Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

A CEO’s Battle Through Cancer and Corporate Turnarounds | Paula Schneider, President and CEO of Susan G. Komen®

Oct 4, 2023

Paula Schneider, CEO of Susan G. Komen, shares her inspiring journey through breast cancer and corporate turnarounds. Topics include accepting help during illness, leading through uncharted territory, proactive cancer prevention, and making decisions with imperfect information. Paula reshapes our understanding of success and demonstrates the power of facing and conquering the hard things in life.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Shaping Professional Arc

02:28 • 6min

Holistic Wellness & Nutrition Sponsors and Breast Cancer Diagnosis

08:11 • 4min

Surviving Breast Cancer and Raising Half a Million Dollars

12:06 • 15min

Evacuation and Sponsor Announcements

26:45 • 4min

Maintaining a Logical Mindset in the Face of Challenges

30:21 • 18min

A Bomb-Sniffing Dog and Reflections on Decision Making

48:00 • 4min

Impact of Cancer on Individuals and Society

52:04 • 24min

Expressing Gratitude, Encouraging Support, and Inviting Engagement

01:15:54 • 2min

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we sit down with the inspirational Paula Schneider, CEO of Susan G. Komen®, to explore her awe-inspiring journey through uncharted waters in both leadership and her personal battle against breast cancer. Paula exemplifies how true grit and relentless self-belief can overtake fears and redefine how you approach success in every aspect of life.

This rich conversation explores:

How Paula navigated a deadly breast cancer diagnosis and the power she found in accepting help
How she was brought in to execute one of the biggest corporate turnarounds at American Apparel
How she stays calm with (literal) fires burning all around her
Her unconventional path from starting as a costume design and theater major to becoming the CEO and president of Susan G. Komen®, one of the world’s leading nonprofits in the fight against breast cancer, with almost $1 billion in research funding
How to make decisions with imperfect information and Paula’s refreshing approach to leading through uncharted territory
Proactive cancer prevention, optimal screening times, and being your biggest health advocate

Paula doesn’t claim to have all the answers; she simply knows she can find them. Join us as Paula reshapes our understanding of success, demonstrating that it's less about what you know and more about trusting that you can face and conquer the hard things—no matter the odds.

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