Callaghan was born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. She attended the University of Strathclyde. She worked as a manager for Holland and Barrett and took on trainees through Right Track, an organisation assisting young people find jobs and learn skills. She then went on to work for the organisation as a placement officer and then a project coordinator. In her roles, she helped early school leavers and long-term unemployed young people to find jobs.[4]
