Two-time Cancer Survivor, Corporate Keynote Speaker

I have had the pleasure of booking Sarah McDonald multiple times for corporate webinars and breast cancer awareness and survivor events, and I have seen her in person — and I can tell you that what you see on stage is exactly who she is offstage. Sarah is warm, genuine, and deeply dedicated to the people she speaks for. She does not just show up and give a talk; she shows up as a person who truly cares. The response I hear from clients and audiences again and again is that her story helped them feel less alone — and more hopeful about what’s possible. She is an absolute pleasure to work with, and I highly recommend her.

About Sarah:

Sarah E. McDonald is a two-time cancer survivor, author, and keynote speaker whose 30-year corporate career — including 14 years at eBay, where she rose to Chief of Staff to the President — makes her a uniquely compelling voice for corporate audiences navigating cancer in the workplace. She holds an MBA from Cornell University and a BA from Occidental College.

At 44, Sarah was newly married, newly promoted, and planning a pregnancy when she was diagnosed with two simultaneous, unrelated cancers. Her story of surviving both — and going on to have her daughter, Rory — is told with the wit, vulnerability, and hard-won wisdom that leaves audiences both deeply moved and practically equipped.

Sarah has spoken for Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft and has been a trusted keynote speaker for corporate ERGs, breast cancer awareness months, and employee wellness webinars. She is the author of The Cancer Channel and The Cancer Companion, and lives in Mill Valley, CA with her husband Geoff and daughter Rory.
 

Signature Keynotes:

Cancer in the Workplace: A Keynote of Hope

Target Audience: Employees who are cancer survivors; colleagues and managers of those diagnosed with cancer; corporate ERGs focused on health and wellness

Themes: Self-advocacy, Resilience, Hope and humor in the face of crisis

One in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes — which means cancer will touch nearly every workplace. In this interactive presentation, Sarah draws on her lived experience as a tech executive who received two simultaneous cancer diagnoses to give employees candid first-hand insight into life as a cancer patient, and practical tools for supporting colleagues facing a health crisis. Told with humor, honesty, and hard-won wisdom, this talk leaves audiences both moved and equipped.

Takeaways:
•       Little things make a big difference when someone is fighting for their life
•       Our human connections matter most
•       What to say — and what not to say — to a colleague with cancer
 

Leadership Lessons During a Year of Cancer Treatments

Target Audience: Corporate leaders — male and female — seeking resilience insights and tools for supporting employees in crisis

Themes: Resilience, Humor and grace in the face of crisis, Building supportive workplace cultures

Sarah shares the leadership lessons she learned the hard way: from inside a year of chemo, radiation, and surgeries while holding an executive role at eBay. Her stories are funny, honest, and full of practical takeaways for leaders who want to show up well for teams in crisis.

Takeaways:
•       Say what you see
•       Human connections are what matter most
•       What to do — and not do — when a team member is in crisis
 

How to Build Resilience During Personal Crisis

Target Audience: Leaders and employees navigating personal or professional adversity

Themes: Resilience, Self-advocacy, Hope

Through stories from her year of cancer treatments, Sarah explores the resilience she found within herself to survive not one but two simultaneous cancer diagnoses — and ultimately to build a life that felt more authentically her own.

Takeaways:
•       How to tap into resilience you already have
•       Lead with heart, not just head
•       Human connection is the ultimate source of strength
 

Fertility Journeys: Balancing Personal Dreams with Professional Goals

Target Audience: Employees (women and men) who have navigated fertility challenges

Themes: Advocacy, Resilience, Work-life integration

Sarah shares her fertility journey in her 40s — including the decision to pursue an egg donor — and the two cancer diagnoses that interrupted her scheduled IVF. She details the difficult decisions made before and after her diagnoses, and the extraordinary outcome: her daughter, Rory.

Takeaways:
•       Advocating for your personal goals alongside professional ones
•       Being your own best advocate in the healthcare system
•       Keeping sight of what matters most
 

How to Support Employees in Crisis

Target Audience: People managers who oversee — or will oversee — employees with life-threatening diagnoses

Themes: Empathy, Resilience, Psychological safety

Sarah translates her lived experience as a cancer patient into practical guidance for managers. Through stories both heartbreaking and funny, she equips leaders with the empathy and tools to show up effectively for employees in crisis — and to build cultures where people feel truly supported.

Takeaways:
•       Human first, manager second
•       Creating effective support plans for employees in health crises
•       Checking in and showing up — what it actually looks like
 

Booking Information

• Based in: Mill Valley, California (travels nationally and internationally)
• Fee range: On request
• Travel expenses: Coach airfare or mileage at current government rate, hotel accommodations (typically 1–2 nights depending on schedule), ground transportation, and meals.
• Formats: Keynote (30–60 minutes + Q&A) | Available in person and virtually

If Sarah sounds like the right fit for your corporate event, ERG, or breast cancer awareness and survivor program — or if you’d like to talk through whether she is — I’d love to hear from you. Reach out and let’s find the right match together.

Check Sarah’s Availability — barbara@speakwellbeing.com | 503-699-5031, or fill out the “Request Speaker Info” form on this page.
 

Learn More About Sarah in Barbara’s Blog

Re-ordering Life After Cancer