Her Story
About Gina
Gina Monahan is a United States Marine Corps Logistics Officer, educator, and international development professional dedicated to expanding opportunities for underserved communities through leadership, education, and public service. Her career reflects a commitment to empowering others, with experience spanning military leadership, K–12 education, nonprofit governance, and global development initiatives. She has served in a variety of operational leadership roles within the Marine Corps, including Motor Transport Platoon Commander, Landing Support Platoon Commander, S-4 Logistics Officer, Armory Officer, and Maintenance Management Officer, with assignments in both the United States and Japan.
Before commissioning as a Marine officer, Monahan taught in the Bronx, New York, where she advanced to a team leadership role and developed curriculum, instructional systems, and student support programs for at-risk youth. She later broadened her impact through international work with organizations including the United Nations World Food Programme, Catalyst 2030, and NewComm, leading collaborative initiatives focused on education, social innovation, workforce development, and cross-sector partnerships. Her work is grounded in the belief that sustainable change is achieved by investing in people, strengthening institutions, and building solutions alongside the communities they serve.
Monahan holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from IE University in Madrid, where she was awarded the IE Women's Leadership Scholarship and recognized for Outstanding Performance as President of the Global Transformation Club. She also earned a Master of Arts in Education from Relay Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Temple University, complemented by academic exchanges in Spain, Argentina, Ecuador, and India. Fluent in Spanish, she brings a global perspective to her work and remains committed to developing leaders, strengthening communities, and creating lasting opportunities through service, integrity, and collaboration.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Gina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having no option for failure and an urgency to serve others. When I was unemployed I felt like a waste of space because I wasn't helping anyone. My drive comes from wanting to make a tangible impact and give opportunities to people from difficult backgrounds like many of the Marines I lead. I wake up early and run on two hours of sleep because of them.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from two mentors at pivotal points in my career. Early on as a teacher, I learned that great leadership requires balancing high expectations with empathy, while later in the Marine Corps I was challenged to pursue excellence through accountability, continuous learning, and integrity. Those experiences shaped my leadership philosophy: invest in people, lead by example, and measure success by the growth and success of those around you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You are way more capable than any expectations or limitations that society says you have. You can do way more than you ever thought possible. If you want to see that manifest then join the military because you get pushed mentally, physically, and professionally in a constant learning high-stress environment where women do it better.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in education, international development, and public service is addressing complex, systemic issues while adapting to rapidly changing global and community needs. At the same time, I see tremendous opportunities to strengthen collaboration among governments, nonprofits, educational institutions, and local communities to expand access to education, workforce development, and essential services. I believe meaningful progress comes from inclusive leadership, building trust, leveraging innovation, and empowering communities to create sustainable, lasting change.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my work and personal life are service, integrity, accountability, and continuous growth. I believe leadership is about empowering others, earning trust through consistent actions, and balancing empathy with high expectations. Above all, I strive to make a meaningful impact by investing in people, because I believe lasting change begins with helping others reach their full potential.
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