Meet Katie Coleman

We recently connected with Katie Coleman and have shared our conversation below.

Katie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I find my purpose in trying to make a difference for others who may come behind me one day. When I was initially diagnosed with stage IV cancer, I was devastated to say the least. I had a rough prognosis and I had to come to terms with my own mortality at twenty-nine years old. There is nothing that can quite prepare you for something like that, but it forever changes you as well.

About six months into my diagnosis when everything began to change, I made a promise to myself that if I made it to and through a surgery that had the potential to drastically change my prognosis, I’d dedicate the time I was given to making things better for other patients that may come behind me one day. Which is what I’ve dedicated my life to since.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

If you had told me four years ago that I would be writing a bio using titles like author, podcaster, and stage IV cancer survivor to describe myself, I wouldn’t have believed you, and I still can’t believe I’m about to.

These days I wear many hats. After battling an ultra-rare stage IV cancer at twenty-nine, my entire world changed. At the time, I was building software used at racetracks and had spent a fifteen-year career in motorsports. However, after my diagnosis, I decided to use my skills as a software engineer to build tools to help other patients and to advance research instead. I also started a nonprofit, COA, the Chromophobe and Oncocytic Tumor Alliance, that raises awareness and funding for chromophobe RCC, a rare type of kidney cancer. And most excitingly, as of November 12th, I’ll be a newly published author, with my memoir “Too Young for Cancer” coming out that documents my battle with an ultra-rare kidney cancer and the difficulties faced navigating the healthcare system and learning to advocate for myself.

I donated my book deal and am donating my portion of the proceeds from it back to research. I have a launch event for the release that will be held Monday, November 18th at 6pm for anyone who would like to attend. There are both virtual and in person options.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Although I am in a good place with my cancer currently and it would be easy to look back and paint a rosy picture, in my memoir I share the very raw and real experience of what it was like every step of the way. Cancer is messy, it’s terrifying, and for me, things were constantly changing. There was no set path to follow, and I had to pave my own way. The uncertainty from that felt debilitating at times.

I share in my book that strength isn’t the absence of fear, but instead the product of persevering through it. While I was in the thick of it, I rarely had confidence in what I was doing or felt like I was doing the right thing. I was terrified every step of the way. However, it’s those very same moments I look back on now with the most pride, knowing that I kept pushing, despite the fear.

My biggest piece of advice to others is to keep trying. You never know when you’ll find your breakthrough. Also, take time to appreciate each and every day along the way. There is as much joy in the journey as there is in the destination.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

With my book release coming up on November 12th and the launch on November 18th, I’m always looking for folks who are interested in virtual book club events. My launch on the 18th is a hybrid event that will have a virtual component with an activity that people are welcome to get regional groups together for.

I also am an open book, quite literally at this point, and welcome any ask me anything virtual book club events as well.

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