At Briljent, culture isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the way we show up for each other, for our clients, and for the communities we serve. Each year, we recognize one team member who embodies our values in everything they do. This year, we’re thrilled to celebrate Marlayna Sullivan as our Briljent Culture Award winner.

Marlayna is a Change Management Consultant with nearly two decades of experience in health IT and public-sector transformation. What truly sets Marlayna apart isn’t just her resume — it’s the way she leads with empathy, insight, and a deep commitment to people.

That commitment extends beyond Briljent. Marlayna is also a passionate community advocate. Coming from a military family, she supports organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project, the Til Valhalla Project, and Operation Companion, which honor the service and sacrifice of veterans.

Locally, she gives back through Albany Pro Musica and Capital Roots, plus Marlayna volunteers with Saratoga Comic Con, where she connects with creatives and helps foster a vibrant arts community.

“Change is hard. I try to make it human.”

Whether she’s supporting a massive Medicaid transformation project or drafting a youth mental health summit report, Marlayna brings a people-first approach to every project. She is known for her ability to simplify the complex, build trust across teams, and guide stakeholders through change with clarity and care.

Her secret? Listening first — and leading from shared values.

“I try to keep in mind what the client is trying to achieve and look for where that aligns with my own values. That’s the space I lean into — especially on the tough days.”

A Culture of Collaboration

Marlayna doesn’t just work on teams — she builds them. Her colleagues describe her as someone who’s always ready to jump in, offer feedback, or help wordsmith a training storyboard. She sees collaboration not as a task, but as a mindset.

“We lean on each other to fill in the blanks and seek understanding from within before going back to the client. That’s what makes Briljent great — our willingness to step outside our comfort zones to support each other.”

Leading with Self-Awareness

Marlayna credits a leadership program and CliftonStrengths assessment with helping her better understand herself and others. That self-awareness has become a cornerstone of how she shows up at work: with humility, curiosity, and a genuine desire to grow.

“Knowing myself has helped me improve my interactions with colleagues and clients. Sometimes that means taking a walk, sitting outside, or just giving myself space to think before reacting. That pause makes all the difference.”

Congratulations, Marlayna!

We’re proud to recognize Marlayna not just for what she does but for how she does it, with integrity, empathy, and a whole lot of heart. She reminds us that culture isn’t something we talk about; it’s something we live.

Let’s build something brilliant — together.

About Briljent

Briljent is a Woman-owned Business Enterprise (WBE) specializing in human-centric professional services to optimize performance, systems, and data. Since 1998, Briljent has engaged with people to understand their challenges and develop strategies to help them adapt to new policies, systems, and programs. We support everything surrounding the successful funding, planning, and implementation of new initiatives through training, organizational change management, health strategy and innovation consulting, project management, and staffing solutions.