Isabel Mestres: Why We Do What We Do
Isabel Mestres, CEO at City Cancer Challenge Foundation, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“November is almost over and for those of us in the NGO space, it feels like stepping into a frenzy of activity. Despite my self-imposed travel ban, the pace hasn’t slowed. I’m deep in 2025 planning—balancing operations and budgets while dealing with the uncertainty of donor funding.
Many decisions won’t be made until Q1 2025, so we have to approve budgets before commitments are finalized. If you’re familiar with this world, you know it’s a mix of strategy, a bit of categorising budgets and let’s face it active praying too.
It’s also Board meeting season at City Cancer Challenge, and crafting the right balance of information is key—enough to empower smart decisions without overwhelming. It’s a delicate task, especially with teams across cities working full throttle to meet year-end deadlines and deliver the impact our work—and patients—deserve.
They’re pushing hard, and I can only hope they get a well-earned break soon.
Through it all, I couldn’t be prouder of my team. They’re true doers, not just talkers! As Obama said: Change will not come if we wait… We are the change that we seek. City Cancer Challenge is breaking boundaries, facilitating change, and making a real impact. Let’s keep pushing forward, together.
So, while I’m at my desk, watching snow fall and deep in planning, my WhatsApp is lighting up with photos from our cities—proof of progress and commitment.
These snapshots remind me why we do what we do and keep me inspired as we face these challenges together.”
Isabel Mestres is the CEO of the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), previously being the Director of Global Public Affairs. She also led initiatives in membership and partnership development at the International Union for Cancer Control. Mestres’ strategic sense positions her to propel C/Can forward, advancing its mission of enhancing cancer care accessibility in low- and middle-income nations.
More posts featuring Isabel Mestres.
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ESMO 2024 Congress
September 13-17, 2024
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ASCO Annual Meeting
May 30 - June 4, 2024
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Yvonne Award 2024
May 31, 2024
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OncoThon 2024, Online
Feb. 15, 2024
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Global Summit on War & Cancer 2023, Online
Dec. 14-16, 2023