---
title: "Growing with Purpose Podcast: \"How Leaders Survive Personal Tragedy\" with Ellyn Davidson"
description: When personal tragedy strikes, what's a leader to do? On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, Paul Spiegelman talks with Ellyn Davidson, President of Brogan & Partners, about how surviving personal adversity as a leader.
---

[Insight for Business Leaders Building Great Values-Driven Companies ](https://blog.smallgiants.org)

# [Growing with Purpose Podcast: "How Leaders Survive Personal Tragedy" with Ellyn Davidson](https://blog.smallgiants.org/growing-with-purpose-ellyn-davidson)

 Written by [Ellyn Davidson](https://blog.smallgiants.org/author/ellyn-davidson) | July 12, 2018

When a leader is struck by personal tragedy, how do you persevere? Ellyn Davidson was diagnosed with breast cancer as a rising leader at her agency and with three kids at home. Today, she is President of Brogan & Partners and a mentor to women facing their own diagnoses.

Today on the **Growing with Purpose podcast**, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Ellyn Davidson, President of [Brogan & Partners](https://brogan.com/), a full-service marketing and advertising agency in Birmingham, Michigan. Ellyn's business card hasn't changed for 24 years — she was hired as an intern at the company and worked her way up the ladder through a commitment to relationships and values. In fact, when Ellyn was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, she still found a way to forge connections and make a difference. An 11-year survivor, Ellyn not only overcame her diagnosis, she used it as a force to do good in the world.

In this episode, hear how Ellyn balanced her family, her career, and her cancer diagnosis — and managed to become company president just three years later. [**Tune into Ellyn's story here**](https://www.smallgiants.org/content/podcasts/).

 

   
**Show Notes **

[**5:12**] From Company Intern to Company President

**[7:40] **Sending Invoices at Seven Years Old

**[10:10]** The Importance of Presence in Business

**[12:25]** A Shocking Cancer Diagnosis in 2007

**[21:37] **Redefining the Business through Values & Relationships

**[31:13] **Walking Away from a Substantial Client for the Greater Good

**[34:48] **The Challenges of Giving Tough Feedback

 

#### **Books that Influenced Ellyn's Leadership**

[*Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business *](https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837)by Gino Wickman  

<https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Fable/dp/0787960756>

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Looking for more episodes of the Growing with Purpose podcast? [Tune in](https://www.smallgiants.org/content/podcasts/)!

**

 

[View full post](https://blog.smallgiants.org/growing-with-purpose-ellyn-davidson)

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