Welcome to Flight Path — where career paths aren’t linear, leadership isn’t boring, and pivots are basically a superpower. I’m Rebecca Woods. Let’s take off.
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Austin holds a special place in Marianne Chronister’s heart, and now she’s getting ready to return to her beloved city for SOAR 2026
Michael Maitre sits down with Marianne to talk about the excitement of heading back to Austin, what makes the city so meaningful to her, and why SOAR is about so much more than just another conference.
From the people and connections to the energy, authenticity, inspiration, and opportunities that make SOAR unique, Marianne shares what she’s looking forward to most as the Bluebird Leaders community comes together in Austin.
If you’ve never experienced SOAR, this is your invitation to see what makes it so special. And if you’ve been before…you already know.
Welcome to Flight Path, the podcast where we explore the journeys behind bold leadership, innovation, and lasting impact. Each episode we sit down with leaders, innovators, and goldbreakers who build their success by doing the work, learning the lessons, and sometimes ignoring the map altogether. Whether you're navigating leadership, healthcare, technology, entrepreneurship, simply trying to figure out what's without losing your mind. Before we take flight, helping that online with that altitude. Get ready for storage. Welcome aboard.
SPEAKER_01
Hey everyone, it's Michael Maitry and welcome to Flight Path.
SPEAKER_02
I am here with Marianne Cronister.
SPEAKER_01
Man, I'm so excited. Fellow Bluebird leader, let's talk sore. Are you excited?
SPEAKER_02
So excited. I lived in Austin for 10 years. Um, just moved away in June, which was exciting but bittersweet. Yeah. And um I have a special connection to the Line Hotel as well. Uh we had our pre- and post-wedding festivities there. So it's near and dear to my heart. So I'm really, it's feels a little full circle to come back in a professional sense.
SPEAKER_01
That's awesome. And you fairly new as a bluebird leader. Is this gonna be your first source conference?
SPEAKER_02
This will be my first sour. I joined Bluebird Leaders shortly after last year's soar, and there was so much retros retrospective FOMO. Hearing everyone uh just talk about how amazing it was. And I was, I knew, I mean, since October, November that I would find my way to SOAR in 2026.
SPEAKER_01
I love it. And you've been on a little bit of a journey, so to speak, yourself. We're both going to be moderating workshops at SOAR. Yes. What got you interested in doing that kind of thing?
SPEAKER_02
Um, well, let's see. So I think what drew me to Bluebird Leaders was just the community and the supportive people. Um, I it kind of came across my desk, I guess you would say, and uh my my teammates encouraged me to look into it. And I came to that first dinner in Austin and I was hooked. Um and from there, I think it's just kind of blossomed. It's it's helped me to blossom as a professional in my career as I've made these connections um within the healthcare IT network. And it feels pretty effortless when you're part of the Bluebird network because everyone is so welcoming. I mean, Rebecca um has really taken me under her uh proverbial wing, if we're going with the bluebird um thing here. Um, and just uh everyone is just so genuine. And I think that when you're in the company of smart, supportive people that want to uplift each other, it's easy to say yes to opportunities. Um and so this is one of those opportunities where um it wasn't really on my bingo card. Uh, but I am thrilled and honored to be participating and leading a session at SOAR.
SPEAKER_01
Speaking of bingo card, I have a bingo card kind of question.
SPEAKER_02
Okay.
SPEAKER_01
What was your first job?
SPEAKER_02
My first job was actually at Epic.
SPEAKER_01
Um, so or well, actually, first real job or first like pre childhood job and then first professional job.
SPEAKER_02
Sure. So my first childhood job, I worked at Limited Two.
SPEAKER_01
Oh, wow.
SPEAKER_02
So that's a fun throwback for uh for us millennials in the room.
SPEAKER_01
For those of people that don't know what is limited to.
SPEAKER_02
It was a like girls' clothing store. Yeah. Um, and it was all the rage. And I worked there when I was like 15, 16, I guess, right when I turned 16. Um and it was a really fun time because I had younger siblings, and so I was, you know, dressing my little sister, but also the people that came into the store.
SPEAKER_01
So fast forward your first real job?
SPEAKER_02
First real job was at Epic, right after I graduated from undergrad. Um, and I then kind of went on a journey around all sides of the table in the uh epic healthcare space. So I was uh I worked at Epic as an implementer, then I was a consultant, um, and then I worked directly for an Epic Health System as an analyst, and now I'm on the consulting side of things with incisive consultants, and we're an epic only consulting firm.
SPEAKER_01
I love it, I love it. We got a smart one on our hands. All right, follow me for a second, right? We're both gonna be doing a workshop at SOAR coming up. Austin, which is kind of like we discussed it, it's kind of like where you grew up as an adult, right?
SPEAKER_02
Yes, in a lot of ways.
SPEAKER_01
So you're on your way to SOAR, you're in your car, you turn on the radio. What is the soundtrack to your life at this moment?
SPEAKER_02
The soundtrack to my life at this moment. Um gosh. I'm not a good person to ask this question. I'm a big Swifty. Um so I I don't know that I have a specific song that comes to mind, but um, anything, Taylor Swift. Um, I've loved loving the new album, but I also like all the throwback jams too.
SPEAKER_01
How does her song make you feel?
SPEAKER_02
Um well, do you it's choose your own adventure, Michael? There's a song for every feeling in every season. So um, so that's uh that's a little bit of a cop-out answer.
SPEAKER_01
But uh so that song would make you feel what?
SPEAKER_02
As I'm driving to soar in Austin, I think right now in my life, um, the feelings I would describe are uh excited, empowered. Um, I think, you know, I I spent uh five or six years, I had three kids back to back. So I was really in the trenches with little kids, babies for several years. And um really since joining Incisive, I felt like I'm, you know, my youngest is now three. So I feel like I'm kind of lifting out of that fog of early childhood motherhood. Um, and I'm able to have more, a little more of the freedom to um develop my career and to travel, do some more traveling, get out there, meet people, um, and really just crush it. And so I think, you know, heading to SOAR, I think I would choose a song that that reflects that energy.
SPEAKER_01
I'm excited for you. I'm excited for this new phase of life, new career path, new organization that you're a part of, new skill set that you're exercising. It's really, really cool. Is there anything that you wish you would do sooner that you're experiencing now? And like, hey, I wish I would have done this sooner.
SPEAKER_02
Um, yes and no. I think part of me, I think the the joy and satisfaction I'm finding with the work that I'm doing right now is so palpable that I'm like, why didn't I find this path sooner? Um, however, I think that I'm a huge um, you know, whenever I tell people that are like looking for a new job or like friends that are job hunting, I'm like, nothing is ever a mistake. Um, everything, every choice, every path along your journey, um, every job experience is a building block in your in your career and what you're becoming. Um, I can think back to jobs I've had that were extremely valuable, informative. Um, and I can think back to jobs I had where I'm like, that wasn't the best fit. However, what I learned from that was that that wasn't the best fit, right? And so then when I looked for my next thing, I'm making a more informed choice and more intentional choice about what I want and what I don't want. Yeah. And so I think that it's not, it's not accurate. You know, I I don't, I don't regret anything about my path because it all led to exactly where I am at the right time.
unknown
Wow.
SPEAKER_01
A lesson learned is a lesson you so good, so good. Thank you for that. Thank you for this interview.
SPEAKER_02
No problem. Yeah. Any time anytime you want to just uh pull me in with 30 seconds notice. Let's go. I'm here. Yeah.
