Four Career-Changing Lessons From Psychiatry’s National Leaders At APA
What Mental Health Leadership Teaches Us About Building a Fulfilling Career
Climbing the career ladder is rarely a straight ascent. More often, it is a journey of self-discovery—one that requires intentional reflection, alignment, and adaptability. Few fields understand this better than mental health, where personal insight and professional effectiveness are deeply intertwined.
In conversations with Marketa M. Wills, M.D., M.B.A., FAPA, CEO and Medical Director of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), and Theresa Miskimen Rivera, M.D., President of the APA, clear themes emerged about what it truly takes to build a successful and fulfilling career. Their leadership perspectives offer lessons that extend far beyond psychiatry.
Climbing the career ladder is rarely a straight ascent. More often, it is a journey of self-discovery—one that requires intentional reflection, alignment, and adaptability. Few fields understand this better than mental health, where personal insight and professional effectiveness are deeply intertwined.
In conversations with Marketa M. Wills, M.D., M.B.A., FAPA, CEO and Medical Director of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), and Theresa Miskimen Rivera, M.D., President of the APA, clear themes emerged about what it truly takes to build a successful and fulfilling career. Their leadership perspectives offer lessons that extend far beyond psychiatry.
A Hard Look in the Mirror
Self-awareness is one of the most underrated—and most powerful—career skills. Its impact compounds over time, shaping not only what roles we pursue but how effectively we lead within them.
For Theresa Miskimen Rivera, career decisions are consistently filtered through personal alignment.
“As I navigate my career, I consistently return to two filters: personal connection and alignment with my personal goals. Those goals are deeply tied to my family and my relationships, not just my professional aspirations.”
This level of clarity requires honest self-reflection and the willingness to let go of opportunities that do not serve one’s larger goals. Too often, we operate on autopilot—focused on advancement for its own sake. The result can be rapid progress up the wrong ladder.
Miskimen Rivera built intentional pauses into her career through structured reflection.
“I built in regular periods of reflection, often tied to annual performance evaluations. Each year, I would look back and ask what had served me and what hadn’t. Did things unfold as planned? If not, was the deviation helpful or harmful?”
That discipline creates space for recalibration before momentum turns into misalignment.
Self-awareness is one of the most underrated—and most powerful—career skills. Its impact compounds over time, shaping not only what roles we pursue but how effectively we lead within them.
For Theresa Miskimen Rivera, career decisions are consistently filtered through personal alignment.
“As I navigate my career, I consistently return to two filters: personal connection and alignment with my personal goals. Those goals are deeply tied to my family and my relationships, not just my professional aspirations.”
This level of clarity requires honest self-reflection and the willingness to let go of opportunities that do not serve one’s larger goals. Too often, we operate on autopilot—focused on advancement for its own sake. The result can be rapid progress up the wrong ladder.
Miskimen Rivera built intentional pauses into her career through structured reflection.
“I built in regular periods of reflection, often tied to annual performance evaluations. Each year, I would look back and ask what had served me and what hadn’t. Did things unfold as planned? If not, was the deviation helpful or harmful?”
That discipline creates space for recalibration before momentum turns into misalignment.
Emotional Intelligence Is Not Optional
Emotional intelligence (EQ) has moved from a “nice-to-have” soft skill to a foundational leadership competency.
Marketa Wills describes EQ as non-negotiable at senior levels:
“Communication and painting that vision. Interpersonal effectiveness. Being empathic in your interactions with others. Being able to listen deeply. Taking feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement. Being non-defensive, yet assertive simultaneously—those are truly essential, alongside technical and problem-solving skills.”
Unlike IQ, EQ is highly developable. What limits growth is not ability, but intention. Recognizing this, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation invests heavily in leadership development for medical students and residents—ensuring future leaders are grounded not only in clinical excellence, but also in compassion and systems thinking.
As Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., Executive Director of the APA Foundation, explains:
“Our model grounds trainees with the tools to translate evidence into action—professionals fluent in systems, grounded in compassion, and committed to advancing mental health for generations to come.”
Emotional intelligence (EQ) has moved from a “nice-to-have” soft skill to a foundational leadership competency.
Marketa Wills describes EQ as non-negotiable at senior levels:
“Communication and painting that vision. Interpersonal effectiveness. Being empathic in your interactions with others. Being able to listen deeply. Taking feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement. Being non-defensive, yet assertive simultaneously—those are truly essential, alongside technical and problem-solving skills.”
Unlike IQ, EQ is highly developable. What limits growth is not ability, but intention. Recognizing this, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation invests heavily in leadership development for medical students and residents—ensuring future leaders are grounded not only in clinical excellence, but also in compassion and systems thinking.
As Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., Executive Director of the APA Foundation, explains:
“Our model grounds trainees with the tools to translate evidence into action—professionals fluent in systems, grounded in compassion, and committed to advancing mental health for generations to come.”
Zoom Out: Understand the System, Not Just Your Role
One of the most valuable career insights from mental health leadership is the importance of seeing the macro picture.
“We don’t always get exposed to how systems work—how finances flow, how government interacts with nonprofits and the private sector, how drug discovery impacts treatment,” Wills notes. “That macro picture provides critical context for the clinical interactions we have.”
The same principle applies across industries. Focusing solely on performing your current role well can obscure larger trends shaping the future: evolving systems, emerging skill demands, and structural shifts that will redefine opportunity.
Career resilience depends on understanding not just what you do, but how and why your industry functions the way it does.
One of the most valuable career insights from mental health leadership is the importance of seeing the macro picture.
“We don’t always get exposed to how systems work—how finances flow, how government interacts with nonprofits and the private sector, how drug discovery impacts treatment,” Wills notes. “That macro picture provides critical context for the clinical interactions we have.”
The same principle applies across industries. Focusing solely on performing your current role well can obscure larger trends shaping the future: evolving systems, emerging skill demands, and structural shifts that will redefine opportunity.
Career resilience depends on understanding not just what you do, but how and why your industry functions the way it does.
Be Patient With the Process
Career growth is developmental. It cannot be rushed.
“It’s a process,” Miskimen Rivera emphasizes. “You need certain experiences to get to the next level—and that takes time.”
Like human development, each stage builds on the last. Nonlinear paths, detours, and setbacks often provide the exact experiences required for long-term growth. Progress is not always immediately visible, but it is cumulative.
Career growth is developmental. It cannot be rushed.
“It’s a process,” Miskimen Rivera emphasizes. “You need certain experiences to get to the next level—and that takes time.”
Like human development, each stage builds on the last. Nonlinear paths, detours, and setbacks often provide the exact experiences required for long-term growth. Progress is not always immediately visible, but it is cumulative.
A fulfilling career is not defined solely by titles or speed of advancement. It is shaped by self-awareness, emotional intelligence, systems-level understanding, and patience.
The world of mental health reminds us that professional growth and personal growth are inseparable. When aligned intentionally, the journey becomes not just successful—but meaningful.
A fulfilling career is not defined solely by titles or speed of advancement. It is shaped by self-awareness, emotional intelligence, systems-level understanding, and patience.
The world of mental health reminds us that professional growth and personal growth are inseparable. When aligned intentionally, the journey becomes not just successful—but meaningful.