Christina McMahon

I attribute my success to two things: an unwavering work ethic and the privilege of doing work I care deeply about, both intellectually and personally.

At an even deeper level, my journey is rooted in the kindness and generosity that others showed me while I was rebuilding my life in recovery. During a time when I was struggling with addiction, people gave me opportunities, support, and belief in me that I had not yet fully found in myself. Without that compassion, I would not have had the chance to build the life and career I have today.

That experience continues to shape how I lead, how I connect with people, and the passion I bring to the work I do every day.

One of the best pieces of career advice I’ve ever received actually came during a conversation with one of my mentors, Sally McGarrity. We were talking about how emotionally heavy this work can be. In this field, you witness a lot of pain, loss, and difficult outcomes, and not every story ends the way you hope it will.

She told me, “If I could go back and do something different with my life, I wouldn’t.” That stayed with me. I realized that meaningful work is not always easy work, but the sense of purpose it gives you can outweigh the hard days.

Since then, I’ve carried that perspective with me professionally and personally: follow the work that gives you purpose, even when it challenges you, because that’s often where the greatest impact and fulfillment are found.

Work hard and be ambitious, but don’t lose yourself in the process. In helping professions especially, there can be pressure to constantly give, prove yourself, or push past your own limits. Taking care of yourself is not separate from success — it’s part of sustaining it.

I would also tell young women to trust their internal compass. We all have that quiet voice that tells us when something aligns with who we are and where we’re meant to go. It’s not always the loudest voice in the room, and it can easily get drowned out by expectations, opinions, or fear. But it’s there. Learn to listen to it.

The moments I’ve grown the most personally and professionally were the moments I trusted that inner knowing, even when the path ahead wasn’t completely clear.

One of the biggest challenges in this field is the emotional weight that comes with the work. You witness a tremendous amount of suffering, and there are days when the realities of addiction and mental health struggles can be heartbreaking. Even when you care deeply and work tirelessly, not every outcome is the one you hope for, and that can be difficult to carry.

On a broader level, one of the most significant challenges is access to care. There are still major disparities in the quality of treatment and resources available to people based on factors like insurance coverage, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. Too many individuals who are struggling with addiction or mental health issues face barriers to receiving timely, high-quality care — and those barriers can have life-altering consequences.

At the same time, I also see a tremendous opportunity. Conversations around mental health and addiction are becoming more open, stigma is slowly decreasing, and more people are recognizing that these are health issues deserving of compassion, treatment, and long-term support. I think our field has the opportunity to continue pushing for a system where every person, regardless of background or financial circumstances, has access to the same dignity, quality care, and chance at recovery.

The values that are most important to me, both professionally and personally, are genuineness, empathy, kindness, and advocacy for others.

Authenticity matters deeply to me. I believe people connect most meaningfully when they feel safe enough to be fully themselves, so I try to lead by example by showing up as a genuine human being in every area of my life. Whether at work or in my personal relationships, I want people to feel seen, accepted, and comfortable being who they are.

Empathy is another core value for me. I make a conscious effort to put myself in other people’s shoes and approach others with compassion rather than judgment. I believe in giving people grace, treating them with kindness, and extending the same understanding that I would hope to receive myself. The idea of treating people the way you would want to be treated is something I carry with me every day.

I also feel strongly about advocating for vulnerable people and speaking up when something isn’t right. Looking out for others, especially those whose voices are not always heard or whose needs are not fully met, is incredibly important to me. I believe integrity means not only caring about people privately, but also being willing to stand up for them publicly when it matters.