As we close out Women’s History Month, Marquis Health Consulting Services proudly celebrates the voices, vision, and leadership of the women across our organization. Through our annual “Women of Influence” spotlight series, we are honored to feature a group of distinguished female leaders; sharing their journeys, celebrating their professional and personal successes, and recognizing the impact they’ve made while breaking barriers along the way.

Among them is Sharon Donaghue, New England Division President, who has been a fearless leader at Marquis for more than seven years. With a strategic focus on both clinical excellence and operational innovation, she has played an integral role in shaping the standards of care across the centers we serve.

“We’ll say 43 years, if I’m counting the time I was a nurse’s aide. I love it—absolutely love it”, shares Sharon, when asked about her time served in the healthcare industry. “When I officially started working in senior care as a nurse’s aide, that’s when I found my herd. I realized, ‘This is what it’s all about. This is what I want to do.’ Some people call it a calling, others have different descriptions, but that’s what it was for me. It was magnetic. I knew immediately—this is exactly what I’m meant to do.”

When it comes to facing challenges, Sharon is no stranger to overcoming any barrier. “In my first regional role, there was pressure to assimilate in ways that didn’t align with how I conduct myself. I’m very intentional about my professionalism and the standards I hold for myself. At times, if you wanted to stay on the team or continue moving forward, you had to tolerate behavior and situations that weren’t aligned with your values. As I got older, I cared less about fitting in to make other people comfortable. I became more grounded in knowing my value, the work I was doing, and the impact I was bringing. I stopped letting distractions pull me away from that focus. I knew where I belonged, and I stayed there.”

Sharon’s thoughts on how female leadership is shaping the future? One word: transparency. “Healthcare is primarily represented by women, especially at the frontline, but leadership hasn’t always reflected that. One of the greatest gifts the newest generation of leaders has brought forward is transparency. Because of that transparency, women don’t have to do the things many of us felt forced to do early in our careers—sitting quietly, tolerating conversations that didn’t add value, or questioning ourselves when we already knew the answer. Today, there’s more space to speak clearly, directly, and confidently. Future female leaders need to stay strong in their values and beliefs and not be cautious about being the smartest person in the room. If you are, own it. Too often, even now, smart women still defer to men out of habit or culture. You already know what’s right. You already know what’s true. Trust that.”

When asked how organizations can better elevate women in leadership roles, Sharon feels it’s up to the woman, not the company, to decide on their career achievements. “I really think we have to ask people what they want”, she says, “too often, we tell people what they need instead of asking them what they actually want. We could do so much better—both as organizations and as a society—if we focused on listening first. Asking the question helps us become more in tune with people’s real needs.”

With culture being a forefront of the Marquis’ brand, we asked Sharon what recent culture win within her team has made her proud to be their leader. “One moment that felt like a major victory for me was when we started rolling it out with my team. The alignment happened so quickly. People immediately said, ‘Yes—this is what I believe too. This is exactly how I feel.’” She says, adding, “That wasn’t a small victory. That was a huge one. Culture is hard—you’re always asking, ‘How do I walk people down this path? How do I help them understand what this really means?’ To see it marry up so quickly was incredibly powerful. The belief system already existed. The alignment was real. And it came together perfectly.”

As all women can often reflect on their youth, Sharon thinks back to if she could give advice to her 22 year old self. “When I was younger, especially in my 20s, I was more cautious. I was afraid I might miss something, or questioned whether I was really ready for the next step. I wasn’t always sure my instincts were right, so I questioned myself more. What I would tell my younger self is this: you’re right. Keep going. Absolutely.”

Now looking ahead as Sharon enters her eighth year with Marquis, her influence is evident amongst her peers; older, younger, male, and female. For other women looking to join her in the mission of female empowerment, she ends with this: “When I was younger, I questioned what I thought the next step should be. I had great mentors who consistently reinforced my instincts—constantly encouraging me and reminding me that I already knew what I should be doing.

They helped build my confidence by reassuring me that my instincts were right.

For me, it’s about listening to your gut. I just feel it. And that feeling has always been right.”

Sharon Donaghue’s leadership is deeply rooted in both personal strength and lived experience. As a mother, she is guided by a desire to lead by example, demonstrating resilience, integrity, and purpose in both her life and career. Raised in a working-class New England family as one of seven children, Sharon developed a strong sense of determination, courage, and humility early on, attributing much of her influence to her sister, Nancy. These values continue to shape her approach today, defining her as a true Woman of Influence.

Inspired by Sharon’s story? If you’re passionate about making a difference in healthcare and want to grow your career with a supportive, mission-driven team, learn more about opportunities at one of the centers we support by visiting our Careers Page: https://mqshealth.com/caring-careers/

Written by Alex Halfinger, Social Media Manager at Marquis