Doctor Michael Russo is an accomplished physical therapist based in Hoboken, New Jersey. He has worked in human resources with the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission in Newark since 2020. His responsibilities include overseeing all human resources department activities such as recruiting, onboarding new employees, managing the employee benefits program, and managing projects. Before joining the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, Michael Russo owned and operated the New Jersey Institute of Balance and Millburn Physical Therapy. He has provided services as a physical therapist at numerous additional facilities throughout New Jersey, including the Hoboken Physical Therapy and Wellness Center and Kessler Rehab in Jersey City.
Doctor Russo studied biology at Stockton University in Absecon, New Jersey, where he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. He subsequently completed a master of science in physical therapy at Rutgers University, graduating with honors. He continued his education with a physical therapy program at Utica University, receiving a doctorate of physical therapy with honors. He is a licensed physical therapist in New Jersey and has earned several additional professional certifications, including vestibular specialist and concussion specialist.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day involves a full day of work, then hosting office hours with Hoboken constituents, answering texts and emails about constituent issues, and working with my team to advance popular policies within the city.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Bold leadership requires building consensus, and it takes time to materialize. Sometimes ideas are not always popular in the beginning, but if you advocate with your whole heart about the things you know are right, people tend to come around.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Social media has allowed me to connect with Hoboken residents quicker and more efficiently than ever before, track our conversations, and follow up on the things they care about most – whether it’s parking, making housing more affordable for working people, the e-bike and rat issues, and more.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Keeping lists has always helped me keep my life in order. Having four kids in particular means that my wife and I are always dividing and conquering to make sure they get to all of their extracurriculars, keeping food on the table, and still having time to spend with each other.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Do it the same but even better!
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
We should have affordable housing near the Hoboken waterfront. Hoboken has historically been a tale of two cities, with those less affluent pushed up against the Palisades on the west side of town and the rich enjoying the Hudson River. When I say that we should have people from different ends of the income spectrum living near each other, sometimes that’s not a popular position, but it’s something I believe in wholeheartedly. It builds community cohesion and equity and helps people become better neighbors.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Spend time with your family. Sometimes I’m a workaholic, and I think most of us have that capacity in us. We need to center ourselves and be present with the people we’re doing all of this for. It’s healing for the spirit, and it helps us be more productive across the rest of our lives.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Just go back to the to-do list. It never ends.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
It might sound cliché, but if you’re not good at networking you need to be. Meeting people and learning what they value and the concerns they have is the quickest way to make friends and earn people’s support.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Having a business partner with a different vision and goals; we were able to amicably part ways. Never let your morals, character, or passion be compromised by or for others!
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I live on Google Workspace now. I used to be old-school and keep paper lists, and my team has helped me onto the cloud. We’re working closer than ever before, and it helps us all make better use of our time.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Can’t Hurt Me – David Goggins.
Key learnings
- Building better cities and city governments is possible — if we work together to dream big and do big, while keeping an eye on the issues that currently exist.
- Digital tools and workspaces foster collaboration and time management.
- Networking, consensus, and the patience required to materialize both are necessary to brining ideas to life and advancing your goals.
- Make time for family and be present when spending time with them.