Meet Ambassador Grace B. Charrier

We recently connected with Ambassador Grace B. Charrier and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ambassador Grace B., appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I believe resilience is in my DNA, as I have encountered many challenges in my life.

The most recent acid test was when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Triple-Negative breast cancer. Shocking as I had no symptoms whatsoever.

I still go through the fear of a recurrence though, which is normal for so many of us that have faced cancer. Nevertheless, we continue to have a positive mindset and endeavor to remain in the present.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

As a global citizen who has emerged as a visible and vocal cancer advocate following a Stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis, all my social media platforms seek to demystify the cancer disease by using evidence-based information and eliminating stigma.

As someone who holds a PH.D (personal history of disease), I wear the hats of patient, survivor, and advocate, speaking on the patient experience, early detection, health equity, and health literacy while sitting on a number of patient advisory boards of well-known organizations.

I am a cancer advocate who is also a global health diplomat as the quest for good health should have no boundaries. I am often invited to speak at international health events. In addition, my volunteerism and staunch advocacy at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is also an opportunity to leverage my cancer experience by meeting one-on-one with local, state, and federal lawmakers. The mission is to ensure that cancer remains top of their agenda as we ask for increased investments in cancer prevention, cancer research, and other critical cancer legislative requests.

As the Founder of Cancer Convos with Grace B and host of my YouTube talk show, “Cancer Convos with Grace B.”, I bring on health professionals and stakeholders across the board to educate and discuss varied topics including early detection and prevention, screening, estate planning, and survivorship, among other relevant topics and my audience are satisfied with the critical information which my show provides.
The amazing feedback we constantly receive is the wind beneath our sails!

During the pandemic I wrote and published my memoir, “IMPOSSICANT”, and I am insanely proud of the quiet impact she is making across the world. This inspiring read captures my cancer journey, warts and all, and provides critical information and hope for those starting out as patients, survivors, caregivers, or those who are curious about the workings of the mind of a cancer patient. I underscore the fact that we can transform passive awareness into active engagement by urging individuals and entities to show up and be a part of closing the cancer care gap as the solution begins with us.

As an advocate, communicator, and creative in the cancer space, I am showing that positive change is not just necessary. It is possible.

My brand, Cancer Convos with Grace B., is committed to raising awareness and support for diverse cancer patients and cancer research. As a result of my unrelenting efforts in cancer advocacy and community engagement, we are honored to be a recipient of several awards.

Here are a few:

1. Citation:

Citation issued by Congressional Committee, City Council of New York
Recognized by The City Council of New York:

For being an outstanding citizen and impactful cancer advocacy work in the community, this Citation was presented to me by
CM Mercedes Narcisse, Congressional Member, Committee of the City Council of New York.

2. Honoree:

Award issued by Aesclepius Medical Society

Recognized and honored for passion, commitment, and philanthropic contributions towards improving health conditions and eradicating cancer in the community and in the global space.
This award was presented to me by Chairperson, Herold Simon, MD

3. United Nations Ambassador for Peace.

4. Global Goodwill Ambassador.

5. International Women’s Day Ambassador.

6. Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All.

By showcasing personal stories, expert insights, and the resilience of those impacted by cancer, I accelerate the movement toward equality, empowerment, and overall health and well-being for all.

All my social media platforms serve as a call to action and I am proud to be a part of “Accelerate Action”, which is one of the themes of International Women’s Month 2025, underscoring the need for taking steps towards gender equality.

I know that my advocacy and support of others is boundless because my passion is what makes me jump out of bed every morning. All work and no play makes Grace a dull girl so, here are a few of my favorite things!

My wonderful daughter
Traveling
Writing
Broadway shows
A great dance party
Sitting on the dock of the bay
Jazz, Gospel and Afro Beat
Food

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

One quote that keeps me going is one from my favorite screen star, Katherine Hepburn, and it goes like this:

“The only time you lose is when you quit.”

Emotional intelligence, adaptability, and communication are three combined skills and areas of knowledge that have gotten me this far.

Of course, communication alone will not change the world but it will spark conversations, ideas, and behaviors that lead to lasting impact, I use these to bridge the gap between awareness and action in my advocacy work and my other initiatives.

Communication is a two-way street. It is why I am said to be an attentive listener with warmth and people skills shining through in every interaction.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

I must confess, I had a lovely childhood in Nigeria, and thereafter in the United Kingdom. My father was a chartered accountant and career diplomat. My mother was a chartered secretary and public administrator who were both successful in the 60s. They were very important fixtures in the lives of many as I still have vivid memories of them signing checks for some stranger’s children’s school fees, supporting young businesses, or in the building or rehabilitation of faith projects and structures.

Growing up, I watched my mother, a strong voice in women’s issues, play host in our home to like-minded women who shared her passion for serving community, by adding her input and resources to the health, literary and financial empowerment of anyone who needed support. She was an active member of several local and international organizations and neck deep in several fundraising humanitarian efforts.
My mother constantly reiterated that healthy women make stronger women, and stronger women make healthy nations.

Those words remain indelible in my psyche and will always remain my North Star in all the impactful work I do.

In tow, I traveled the world with my parents and was exposed at an early age to etiquette, conversations, and different cultures and perspectives. My parents were already accomplished, middle-class civil servants by the age of 30 years, who could afford to live their lives as they wished, without incurring debt. Is there any such thing as “middle-class” these days or can be said of 30, 40, or even 50 year olds today?

We all know the answer.

My parents have greatly and positively impacted my life and career path as I am a combination of diplomacy and activism. With international exposure in my upbringing, education, and ultimately my life path, I identify as a global citizen- the reason being that I do not believe in borders, boxes, confinements, or labels.
I believe we all are global siblings regardless of what part of the world each may come from.
So did my parents.

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