The past year has been a rollercoaster.
I received a call on July 23, 2025 that made me catch my breath, that forced me down into a chair, that made me immediately cancel all my meetings for the rest of the day. It was a Thursday. She said, do you have a moment? For the first time, in a long time, my head was clear and focused — so clear and silent it reminded me of my first skydive out of an airplane at 24. Everything else just fell away. I cannot to this day remember what I was working on that was so important.
Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
I wrote down the information she gave me. We made a plan. Tell my family, get the next tests and scans scheduled. Get the consultation visits scheduled with the surgeon and the oncologist. It became my next project. I became my project. When they recommended that the best chance of success could be achieved if I made this my full time job — I did. On July 30, 2025 I started chemo. I took a leave of absence. I reduced the stress in my life as much as I possibly could. I have support and a great health insurance plan so this was possible and I am very lucky. I kept moving. I improved my sleep and eating habits.
There were five months of chemo — eight cycles — and surgery. It was a long, dark journey those first six months. Chemo is hard on the body and the mind. I was in the darkness of it and feeling very low when I made another plan: I would swim again. I would get back in the pool after 10 years. I didn’t know when, but I set the intention. I backed it up by buying a new suit, cap, and goggles.
After the surgery we had the first good news. I’d had a pathologic complete response. I still needed radiation and six more months of immunotherapy, but I was essentially good to go live my life.
I went back to work in March. I had changed, and so had they. I’d left a very capable person in charge and the team was thriving under him. We talked about shifting me into a role the company needed — project management — but it became clear the fit wasn’t there anymore. I resigned and returned to building my consulting practice.
I got back in the pool two weeks after radiation ended. And I wrote myself a new scope of work:
- Lead auditor certification in ISO 42001 AI Management Systems
- Swim a mile straight by the end of the summer.
- Complete the Certified Associate in Project Management program from PMI.
In May, I completed the course and acquired the certification for auditing ISO 42001 AI Management Systems. On July 31, I swam a mile straight (and then some). On Monday, I had my chemo port removed. And today I passed the examination for the Certified Associate in Project Management.
I get things done. That is just who I am.
Over the past year I have also learned about being a patient, and being patient. Those won’t show up on a resume. They are difficult to express in an interview or squeeze into a biography box.
If you want someone who’ll take on the hard projects and take them to the finish line, reach out. If you want someone who wants to build and foster a culture of quality, reach out.