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We recently caught up with Christy Egun, LeadBoston Class of 2010 alum, whose career has been dedicated to advancing health equity and building stronger, more just communities across Boston and beyond. 

In this inspiring 15-minute conversation, Christy reflects on the profound impact LeadBoston had on her leadership journey—how it sharpened her equity lens, shaped her work with Boston youth and families, and continues to guide her through today’s complex challenges. With clarity, honesty, and heart, she shares what it means to lead across difference, stay grounded in purpose, and hold onto hope—even in heavy moments. 

How did your LeadBoston experience shape the way you lead or approach equity work today? 

As a proud member of LeadBoston’s 2010 cohort, the leadership insights I gained have helped shape both my personal journey and professional path. The program’s masterful ability to convene a diverse collective of leaders to confront, dissect, and wrestle with Boston’s entrenched systemic inequities was both a powerful catalyst for growth and—at times—a heavy, necessary burden. 

LeadBoston inspired me to question assumptions, refine my perspective, and expand my ability to lead across differences. It demonstrated the power of courageous dialogue and the importance of turning insight into action. Even after more than a decade, it still influences how I show up—how I lead, how I listen, and how I challenge systems in pursuit of equity and justice. 

How have you applied the skills and knowledge you gained from the program in your current work? 

As a former hospital leader dedicated to improving community health and equity in Boston, Chelsea, and Revere, I gained new insights through my LeadBoston experience. Two moments—Education Day and Judicial System Day—stood out to me, revealing the powerful—and often painful—connections between Boston’s public school system and the challenges of mass incarceration. This contrast highlighted deep systemic inequalities but also showed urgent opportunities to break those cycles and create new pathways. 

Education Day was enlightening, especially the perspective shared by former Boston Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Carol Johnson—her pearls of wisdom helped me work with my team to reshape our approach to programming for Boston students. We moved beyond just focusing on STEM exposure and paid internships to develop a comprehensive, equity-focused framework—one that included academic tutoring, college readiness, and behavioral health support. The model prioritized the whole student and involved families as essential partners, grounding our efforts in lasting impact rather than short-term fixes. 

LeadBoston encouraged me to lead with both urgency and empathy, enabling me to go beyond my comfort zone and aim for what is transformative. 

What advice do you have for alumni, current, or prospective participants in the program? 

To the LeadBoston alumni: Review, refine, or reaffirm your leadership commitments. You have the networks, tools, and insights to make a difference—so what are you doing with them? Leadership isn’t static, and neither are the challenges we face. Re-ignite your purpose and reengage with the work. Your impact is needed now more than ever. 

To current participants: Stay present and engaged. The LeadBoston journey offers a unique space to step into each other’s shoes and confront complex truths about equity and justice. Allow yourself to be curious, uncomfortable, and open to change. The experience will stretch you in ways that leadership requires. 

To prospective participants: If you’re looking for hope, this is the place to find it. Hope doesn’t always appear fully formed—it’s built through connection, reflection, and the courage to lead differently. LeadBoston offers a unique opportunity to engage deeply with both yourself and the system, and to come away not only inspired but also equipped. 

What’s giving you hope right now—in your work, your community, or the world? 

Wow, this is such a loaded question. As an optimistic person by nature, I’ve recently faced moments when even my optimism wavered. There have been days when the weight of the world’s challenges made me want to pull the covers over my head. However, what keeps me going is the quiet resilience I see every day – a simple smile that says, “I see you,” choosing grace over reaction, or advocating for inclusivity. 

I also find hope in being the mother of two young adult Black sons who are just beginning to live fully and realize the power of their presence and potential. Watching them step into adulthood with clarity, grace, and unapologetic strength reminds me that the future is not only possible; it is essential. 

I find hope in courageous conversations, in the sparks of change within organizations willing to face hard truths, and in communities that insist on being seen and heard. 

Hope, for me, lives in the tension between what is and what could be—and in the belief that our collective actions, no matter how imperfect or incremental, still matter. I’m also finding lots of hope in Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson!