Kristin McNamara
Kristin McNamara is an influential leader in mental health and wellness, known for transforming lived experience into meaningful, systemic change. A Psychiatric Registered Nurse and Certified Life and Wellness Coach, Kristin brings both clinical expertise and deep compassion to her work—bridging the gap between healing, education, and empowerment.
As the Co-Creator of The Amazing Wellness Race, Kristin has reimagined how wellness is taught and experienced. Her innovative, immersive approach helps individuals and organizations build resilience, strengthen connection, and actively dismantle stigma surrounding mental health.
Kristin’s leadership is rooted in authenticity. She creates spaces where people feel seen, supported, and capable of growth—believing that true wellness is not perfection, but progress, accessibility, and courage. Through her work, she continues to inspire others to lead with purpose, prioritize well-being, and redefine what it means to thrive.
Her mission is clear: to make mental health human, actionable, and amazing.
I’m a Psychiatric Registered Nurse, Certified Life and Wellness Coach, and the Co-Creator of The Amazing Wellness Race—an immersive wellness experience designed to make mental health practical, engaging, and accessible.
My work is shaped by both professional expertise and lived experience. I believe wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all, healing isn’t linear, and meaningful change happens when people feel supported, connected, and truly seen.
Outside of my work, you’ll often find me hiking trails, playing pickleball, or traveling—experiences that ground me, challenge me, and remind me why movement, connection, and curiosity are essential to well-being. These passions deeply influence how I approach wellness: as something active, joyful, and woven into everyday life.
Through coaching, education, and experiential programs, I help individuals and organizations build resilience, strengthen connection, and break the stigma surrounding mental health. I focus on the whole person—mental, emotional, and physical—because wellness works best when it’s human.
My goal is simple: to help people move from surviving to thriving—and to make wellness feel possible, empowering, and amazing.
• CPR & AED
• Walden University - MS
What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from a combination of authenticity, lived experience, and purpose-driven leadership.
I bring both clinical expertise and real-life experience into everything I do, which allows me to connect with people in a genuine way. I lead with empathy and emotional intelligence, meeting people where they are while still challenging them to grow.
I’m also not afraid to create what doesn’t yet exist. The Amazing Wellness Race came from seeing a gap in how wellness was being delivered and having the courage to build something practical, engaging, and accessible.
Above all, my success is rooted in service. I focus on impact over recognition, and I stay aligned with my values. That consistency, combined with a willingness to evolve, has allowed my work to grow in a meaningful and sustainable way.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to trust your lived experience as much as your credentials.
Skills can be taught, but perspective can’t. When you honor your story and let it inform your work, you lead with authenticity and confidence. That’s been key in building a career that feels meaningful, impactful, and true to who I am.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to trust your voice early and protect your values.
You don’t have to prove your worth by overworking, staying silent, or shrinking yourself to fit into existing systems. Your perspective matters — especially in mental health and wellness. Learn the skills, seek mentors, and stay curious, but don’t ignore your intuition.
Set boundaries, advocate for yourself, and remember that compassion doesn’t require self-sacrifice. When you lead with authenticity and integrity, you create impact without losing yourself — and that’s how you build a career that lasts.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field right now is the growing awareness around mental health, which allows for meaningful initiatives and support systems to be developed. At the same time, a key challenge remains the persistent stigma surrounding these conversations, which can make it difficult to fully address and normalize mental health in the workplace.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me are authenticity, compassion, integrity, growth, and connection.
In my personal life, these values show up in how I nurture relationships, stay true to myself, and make time for things that bring me joy—like hiking, playing pickleball, and traveling. They remind me to live intentionally and appreciate life’s experiences fully.
Professionally, these same values shape how I lead, coach, and create programs like The Amazing Wellness Race. I focus on serving others with empathy, creating environments where people feel seen and supported, and continuously learning and evolving so I can make a meaningful impact.
For me, living in alignment with these values keeps both my personal and professional life grounded, balanced, and purposeful.