EP 301 – Cancer is a Journey - Chris Thomson (Part One of Two)
- Govindh Jayaraman
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
In this very personal and powerful episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, I sit down with one of my oldest friends, Chris Thomson, National Partner of the Student Works Management Program. Chris has spent decades shaping young leaders, building more entrepreneurs in Canada than perhaps anyone else. His story has always been one of creating opportunity and pushing boundaries—but today, his napkin is not about business.
His wife, Helen Thomspon, is his business partner and CEO of the Student Works Management Program and together they are among the most dynamic pairs of entrepreneurs in the country. Their program has likely help forge more Canadian entrepreneurs than any other program.
He is also the host of the very popular Leaders of Tomorrow podcast where he features young and dedicated entrepreneurs on their journey to forge their own path in the world.
Chris brings forward a message that is raw, human, and deeply resonant: “Cancer is a journey.” After being diagnosed three years ago, Chris has learned to see this experience not just as a challenge but as a pathway filled with lessons, clarity, and growth.
This is part one of a two-part conversation where Chris shares not just his fight with cancer, but the wisdom he’s drawing from it—wisdom that will change how you see your own challenges.
The Napkin: Cancer is a Journey
When Chris chose those words for his napkin, he wasn’t sugarcoating the reality. He acknowledged the fear, the uncertainty, and the deep personal impact of living with cancer. But he framed it in a way that shifts perspective: instead of a battle to be fought or a curse to be endured, it’s a journey—one with lessons along the way.
He explains how friends and mentors encouraged him to share his experience, and how openness helped him overcome the fear of other people’s opinions. That fear, he says, doesn’t disappear just because you’ve achieved success. It lingers until you confront it directly.
Lessons from the Journey
Through this conversation, Chris highlights a few themes that entrepreneurs and leaders can apply far beyond the context of illness:
Openness Creates Connection By sharing his cancer journey publicly, Chris found a new depth of support, love, and community. Leaders often think they must project strength at all times, but true strength is often in vulnerability.
Take Action: Start small. Share one struggle you’ve been carrying alone with someone you trust. Notice the connection it creates.
Fear of Opinions Is Universal Chris notes that even people at the top—CEOs, entrepreneurs, public figures—still wrestle with the fear of how others perceive them. That fear doesn’t vanish with success; it must be challenged intentionally.
Take Action: Write down one opinion you’ve been afraid to face. Ask yourself: “What if it didn’t matter?” Then act as though it doesn’t.
Challenges Are Teachers Cancer, as devastating as it is, has been a teacher for Chris. It forced him to slow down, reframe priorities, and find meaning in places he might have overlooked before.
Take Action: Reframe your current obstacle as a teacher. What lesson is it offering you right now?
Gratitude in the Face of Hardship Chris repeatedly emphasizes gratitude—gratitude for support, for medical care, and even for the perspective the journey brings. Gratitude doesn’t deny difficulty; it reshapes how we meet it.
Take Action: Each night, write down three things you’re grateful for—even on your hardest days.
Legacy Is Built in Real Time For Chris, the Student Works program has always been about creating leaders who impact the world. His cancer journey has deepened that sense of legacy. What you do today—how you treat people, how you face challenges—is the legacy you’re already leaving.
Take Action: Ask yourself, “What will people remember about me from this season of my life?” Adjust accordingly.
About Chris Thomson
Chris Thomson is the Head Coach and Leader of the Student Works Management Program, an organization dedicated to building the next generation of entrepreneurs through hands-on business experience. Over decades, Chris has coached thousands of university students to run their own businesses, building a legacy of leaders across Canada. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-thomson-swp/) and follow the Student Works Management Program for more insights. Follow the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast as well.
Final Thoughts
This is not an easy conversation. Talking about cancer never is. But Chris reminds us that even the hardest realities can carry wisdom if we’re willing to see them differently. His napkin—“Cancer is a journey”—is a challenge to every leader and entrepreneur: don’t just endure your obstacles, learn from them.
Now, it’s your turn. Grab a napkin and write down your takeaway from Chris’s story. What lesson can you draw from your own challenges? Post it on social media with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom and join the conversation.
Because small ideas—like words on a napkin—can lead to big shifts.