In 1988, she earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Trinity College Dublin (TCD).
She returned to Ireland, working at the Graffiti Theatre Company in Cork for 4 years, before undertaking her MBA at TCD.
Magahy's friendship with civil servant Paddy Teahon came under scrutiny by Pat Rabbitte at the Public Accounts Committee.
[16][10] In 2011, Magahy became the first woman in Ireland and one of only 200 people worldwide to achieve International Project Management Association Level A certification.
[16][21] In 2018, Magahy left MCO in order to take up the positions of Executive Director and Deputy Secretary of the Sláintecare Programme Implementation Office.