Welcome back to Leadership Lessons with Dr. Fredrick Lee II, the podcast where we explore the human side of leadership — through emotional intelligence, lived experience, and the power of personal transformation.
Over the last few episodes, we’ve taken a deep dive into a series that’s both personal and profound — looking at how self-efficacy, resilience, and identity shape the experiences of Black women navigating breast cancer and how those same qualities influence the way we lead, heal, and grow.
We began with Bonus Episode 7 – Self-Efficacy, Resilience, and Health, where we explored the power of belief — that inner conviction that says, “I can do this,” even in the face of fear and uncertainty.
Then in Bonus Episode 8 – Healthcare at the Intersections, we examined how race, gender, and trust collide in the fight for health equity — and what it takes to rebuild faith in systems that have not always been fair.
Today, we bring that journey full circle with a conversation that is both deeply human and profoundly hopeful — what it means to live beyond survival.
Because surviving breast cancer — or any life-altering challenge — is not the end of the story. It’s the beginning of a new one. It’s where healing meets identity, where faith meets leadership, and where the personal becomes universal.
As someone who has studied how self-efficacy and resilience intersect with race, gender, and health, I’ve learned that real leadership is born from lived experience. And today’s guest embodies that truth beautifully.
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👋 Guest Introduction (2 minutes)
Dr. Lee (warmly):
I am honored to welcome my guest, Dr. Cynthia Payne, PhD — a woman whose career and story both model what it means to lead with purpose, excellence, and empathy.
Dr. Payne has built a remarkable career in healthcare, beginning with direct patient care as a technologist, and growing into leadership as a department director and accreditation surveyor. Her work demonstrates an unwavering passion for quality imaging services, equitable access to care, and the advancement of healthcare education.
Today, Dr. Payne serves as an educator leading the Radiologic Technology Program for Sutter Health, where she continues to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals.
But beyond the titles and accomplishments, Dr. Payne is also a breast cancer survivor, an advocate, and a leader whose story reminds us that healing is not only physical — it is emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal.
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Dr. Lee:
Dr. Payne, thank you for being here. I’ve been looking forward to this conversation because your story not only connects to so many themes we’ve explored in this series — self-efficacy, resilience, intersectionality, and emotional intelligence — but it also gives us something we rarely get to hear: the leader’s perspective from inside the survivor’s journey.
Welcome to Leadership Lessons.

💬 Interview Segment – The Conversation (Expanded 25–30 minutes)
Part 1: The Diagnosis and the Beginning of the Journey
Dr. Lee:
Let’s start at that moment — when everything changed. Can you take us back to when you first heard the words, “You have breast cancer.” What went through your mind? How did you process it — not just as a patient, but as a leader who has spent a career helping others through moments of crisis?
Follow-up:
You’ve spent years caring for others in healthcare. What was it like being on the other side of that experience — being the one receiving care? How did that shift your perspective on empathy, trust, and patient-centered leadership?

Part 2: The Power of Self-Efficacy in Healing
Dr. Lee:
In my own research, I found that self-efficacy — the belief in one’s ability to influence outcomes — was a key factor in how women navigated breast cancer. It shaped how they made decisions, engaged with their care teams, and approached recovery.
How did self-efficacy show up for you? Were there moments where you had to remind yourself that, even in uncertainty, you still had agency — that your voice and choices mattered?
Follow-up:
How did that belief evolve as you moved from active treatment into survivorship? Did it change your outlook on leadership, or even how you show up for others?

Part 3: Race, Gender, and Intersectionality in Care
Dr. Lee:
One of the recurring themes in these conversations has been intersectionality — how our overlapping identities shape our experiences in healthcare. As a Black woman and a healthcare leader, how did those intersections impact your experience with diagnosis, treatment, or even communication with providers?
Follow-up:
Did you encounter moments where you had to advocate more forcefully for yourself — where you felt that your expertise or perspective wasn’t being fully acknowledged?

Part 4: Emotional Intelligence and Healing
Dr. Lee:
You and I both know that leadership is not just technical — it’s emotional. It’s about how we show up in moments of uncertainty and vulnerability.
How did emotional intelligence — self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy — play a role in your healing journey?
Were there emotional moments where you had to use those same leadership tools you’ve taught others, but now to support yourself?
Follow-up:
How has surviving and healing influenced the way you teach, mentor, and lead today?

Part 5: Purpose, Advocacy, and Redefining Leadership
Dr. Lee:
Your story doesn’t end at survival. You’ve transformed your experience into purpose — into advocacy and education. What inspired you to share your story, and how has that work become part of your mission?
Follow-up:
For women listening who may be at the start of their own diagnosis — or for leaders carrying invisible battles — what encouragement would you offer them about finding meaning and hope on the other side?

🙏 Gratitude & Transition (1 minute)
Dr. Lee:
Dr. Payne, I want to thank you — not just for sharing your story, but for living your leadership so transparently.
Your journey is a masterclass in emotional intelligence, courage, and faith — and it reminds us that leadership isn’t about titles or credentials, it’s about presence, purpose, and persistence.
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⚙️ Change Moves (Practical Takeaways – 4–5 minutes)
Dr. Lee:
Every episode of Leadership Lessons ends with Change Moves — practical actions to help you apply what you’ve heard.
Here are today’s Change Moves inspired by our conversation with Dr. Cynthia Payne.

1️⃣ Honor Your Healing Journey
Healing isn’t linear — it’s layered. Recognize that physical recovery is only one dimension. Emotional, mental, and spiritual healing are equally essential.
💡 EI Lens: Self-awareness allows us to acknowledge where we are, without shame or denial.

2️⃣ Reclaim Your Voice
Advocacy begins the moment you choose to speak up for yourself. Whether in a doctor’s office, a meeting, or a moment of doubt — your voice matters.
💡 EI Lens: Assertiveness, paired with empathy, turns fear into influence.

3️⃣ Build a Circle of Strength
Healing multiplies in community. Surround yourself with people who remind you of your worth — especially when you forget it yourself.
💡 EI Lens: Empathy and social skill help us build spaces where resilience can grow.

4️⃣ Redefine What Thriving Looks Like
Thriving doesn’t mean “back to normal.” It means creating a new normal — one rooted in peace, purpose, and authenticity.
💡 EI Lens: Self-regard and optimism transform adversity into opportunity.

5️⃣ Lead Through Your Story
Your experiences — both the pain and the progress — hold power. Don’t hide them. Someone else’s healing may depend on your courage to share.
💡 EI Lens: Emotional expression invites connection, and connection fuels change.
🎯 Digital short: “Healing is not the end of the story — it’s the beginning of leadership.”
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🕊️ Expanded Closing (3 minutes)
Dr. Lee:
This conversation with Dr. Cynthia Payne reminds us that survival is not the finish line — it’s the foundation. It’s the place where we start asking new questions:
Who am I now? What does healing really mean? And how can my story serve others?
The truth is, leadership and healing share the same DNA. Both require courage. Both require honesty. And both demand that we face ourselves — not just our successes, but our scars.
When we lead with emotional intelligence — when we bring empathy, awareness, and self-belief into our work and our relationships — we create something lasting.
We create cultures where healing is honored. Where voice and equity matter. Where survival becomes a story of transformation.
So as you move forward today, remember:
Your pain does not disqualify you from leadership. It deepens it.
Your story is not an interruption in your journey — it is your journey.
And your healing is not just personal — it’s generational.
🎧 Subscribe to Leadership Lessons with Dr. Fredrick Lee II on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, and visit https://leadershiplessons.transistor.fm for more episodes and conversations that connect emotional intelligence to real-world leadership and life.
Until next time —
Be aware.
Be resilient.
And lead with Emotional Intelligence.
I am Dr. Fredrick Lee II, and this has been your Leadership Lesson.