In a city known for its passionate community engagement, Assistant City Manager Courtney Padgett fits right in. Continuing our series on Burbank’s visionary leaders, we meet an administrator who finds walking the city’s streets as valuable as sitting in council meetings. Since becoming a resident last year after working for Burbank since 2017, Padgett has embraced both the professional challenges and personal joys of serving a community where people “genuinely care about making Burbank the best it can be.” Drawing from lessons learned in her previous career in correctional administration, she brings a leadership philosophy centered on taking the harder path when faced with difficult decisions — a principle that has guided her through professional growth and community service alike.
What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received?
It’s pretty simple advice: early in my career, during a challenging time in a new role, a manager shared something that has stuck with me. When you encounter difficult situations or decisions, there are usually two paths you can take: the easy one and the hard one. The hard path is almost always the right one. Choose it not because it’s easy, but because it’s the right thing to do.
Over the years I have applied that advice frequently, and I’ve found it to be overwhelmingly accurate. Taking the harder path has consistently helped me grow, both professionally and personally, and make better decisions for the community, organization, and staff.
What do you find most rewarding about serving the Burbank community?
Prior to working in Burbank, I worked in large organizations where it was sometimes challenging to connect with the community in meaningful ways. What I find most rewarding about serving in Burbank is working with and alongside the people who make this city special and the strong connection between local government and the community.
Burbank is truly unique. I love how passionate, engaged, and invested they are in its future. Burbank has maintained a sense of community that has been lost in many other places. People show up at Council meetings, call City Hall, and engage with us regularly, not always because they agree with every decision, but because they genuinely care about making Burbank the best it can be.
I also find it incredibly rewarding to work alongside the best team in any city — our exceptional staff whose dedication and commitment make a meaningful difference in people’s day-to-day lives, which I am fortunate to see firsthand.
Who has been the most influential mentor in your life, and what did you learn from them?
In my prior career working in correctional administration, I worked for a female Captain who was very influential in my professional development. It was my first time working in a sworn, paramilitary environment, which is very different — highly structured, regulated, and largely male-dominated. Working in a jail setting could also be intimidating at times, and that environment required a strong sense of presence and self-assurance.
She instilled in me the importance of confidence — how to carry yourself, have a voice, and know that you belong at the table, even when you may not fully believe it yourself. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my career.
Outside of your official duties, what is your favorite way to spend a day in Burbank?
Although I’ve worked in the City of Burbank since 2017, I was fortunate to become a resident early last year. My favorite way to spend a day off in the City is taking long walks. I listen to an audiobook or podcast and walk from one side of Burbank to the other: all the way down Olive Avenue to the city line and back, along Magnolia or Burbank Boulevard, the Chandler Bikeway, the Rancho, the hillside, and occasionally hike at Wildwood or Stough Canyons.
Walking gives me a chance to see the city in a way you just can’t from a car. I explore parks and city facilities, stop into local businesses, and I submit probably more than my fair share of 311 service requests along the way.
I love getting to know the city in this way and appreciate every time how great it is to live and work here. I see how parks are used, the characteristics of neighborhoods, and our distinct variety of businesses. It also gives me an opportunity to have conversations with members of the community in everyday settings. I feel extremely grateful to be a small part of this community.
