Carroll worked in the banking industry before starting her own childcare business, while caring for her own special needs child.

[citation needed] Her tireless defence of public education led her to be elected as a School Board Trustee on the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) in 2000 and earned her a Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

She worked with the mayor to implement Canada's first municipal land transfer tax, which made Toronto financially sustainable for the first time since amalgamation.

[10] She resigned from city council on April 5, 2018, in order to run in the 2018 provincial election, but lost to the Progressive Conservative Party candidate Vincent Ke.

[11][12][13] Jonathan Tsao was appointed by city council to represent Ward 33 for the remainder of the term before municipal elections on October 22, 2018.

[18] She won by a significant margin over the runner up, Christina Liu, who was endorsed by former-mayor Mel Lastman.

[22] In January 2025, Carroll was elected to serve as the chairwoman of the Toronto Police Services Board.