A long time champion of women's leadership, gender equality, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Coyle is a leader in the post-secondary education and not-for-profit sectors, as well as in international and local development.
As head girl, she took the initiative of inviting Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau to visit her high school in Ottawa to meet and engage with students.
[1][3] After returning to Canada and completing her master's degree,[3] Coyle moved to Indonesia to work as Rural Development Advisor to the District Planning Board in South Sulawesi.
[1][3][2] After 10 years with Calmeadow, Coyle moved to Antigonish, Nova Scotia, in 1997 and became a Vice-President and the Director of the Coady Institute at St. Francis Xavier University,[2] During Coyle's tenure, the Coady International Institute grew significantly, enhancing its global education and innovation agenda and expanding programming by helping establish the International Centre for Women’s Leadership and the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership Initiative.
Coyle was appointed to the Senate by Governor General Julie Payette on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on December 4, 2017, alongside Mary Jane McCallum of Manitoba.