Name: David G.
Position: HR Manager
Location: Panama City

When an associate approached David one day to talk, he did not ask for a program, a solution, or even advice. He simply told David that many days, when he left work for home, he felt alone. 

It was the associate’s first time working outside his home country, and he had moved there by himself. At the end of his shifts, he would return to an empty home, missing his family and friends. “When I left Peru for the first time to work in another country, I experienced many of the same emotions,” says David, an HR Manager and TakeCare Champion who’s helped other Marriott associates in Peru, Costa Rica, Colombia and now Panama. 

After listening with intention, David shared some of his own experiences with his colleague. Then, every couple of weeks, he made a point of stopping by for a conversation. “I didn’t want it to feel like a formal meeting,” he says. “It was simply a natural conversation between two people who had been through something similar.” 

Those conversations eventually led David to invite the associate to become a TakeCare Champion like himself.  TakeCare is Marriott’s global wellbeing program, designed to support associates across physical, mental, and financial wellbeing. Champions like David bring the program to life all around the world. 

“For me, it was an important lesson,” David says. “Sometimes, one sincere conversation can completely change a person’s experience.” 

What inspired you to become a TakeCare Champion?

What motivated me most was realizing that small gestures can have a huge impact. Sometimes we think supporting someone requires a major initiative, when it can start with a conversation, listening without judgment, or simply asking, “How are you?” and really taking the time to hear the answer. 

Being a TakeCare Champion has been one of my most enriching experiences at Marriott, and it has allowed me to connect with associates from different cultures, stories, and realities.  

Why is mental wellbeing especially important to you? 

Behind every associate is a person going through situations we may not see. We all have good days and difficult ones, as well as family responsibilities, worries, or moments of uncertainty. 

I try to be available and create a space of trust. It is not always about having an immediate solution. It is about letting people know they can talk when they need to. I have learned that a ten-minute conversation can have more impact than we imagine. 

What is your team planning for World Mental Health Day? 

Throughout October, we are planning activities focused on associates’ physical and mental wellbeing. We want World Mental Health Day to be a reminder of the importance of taking breaks, managing stress in healthy ways, and making time to care for ourselves. 

One of those activities will be a relaxation afternoon, giving associates a chance to step away from their daily routines for a few minutes to recharge. We spend so much time caring for guests, supporting our teams, and meeting our responsibilities that we sometimes forget to pause. Our goal is for mental wellbeing to be more than something we talk about in October. We want it to become part of our everyday culture. 

Sometimes speaking about feelings can be very difficult, especially at work. How do you help associates speak honestly about how they feel? 

Trust is built every day, not only when someone needs help. Confidentiality is fundamental. Associates need to know that personal conversations will be treated with respect and discretion. 

I also try to be present and accessible, listen without judgment, and show genuine interest in what they are experiencing. 

What would you recommend to associates who might be considering becoming a TakeCare Champion? 

Being a TakeCare Champion is a great reminder that the most important thing is people. It’s so rewarding to be there for associates at different stages of their lives, celebrating their successes, supporting them in difficult moments, and helping create positive experiences at work.  

Seeing how other associates also get involved and become agents of change fills me with joy. After all these years as a TakeCare Champion, I am still convinced that caring for people is one of the most powerful ways to make an impact within a company.  

→ Inspired by David’s story? Discover your next role at a company that puts people first.