Shawna Mullen

Essentia Health

What do you do professionally?

I’m the transportation services manager at Essentia Health. I manage our employee commute program. Through improvements to our policies and programming, infrastructure and design, education, and programming to increase employee engagement with the commute program, the end goal is to reduce the number of drive-alone commutes to work and better support trips taken by transit, walking, biking, carpooling, and vanpooling.

How are you involved in the community?

Do you volunteer with any organizations?

I volunteer with some formal organizations, such as Zeitgeist, we walk in Duluth, and the community garden program. Much of my community involvement isn’t part of a specific organization, but instead are things such as reaching out to our elected representatives about issues and solutions important to our community, writing letters/emails of support for projects that will improve our community, and participating in community engagement processes for public projects.

From the nominators

“Shawna is a visionary with the knowledge and practicality to get things done. She is not afraid to take charge and speak her mind. She is a true advocate for transportation equity and has inspired many people to get on a bike! Despite having a busy family and professional life, she always makes time for her friends and community and is always up for an adventure. Everyone needs a Shawna in their life. In Shawna we trust.”

Abigail Blonigen

“Shawna is one of the strongest leaders I know. Being willing to call a spade a spade is a rarity in Minnesota culture, but she never shies away from speaking the truth when it is needed. Her voice and opinion has shifted the culture in Duluth to one that is more accepting and understanding of the importance of people having options for how they move around. She is an advocate for less fortunate individuals in our community, and believes that everyone has the right to access all the great things that the city has to offer.

— Jordan van der Hagen

What is important to you?

It’s important to me that at the end of my life, I can look back at my life satisfied that I made a positive difference and did everything I could to improve the world we live in, that I had authentic connections with the places and people in my life, that I was part of something bigger than myself, that I did meaningful things with my time, and that I was true to who I am and what I believe in. That’s what motivates me in the way I live my life today.

How do you spend your free time?

I love traveling and the insight it provides about the human experience and how that insight can be applied here at home. Travelling is a great way to get knocked out of your comfort zone — something that is beneficial to everyone and gives you new perspective and a better ability to live in the moment. I also love year-round outdoor adventures. My favorites include stand up paddleboarding, cross-country skiing (and skijoring), camping, sea kayaking, and ice skating. Family game nights also occur on a regular basis in my house.

Favorite things about living and working in the Northland?

Like many people in Duluth, I’m drawn to the access to the outdoors that Duluth has to offer, but I also love the strong sense of community here, and how involved people are in making positive change. People care about what happens in their community and they do something about it.

What advice would you give to up and coming professionals?

My advice would be this:

1. You will hear, “That won’t work here; Duluth is different.” Disregard that and pursue your idea!

2. It may not seem like they’re valued, but your fresh perspective, energy, creativity, and new ideas in the workplace and community are ESSENTIAL for societal progress.

3. The path you have in mind for getting where you want to be will probably get off track many times, but that’s okay — let it! It’s still a path forward and can still take you to great places, even if it’s not a straight line.

Favorite moment in life?

I can’t pick one single moment as my favorite, but many of them were made at my grandparents’ cabin on Lake of the Woods in Canada. Every trip there was full of adventures, wilderness, berry-picking, campfires on the beach, learning to paddle a canoe, and time spent with family and friends. My experiences there were integral to who I am today.

Who has inspired you or your favorite motivational quote?

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” I have no idea who said that, but they’re words to live by.