Leading a People First Senior Living Organization Pt. 1 | Salimah Walji-Shivji

In this episode of Mission in Motion, host Heather Maxwell sits down with Salimah Walji‑Shivji, CEO of AgeCare, to explore what it really means to lead a people‑first senior living organization. From her first job in retail to a master’s in clinical social work, a career in health law, and now the CEO role, Salimah’s journey is anything but traditional—and that non‑linear path has shaped a leadership style that is deeply human, values‑driven, and grounded in service.Salimah shares how early experiences on the retail floor—navigating the chaos of Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day at La Senza—taught her enduring lessons about customer service, teamwork, and resilience that still show up in her leadership today. She reflects on the camaraderie of a great team, the importance of having fun in hard jobs, and what she learned from working with an exceptional CFO and senior leadership group over more than a decade. Together, Heather and Salimah connect those frontline lessons to the realities of leading a national portfolio of senior living communities.From there, the conversation traces Salimah’s path from clinical social work and trauma into health law, and eventually into executive leadership. She describes herself as an “accidental CEO,” explaining how pairing a social work lens (impact on people, families, and staff) with a legal lens (risk, regulation, and reputation) informs every decision she makes at AgeCare. Throughout, she emphasizes that AgeCare is a people business, not a product business, and that everything—from policy to strategy—must ultimately support how residents and families experience life in their communities.Heather and Salimah also unpack the realities of being part of the “sandwich generation”: leading a large, complex organization while raising teenagers and supporting aging parents. Salimah shares the habits and boundaries that help her stay grounded, including being present where she is, working in flexible “off cycles” when needed, and taking true “hard stops” for family time and travel. She offers practical insights on role clarity, delegation, and letting people work to their strengths, both at home and at work, so leaders aren’t constantly pulled in all directions.Listeners in senior living, long-term care, and healthcare will come away with a rich, real‑world picture of people‑first leadership: what it looks like to stay close to frontline communities, empower local teams, and keep residents’ dignity, independence, and community at the center—while also leading a national organization and a busy family life with intention and care.About Maxwell Management Group:This podcast is brought to you by Maxwell Management Group, a national executive search and education firm specializing in the continuing care and healthcare sectors. For nearly two decades, they’ve partnered with organizations to build values‑driven leadership, vibrant workplace cultures, and purpose‑led employer brands.Learn more: maxwellmanagementgroup.comChapters:0:00 – Intro: Mission in Motion, AgeCare, and people‑first leadership  0:26 – Heather introduces AgeCare’s mission: vibrant seniors’ communities  0:56 – Salimah’s journey: from social worker to lawyer to CEO  2:11 – First job at La Senza: retail, teamwork, and early leadership lessons  3:26 – Service, tone, and kindness: how retail shaped a career in care  5:07 – Chaos at Christmas & Valentine’s Day, and the power of great colleagues  6:52 – Long‑term leadership: reflecting on a CFO’s decade‑plus of service  8:06 – From clinical social work and trauma to health law and AgeCare  10:38 – Did she ever imagine being a CEO? The “accidental CEO” story  11:15 – Why we need to talk more about careers in seniors living  12:23 – AI, human touch, and why care work can’t be automated  13:45 – Beyond hospitals: overlooked career paths in continuing care  15:20 – Social work, law, and executive lenses in everyday decisions  17:01 – How would you describe your leadership style today?  17:26 – Driven, caring, responsive: what Salimah hopes her team would say  19:22 – Empowering frontline teams and avoiding being a leadership bottleneck  20:56 – A national portfolio: leading 50+ homes across three provinces  21:19 – Raising teens while leading a large organization  22:40 – The “sandwich generation”: aging parents and growing kids  22:57 – Habits and boundaries: being present and taking hard stops  24:55 – Advice to leaders who feel pulled in all directions  26:37 – Being clear is kind: up‑to‑date roles and responsibilities  27:19 – Letting people work to their strengths at home and at work  27:35 – What impact matters most as a leader in a people business  30:25 – Home as something sacred—for residents and for families  30:55 – Heather’s closing reflections, AgeCare’s mission, and what’s ahead in Part 2  31:30 – Call to action: Subscribe, share, and connect with Maxwell Management Group