#185 | Leading with Heart: Resilience, Storytelling, and Impact with Claire Masikewich from Contagious Culture

Contagious Culture

Kyle S. King

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#185 | Leading with Heart: Resilience, Storytelling, and Impact with Claire Masikewich

34 minutes Posted Apr 30, 2026 at 6:37 pm.

— Welcome to the Contagious Culture Podcast01:00 — Claire Masikewich’s background in marketing and communications02:30 — Sloan’s diagnosis and the start of Strong Like Sloan05:00 — Finding purpose without forcing purpose07:00 — The vision: a world where pediatric cancer is cured09:30 — Why nonprofits should focus on solving root problems12:00 — The challenge of funding pediatric cancer research14:30 — Raising nearly $400,000 through community and storytelling17:00 — How to tell powerful stories when the story is not your own19:00 — Turning adversity into action21:00 — “What if it all works out?”23:00 — What kept Claire going during the hardest seasons25:00 — The lesson of capability: we are stronger than we think27:00 — The role of community in survival and impact29:00 — Letting go of what you cannot control30:30 — Boundaries, balance, and learning to say no31:30 — Claire’s message to leaders and changemakers32:00 — Closing: What type of culture are you spreading?

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In this episode of Contagious Culture, Kyle S. King sits down with Claire Masikewich, founder of the Strong Like Sloan Foundation, for a powerful conversation about purpose, adversity, storytelling, community, and turning pain into impact.

After her daughter Sloan was diagnosed with stage four cancer at five and a half years old, Claire’s life and work shifted. What started as a way to cope became a foundation raising money, awareness, and advocacy for pediatric cancer research.

Claire shares how her family navigated treatment, relapse, remission, and hope while building a nonprofit that has raised nearly $400,000 in less than three years. This episode is for nonprofit leaders, parents, founders, and changemakers who are trying to build something meaningful while carrying the weight of real life.

Episode Highlights

Connect with Claire

Strong Like Sloan FoundationInstagram: @stronglikesloane

Claire MasikewichInstagram: @therealclairem

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