Mary Carroll

Meet Mary

Mary Carroll is a Senior Associate at McChrystal Group, where she works alongside clients helping solve their strategic and communication challenges. She has advised clients across the private and public sectors, including Fortune 50 companies and a state during its COVID-19 response.

What did you do before joining McChrystal Group?

Prior to joining McChrystal Group, I spent two months living in Uganda where I taught middle-school and was immersed in the Ugandan education and political systems. While there, in addition to teaching different levels, I was responsible for devising and implementing the first mentorship day program among different schools.

I also spent a year working as a Research Assistant at the University of Notre Dame studying uncertainty, intentions, and Great Power Politics.

Why did you join McChrystal Group?

I joined McChrystal Group because I wanted to find an environment where I could apply the academic lessons I have learned in the classroom to the business world. Working at McChrystal Group affords me the opportunity to work directly with clients to see the tangible effects of our work in making teams more agile and more effective. Additionally, I joined McChrystal Group because I knew it was the best place for me to continue developing as a leader because of the people here and the culture they have cultivated.

What has been your proudest moment at McChrystal Group?

My proudest moment at McChrystal Group was the first time I led a debrief with a client team. I walked them through the simulation and guided the following discussion to help them make connections between what they had just experienced in the last 60 minutes and their day-to-day work. I’ll never forget the feeling of leading a group through the process and feeling the satisfaction of knowing I had played a part in teaching them to look at their work from a different perspective.

What are your favorite books (besides Team of Teams!)?

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Though on the surface this book could appear to simply be a story of two sisters, this book delves into the messiness of life and how one reacts when faced with an unprecedented challenge. The two sisters both emerge as leaders in their respective communities, saving lives and risking their own in the process. An unlikely lesson on leadership but one that I return to often.