, an assistant vice president in the insurer’s strategic-transformation office. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY
A SEAT AT THE BIG TABLE: Shanna Marzilli enjoys her role at the state’s largest health insurer as it works to transform the process of health care delivery. With her are Jonathan Holway, left, a strategy analyst for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and Jeremy Duncan, an assistant vice president in the insurer’s strategic-transformation office. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

She is an inspiration to many colleagues who say she climbed the corporate ladder with modesty and humility. Shanna Marzilli of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, has spent 18 years holding positions with increasing levels of responsibility at the state’s leading health insurer, which covers more than 600,000 members.
Can this kind of a strong career be tackled with an equally demanding family life? Marzilli, who has three children, said it’s important to “balance being present” both at work and home. In fact, Marzilli leads an informal support group for first-time mothers new to senior-management positions at BCBSRI.
And dads are right there with them, she said. “It’s not like it was 15 years ago. Men too are [striving to find a balance]. They are doing day care pickup … and also trying to be model dads and professionals.”
As an overseer of product strategy and development, brand and marketing communications and sales distribution, she describes herself as having a strong work ethic.
“When you’re in leadership, you can’t ask what [you] wouldn’t be willing to do [yourself]. If I have to stay ’til 10 p.m. or work a weekend, I will,” she said.
By spearheading BCBSRI’s efforts to transform the company and the way health care is delivered in Rhode Island, Marzilli is helping to bring about changes that will improve care and moderate costs over the long-term.
The patient-centered medical home is an example of such an initiative. “It’s a team-based approach comprised of a physician, physician’s assistant and a nurse care manager. It’s especially helpful for the sickest patients,” said Marzilli. It’s a solution for the times when a doctor is very busy. “We are starting to see the data which shows it’s a financial success” as well as a quality differentiator, she said. “We have received patient feedback like, ‘I love having a nurse to talk to.’ ”
Despite leading a successful program that has resulted in the participation of 300-plus physicians serving 100,000-plus members and saving a significant amount of medical expenses – she said it could be equally as challenging to operate in a post-health care reform marketplace.
“We don’t know what [a reformed health care market] will look like. Guidance is still to come from the state and federal government … We don’t have a lot of answers yet,” she said.
It’s these kinds of situations Marzilli negotiates – well – time and again.
“A manager once explained that the best thing about being in management is that you get to make the decisions. I love having a seat at the table and being a part of the creative and strategic planning [process] … and helping to build the talent of the team to accomplish the goals.”
“Be open to the possibility that doesn’t look like a possibility,” she said. “I’ve always taken on roles or projects that didn’t necessarily seem like a natural step up. But I took it on as an opportunity to become an expert [on the subject matter]. Sometimes we are so focused on working our way up that we don’t see what’s on the side of us.” &#8226

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