Christiane Constantineau’s inspiring journey proves resilience is key to thriving in business and life, even amid cancer treatment.
The Entrepreneur Who Redefined Success During Her Darkest Hour
When Christiane Constantineau was diagnosed with Stage 3C breast cancer in 2019, the world seemed to come crashing down. As an entrepreneur, she was no stranger to tough challenges. But this was different. The diagnosis, followed by chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries, threatened to dismantle everything she had built. Yet, rather than retreating, Christiane chose to do something extraordinary—she ran her business, wrote a bestselling book, and built a legacy that continues to inspire.
Her story is not just one of survival; it’s one of thriving against the odds. Through it all, Christiane found a way to balance business leadership, family, and personal health in a way that would resonate with anyone facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge.
A Journey Built on Resilience and Global Experience
Christiane’s entrepreneurial career spans multiple continents and industries, all rooted in her strategic leadership and deep understanding of business operations. A Canadian C-level executive, CFO-to-hire, and serial entrepreneur, she founded and scaled 6DT Consulting, a cloud-based bookkeeping firm, which she sold to her son in 2023. Prior to that, Christiane launched Turbulence Consulting Group, where she helped clients navigate international business challenges and high-stakes negotiations in markets ranging from Saudi Arabia to Chile.
Her expertise in finance and leadership is underscored by an Executive MBA, making her a sought-after advisor for startups across the globe. What sets Christiane apart, however, isn’t just her professional accomplishments—it’s the personal journey that has shaped her into the resilient leader she is today.
Christiane’s international career began with a groundbreaking year-long assignment in South Africa. As a single mother raising two young children, she was part of a team of experts who established business frameworks across the country, laying the foundation for what would become an illustrious global consulting career.
That experience taught her that limitations often serve as launching pads for extraordinary achievements, a philosophy that has guided her through every challenge.
The Turning Point: Surviving Cancer, Thriving in Business
In 2019, Christiane was struck by a challenge far greater than any business negotiation or economic downturn: a cancer diagnosis. Faced with the reality of Stage 3C breast cancer, she could have stepped back and focused solely on her health. Instead, she continued running her business while undergoing aggressive cancer treatments.
Her story doesn’t just stop there. In the midst of chemotherapy and radiation, Christiane wrote Cancer Sucks…: The Journey of an Entrepreneur and Her Fight Against Cancer While Running Her Business. The book, which went on to become an Amazon bestseller, shared her raw and real experience, providing a roadmap for other entrepreneurs facing similar health crises. She followed it with Manage. Grow. Breathe: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Success Without Burnout, another bestseller that became a trusted resource for business owners seeking to maintain success without sacrificing their well-being.
“People often ask me how I managed to keep my business afloat during treatment,” Christiane recalls. “The truth is, I didn’t do it alone. I relied on a combination of resilience, planning, and support from my team and family, and I had to make peace with the fact that some things would not go according to plan. But it taught me that business success is not about perfection; it’s about finding balance and adjusting when life throws curveballs.”
Christiane’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and self-care in business. She proved that entrepreneurs don’t have to choose between health and success. Through strategic planning, delegation, and holistic wellness, Christiane was able to not only survive cancer but thrive during treatment.
The Ikigai Philosophy: Aligning Passion with Purpose
At the heart of Christiane’s business philosophy is the concept of Ikigai, a Japanese principle that means “a reason for being.” She discovered Ikigai during a moment of reflection on her career and life. For years, she had excelled in finance, but something was missing. She had neglected her passion for yoga, meditation, and fashion design, creative pursuits she abandoned years earlier in favor of a secure career in administration and accounting.
“I realized that what I truly loved—design—had never left me,” Christiane reflects. “I had buried it under years of corporate success, but I found a way to reconnect with that passion.” This revelation led to the creation of LavaLife Jewelry, an e-boutique she founded in 2024, which features yoga and meditation-inspired lava bead jewelry. LavaLife Jewelry embodies Christiane’s philosophy of living with purpose and aligning one’s work with personal passions.
The Ikigai philosophy is not just something Christiane talks about; it’s the foundation upon which she builds all her businesses. It’s a business strategy that integrates passion with profitability, skill with service, and personal fulfillment with professional success.
The Global Perspective: From Crisis to Legacy
Christiane’s career has taken her across five continents, from the business boards in Sweden and Bahrain to contract negotiations in Saudi Arabia. These international experiences have given her a unique understanding of the cultural nuances that shape business success in different parts of the world.
However, it is her approach to resilience that truly sets her apart. While many business consultants offer theoretical frameworks, Christiane’s strategies are battle-tested. She has navigated business operations through personal health crises, economic uncertainty, and family challenges that would sideline most entrepreneurs.
“My competitive advantage isn’t just my finance expertise,” she explains. “It’s the combination of resilience, global experience, and a holistic business philosophy. I’ve lived through the toughest of times, and that’s what I bring to my clients: real-world, proven strategies for building sustainable, fulfilling businesses.”
Her ability to navigate through life’s toughest moments with grace has earned her numerous awards, including being named Top CEO & Cash Flow Advisor of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals in December 2024, and Resilient Business Coach of the Year by WomElle in 2025.
A Legacy of Empowerment
Christiane’s influence extends beyond her work as a CFO and consultant. She has built a multi-generational business legacy, passing her consulting firm to her son in 2023. “Selling my business to my son wasn’t about retirement—it was about creating a sustainable business model that could be handed down,” she says. “When you build something aligned with your values, it becomes bigger than you. It lives on.”
Christiane’s success isn’t just measured by the financial outcomes of her businesses, but by the lasting impact she has made on the lives of the entrepreneurs she mentors. Her workshops and talks on resilience, balancing life and business, and thriving through adversity have inspired countless individuals to rethink how they approach both their professional and personal lives.
Thrive Through Anything
Christiane Constantineau’s story is one of extraordinary resilience, strategic thinking, and an unwavering commitment to personal and professional well-being. For entrepreneurs facing difficult challenges, her story offers not just hope, but a clear, actionable roadmap for thriving in the face of adversity.
If you’re an entrepreneur feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or facing seemingly impossible obstacles, Christiane’s journey can help guide you through. Learn from her books, workshops, and the proven strategies she uses every day to build businesses that last, even through life’s toughest challenges.
Visit christianeconstantineau.com to explore Christiane’s work, read her bestselling books, or connect with her for business consultations.
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