From St. John’s to CEO: Maria Scarangella, M.B.A., PCC, SHRM-SCP ’87CBA on Career, Family, and Reinvention

Five of Ms. Scarangella’s siblings attended St. John’s, and her mother returned to school and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degree after raising the family. “It’s a testament to the value our family placed on education and the doors St. John’s opened for every one of us,” she said. “It’s also where I met my husband, Michael (’86CBA). St. John’s didn’t just educate our family—it shaped who we are.”

She added, “St. John’s also instilled in me the belief that business success and doing good are not mutually exclusive—they are inseparable.”  

That professional journey began when 22-year-old college senior Maria Califano (now Scarangella) walked through the doors of GEICO, embarking on a 37-year career with the company. Starting as a Claims Interviewer, she steadily rose through the ranks over the next three-plus decades, advancing from Manager of Homeowners’ Sales & Service to Human Resources Director; West Coast Sales Director/Director of Service; Assistant Vice President of Underwriting; Vice President of Talent Acquisition & Onboarding; and finally, Vice President of Talent & Enterprise Learning.  

“Building a career at GEICO from entry-level claims associate to vice president while raising three extraordinary daughters with my husband, Michael, is the accomplishment I’m most proud of,” she said. “I proved that women don’t have to choose between career and family—you can excel at both with the right values and determination.”

The couple met at St. John’s through a chance encounter while they were both students involved in Greek life. “He was pledging his fraternity and had been assigned to ‘guard’ the water fountain,” she recalled. “I walked up for a drink, and he let me have one—our first interaction. We reconnected shortly after at the Greek Olympics, and it brought Michael and me together for good.”

She added, “Thirty-five-plus years of marriage; three daughters; and a company we now share as a family all trace back to that moment in the St. John’s lounge.”

Mrs. Scarangella retired from GEICO in 2022. While many would consider that the end of their professional journey, for Ms. Scarangella, it was only the start of a new chapter.  

“After retiring from GEICO, I channeled everything I learned into founding Marstella, a patented workforce intelligence platform,” she said. “It empowers organizations to quantify the financial impact of people decisions, justify investments, and drive measurable results throughout the employee lifecycle.”

Together with her husband and three daughters, Marstella is thriving. While she is certainly proud of its success, she says its greatest reward has been the opportunity to build something meaningful alongside her family.  

“Watching all three of my daughters contribute to this company—Jacqueline designing the Marstella brand and platform, Annie leading operations, and Sophia driving business delivery—has been the most fulfilling chapter of my career.”

For Mrs. Scarangella, the journey is not just about what she has accomplished, but the lessons she hopes to pass on to the next generation. “I invented a patented model at 58 years old, and it’s transforming an entire industry!” she exclaimed. “Your career will take turns you never expected, and the skills that matter most aren’t on your transcript: they’re your ability to listen, to adapt, to lead with empathy, and to never stop learning.”