A Leicestershire-based leadership coach and Chair of the East Midlands Vistage Group has shared the remarkable story of how being diagnosed with terminal cancer at just 24 reshaped her life, purpose and career.
Barbara Baker, who now lives in Leicestershire, tells her story in her new book ‘From Claudia to Cruella’, reflecting on the journey that began when her life changed overnight from caring for patients to becoming one herself.
Originally from the North East of England, Barbara had trained as a nurse and joined the Army with ambitions to travel and work overseas. But just as she was preparing to explore those opportunities, her plans were abruptly halted when doctors delivered the devastating diagnosis that she had terminal cancer.
“Overnight I went from nurse to patient,” she recalls. “From the girl with big plans for life to someone fighting simply to exist. It rewrote everything I thought I knew about time, strength and purpose.”
Against the expectations of her medical team, Barbara survived. Determined not to let the diagnosis define her future, she later went on to fulfil her ambitions to travel and work abroad as a nurse, spending time across Europe and South Africa.
However, survival was only the beginning. What followed was a long and often messy journey of rebuilding - physically, emotionally and professionally.
Despite having no business qualifications or experience, Barbara eventually launched her own company and grew it from start-up to scale. Sixteen years later she successfully sold the business in a trade sale.
Alongside building a company, Barbara was also raising her children as a single parent while navigating the long-term consequences of serious illness.
‘From Claudia to Cruella’ explores how the resilience forged during her fight for life shaped the decisions that followed, from entrepreneurship to leadership and personal reinvention. More than a memoir, the book was written to help others navigating difficult paths find perspective, courage and belief in their own capacity to rebuild.
“Recovery isn’t linear,” she says. “But sometimes the most difficult chapters of our lives become the ones that shape who we’re capable of becoming.”
Today, Barbara works as a leadership coach, helping founders and executives navigate the pressures of growth and leadership. Through sharing her story, she hopes to offer encouragement and insight to others facing uncertainty or adversity.