Chance Favors The Prepared Mind

For Marcela Manjarrez, her career has been defined by preparation, flexibility, grit and intent. “I love the saying: Success is where preparation meets opportunity,” she says.

Marcela Manjarres

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AT CENTENE CORPORATION

CENTENE IS THE NATION’S top provider of government-sponsored healthcare, and as a multinational healthcare enterprise, the company is ranked 24th on the 2021 FORTUNE 500 list of largest U.S. corporations. Marcela plays a leading role in shaping how the healthcare company communicates its mission and business operations to stakeholders, including members, providers and state-level partners.

“One of the reasons I report directly to the CEO is because he believes it is important for Communications to have a seat at the table, to understand the business strategy and risks we face as an organization, and to be fully immersed in what we are trying to achieve as a company. I am a partner with a voice at the table - not just there for tactical execution.”

Marcela joined Centene in 2015 after fifteen years at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. She recalls her initial role at the bank as her “dream job,” where she was a research analyst, and later served as a special research assistant to the Federal Reserve president. While with the Federal Reserve, she started a family, giving birth to twins, and earned a Masters in Economics at Washington University in St. Louis. She later took a role in the Public Affairs department and ultimately became Vice President of External Communications, Industry Relations and Public Outreach.

The financial crisis of 2008 brought big changes in her career. The Fed’s focus would pivot from research on monetary policy, to explaining the financial crisis to a general audience, as it was unfolding. In her new role she would take on building a public affairs and communications strategy for the Federal Reserve. Marcela thrived and reengineered how the St. Louis Fed did its communications. “The public and the media wanted to understand what was happening in the financial system and what the Fed was doing to address the crisis. We made a concerted effort to become more open and transparent. We were intentional about explaining the financial system, the economy and monetary policy in terms the general public could understand. My team and I became really good translators of complex financial and monetary policy to non-PhD audiences.”

Six years after the financial crisis, an executive recruiter reached out to Marcela and inquired if she would be interested in joining Centene, a company she was unfamiliar with at the time. “Michael Neidorff struck a resonant tone when he explained his vision for the company. He also shared his view that everyone at Centene is in their position, not because of gender, age or race, but because they are the best person for the job,” She said. “Centene has a stellar trajectory, and its future is so inspiring. It is also important to be part of a company where I am selected because of my business acumen, my qualifications and what my experiences bring to the table. Being a Mexican female is part of that package, but I don't really think of myself as a female, or Mexican, even though I bring everything of myself to what I do,” Marcela said.

Born and raised in Mexico City as one of six siblings, Marcela was the youngest in the family by more than a decade. “This meant for me, going to college and getting a professional job after graduation was not a ‘nice to have,’ but actually an expectation in my family – especially for my mother, who was not able to complete her education. She had to drop out of middle school to help care for her younger siblings. She was very intelligent and a great student growing up, and she really regretted not having been able to complete her education. She always placed a special emphasis on learning, education, culture, the arts and etiquette,” Marcela said.

Marcela credits her successful 20-year professional journey to a combination of study, being intentional about her career moves and maintaining flexibility to take advantage of opportunities. “You have to be qualified for and excel at the roles you perform. This gets you trust and respect. You also must be intentional on your career path. Ask yourself what you want and where you want to get to, and don’t be afraid to ask for opportunities,” Marcela said.

“At the same time, be flexible. Most careers do not follow a linear path. You have to be prepared and seek opportunities as they present themselves. Finally, you need grit and resilience. I firmly believe the United States is the land of opportunity. Careers are a marathon, not a sprint, and we typically learn more from our failures than from our successes. If you fall, dust yourself off and try again,” she added.

Today as Centene’s communications lead, and in her role overseeing the Centene Charitable Foundation, Marcela helps the company focus on effective communications with stakeholders, including employees, media, members, communities, investors, providers and regulators. “We are especially focused on ensuring that the vulnerable communities we serve are able to access the highest quality of care. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more important, as we know that these popula- tions are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” she added.

Marcela says it is the service to communities and Centene’s members that encourages her. “It is so humbling and inspiring to see the work of our employees in our communities. It is a privilege to be able to elevate those stories.”