Cat Lukach

I attribute my success to having a very strong personal value system. I also thrive off of team collaboration, and so I've always been aligned with great teams and great mentors. I think that's really contributed to my success. The passion that I have for the work that I do is really limitless because I so strongly believe in increasing access to healthcare and in my belief that health is a human right. Working hard comes very easy to me because I feel so connected to it. I think aligning my personal values with the organizations that I dedicate my days to has been key. I'm also just very ambitious and kind of an eternal optimist - I believe that really anything is possible, even if it hasn't been done before, it can be.

My dad is actually one of my greatest mentors, and he has always pushed me to stay true to my values. I think that's why I lead with my values, and it's the first thing I raise in really identifying who I am. It's how I've been oriented my entire career path - it's kind of been my North Star. What do you believe in, and what do you want to contribute to? And just stay on that path.

I would say to believe in yourself and to find things that help build your confidence. So many ideas that I used to have, I would keep quiet. I would be silent in the room. And when I started speaking up was when I just started contributing more, and I realized that I had a lot to offer. I think everybody has a lot to offer, and women especially in the workplace hold back. So I would say to women especially, to believe in themselves and to speak up.

I think the biggest challenge is really having full support from all sectors that agree that mental health is an essential part of how we view public health and good health. That means working with government partners, working with private sector support, working with philanthropic support, and aligning on strategy. It's really about building trust that the organizations that have been working deep within communities have the greatest insight and should be advising where the strategy should be directed.

I would say integrity is most important. Also, a commitment to aligning your personal purpose with my work. I think that the passion that I have for the work that I do is really limitless because I so strongly believe in increasing access to healthcare and in my belief that health is a human right. Working hard comes very easy to me because I feel so connected to it. I think aligning my personal values with the organizations that I dedicate my days to is essential. I am just very ambitious and kind of an eternal optimist - I believe that really anything is possible, even if it hasn't been done before, it can be.