#266: Lessons of Leadership and Advocacy with Rayni McMahon

Stepping into your first leadership role can feel overwhelming, and navigating autism services as a parent can feel even harder, even when you’re already in the field.

In this episode, I sat down with Rayni McMahon for a powerful conversation about leadership, advocacy, and what happens when your professional world and personal life collide. We talked about what it really feels like to move from clinician to administrator, why so many professionals feel unprepared for leadership roles, and the one thing that can make that transition feel more manageable. Rayni shared practical, honest insights about mentorship, managing people, setting boundaries, and learning to lead with both confidence and compassion.

We also spent time talking about advocacy from a deeply personal lens. Rayni opened up about her experience as a BCBA navigating the system as a parent of an autistic child and how being “in the know” did not make accessing services easier. Her perspective highlights just how complex and exhausting the system can be, even for professionals, and why empathy, persistence, and advocacy matter so much for families.

This conversation is thoughtful, relatable, and full of takeaways for anyone who is stepping into leadership, supporting teams, or advocating for children and families within our field.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• How to navigate the transition from clinician to leader without burning out
• Why mentorship and leadership support are critical in growing organizations
• The realities of advocating for autism services, even as a professional
• Lessons on balancing leadership, boundaries, and empathy

Mentioned In This Episode:
Virtue Healthcare Consulting
Rayni Brindley McMahon on LinkedIn
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