Life & Work with Marisa Peters

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marisa Peters

Hi Marisa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.  
I live on the west side of Los Angeles in Westchester, where my husband, Josh, and I are raising our 3 young boys and 2 dogs. It’s a community of people who have grown up in suburban neighborhoods outside of Los Angeles yet now are living in a big city, still yearning for the small-town vibe. We have landed here feeling fortunate to add to this community where our front yard looks more like a neighborhood park littered with swings, soccer goals, and children creatively connecting with each other on the fly. To some, it may look like a mess, yet to us, it looks like the life we have dreamed of and worked so hard to achieve. We want people to feel welcome and able to show up no matter if the get-together is spontaneous or planned. 

Our “come on over anytime” family philosophy has especially helped us through the pandemic and overcoming my cancer while raising our boys as working parents. So much so that during my treatment, surprise groceries and dinners were waiting on our doorstep unannounced. Neighbors show up for us to have fun and help take stress out of situations, like when a late-night ER trip was unavoidable after a baseball injury collided with a weeknight bedtime routine while Josh was out of town starting production for his latest film. We can lean on each other in ways you don’t typically find in Los Angeles or other big cities. 

Short Version: I am known as many things: I am a rectal cancer survivor, thriving after two near-death experiences. A Broadway vocalist turned keynote speaker & women’s health advocate. A proud Michigan Wolverine graduating with honors. An artist, musician, and pianist. I’m a midwestern sister, change-maker, and a Chief People Officer of scaling tech companies like Amazon Studios & Prime Video, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and VideoAmp, recognized as the #1 Best Place to Work by AdAge. An entrepreneur and life-long friend to a few treasured people. I am a mom of three boys proud to co-parent alongside my husband, Josh Peters. I am alive and working hard today to become the best version of myself. I’m driven to make a difference in the world, business, and in the lives of others, one person at a time. 

Long Version: I grew up in the Midwest (Carmel, IN), coming from a long line of fiery women who didn’t take much from anyone and overcame a lot of adversity. At a young age, the concept of dreaming big, working hard, and being nice to people was instilled early. My voice teacher, Jo Trakimas, alongside my mom, encouraged using my big voice, mainly used for singing and public speaking, which put me in a leadership position from an early age, playing leading roles, becoming the president of our competitive high school show choir and standing up for what I believed. Performing and motivational speaking gave me ample opportunity to build confidence in a range of situations. When I was 10 years old, I moved from doing home improvement projects with my dad to working with him in our family tech business, learning Sandler sales techniques and how to be an entrepreneur. I started off cleaning the office and racing myself to convert stacks of business cards into a database, moving to outbound sales, cold calling clients, and negotiating with him to pay me for lunchtime as “work” (and also paying for my lunch!). 

I graduated from Carmel High School and moved north to study at The University of Michigan, where I built upon my love using my voice and talents as an influential storyteller and musician. I received my degree in Musical Theatre which carried me to New York City and other major cities when hired, yet I had my sights on Los Angeles. I only wish Josh and our boys would have been there as I walked onto the mound to sing national anthem at the new Detroit Tigers stadium at the start of the season, hovering in the wings at the Richard Rodgers Theater to sing and tap dance on Broadway stages and shivering in a swimsuit to record a commercial rooftop on a sunny winter day in Manhattan. I worked into the middle of the night as a stand-in for Brooke Shields and packed my lunch as I’d commute from Queens to temp jobs for the managing director of Carnegie Hall. I worked alongside the editor-in-chief of major magazine publications and at financial firms, fearing I would not know how to transfer calls on their phone system. I typically worked three jobs at a time through high school, college and thereafter — still today, hustle is all I know. When I booked a gig, even on a freezing rooftop in the winter or in the ocean in Los Angeles in January, I could relax because the real work was just securing the gig. 

My life ran in parallel paths, working in the tech business in sales and marketing roles to support my professional career as a performer between gigs. My mentor, Rikki Kleiman, was an actor turned attorney who merged her talents when becoming an expert guest on TV. Sitting in a red leather booth in Hollywood with her red Mercedes convertible parked outside, she encouraged me to think creatively about my interests, skills, and experiences. Thanks to her guidance, this important pivot point intertwined parallel paths in my entertainment and business career. I then started my human resources career track at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where I met another mentor: George Rose. My career led me to executive-level positions in high-growth companies, like Amazon Studios, IMDb & Prime Video, and early-stage tech companies like Atom Tickets, where I led People & Culture departments at an executive level also while we became parents to Ford and Dez. Then, seven months pregnant with our 3rd son, Beau, VideoAmp was offered the Chief People Officer position as the company was shifting into hypergrowth. (Yes, even though it’s literally illegal not to hire someone for being pregnant, it is rare!). I found myself more energized in my 3rd trimester than ever before, driven by the company’s culture mandate and mission to revolutionize the media and advertising industry. Little did I know that I would have a near-death birth experience just a few weeks before the onset of the pandemic spread in the US to then receive a cancer diagnosis while still nursing a 16-month-old baby. We were not creating a new paradigm; I was living and leading in a new paradigm three times over. 

I never knew anything about colorectal cancer and the rise in people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, especially in young moms with post-childbirth symptoms similar to cancer. Not until I became one of the skyrocketing number of young-onset colorectal cancer cases. I knew I could do tough things and worked hard to prove it with measurable results, most of the time against the odds. I didn’t realize part of the revolution would be sharing my cancer diagnosis openly with the entire workforce while also being the first and only woman on the executive team. Colorectal cancer is preventable with early detection and screening, though it is on track to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in people under 50 years old by 2030. 1 in 2 people will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, and by sharing my story, my hope is to help others avoid what I’ve experienced. Finding a way to make something positive out of a terrible situation is the only way I live. Thankfully, having a positive outlook on life is also proven to yield more optimal outcomes in life-threatening illnesses, and I’ll lean into any advantages I can get. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest hurdle was a struggle to BE SEEN in the first place – I was a 39-year-old mom in the best shape of my life (even more than when I was dancing 8+ hours a day!) when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer. A lime-sized tumor was discovered in a colonoscopy after over five years of voicing symptoms to every medical professional I knew. Even though I was bleeding every time I pooped, people assumed, “This woman is healthy” and “She’s just having the usual post-childbirth symptoms.” I was healthy, AND I also had cancer — both were true for me. I wanted to believe the initial steps prescribed were simple, but my symptoms only grew more pervasive. I knew I couldn’t sit tight as it was becoming increasingly harder to sit anywhere except the toilet. Truth was that I was bleeding a lot, had increased urgency to have a bowel movement, and the texture resembled Cheetos. 

I met my cancer on June 27, 2021. Like me, my physicians also did not know about the rise of colon and rectal cancer in people like me to suggest the tests that would have identified my cancer earlier. I was referred to a gastroenterologist evaluation in the hopes of having a prescription medication approved by insurance to resolve my issues. The doctor was floored when I shared my symptoms, asking if I wanted to get a colonoscopy. (Who wants to get a colonoscopy?!) It became clear that I needed an urgent colonoscopy after my Cologuard test revealed a positive test for cancer, though I did not know the test was to screen for cancer at the time. Had I not done the test and immediately followed with a colonoscopy, my cancer would have progressed to a level that would have limited the chance to have a cure. Thankfully, today, I am proud to share that I have ‘no evidence of disease’ (known as NED in the survivor world!) and am sharing about my experience so my story doesn’t become yours. 

This is why starting BE SEEN is so important to me on a deeply personal level — if only I had been seen earlier, I could have avoided the life-altering ramifications of the very treatment that saved my life. By sharing my story after diagnosis, there were four people I know who went in for a colonoscopy where precancerous polyps were removed. They told me they never would have been seen if they had not heard my story. Most importantly, my sister was the one who called me in tears, saying, “You saved my life, sis.” It’s that easy to make a positive difference in the life of another person. Some sing about “how they would give their life for you,” and yet I know I would fight with everything I have to save my life just to have more time with the people I love so deeply. 

Believe me, I’m grateful and forever indebted for my treatment and care I received at UCLA. Yet I know that it all could have been avoided if only I was seen earlier. If doctors knew there was a rise in younger people like me getting late-stage colon and rectal cancer, I know they, too, would have acted differently. They didn’t want me to face my own mortality, I’m sure. And so I asked for the most aggressive treatment plan: the PRODIGE 23 protocol, named total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT!), studied out of France. 6 rounds of chemo followed by 5.5 weeks of daily radiation with oral chemotherapy each morning and night. A 7+ hour-long operation to reconstruct my rectum and remove my lime-sized tumor, have my poop pour out through a temporary ileostomy bag to allow my body to heal while I received 6 more rounds of chemo to complete my treatment. Then, after my body had a month to recover, I had one more surgery after ensuring my rectum did not leak to reconnect my colon and remove my ileostomy to end treatment. And then life got really tough. The pain was more extreme than childbirth, and mentally, reflecting on the previous year turning life upside down and struggling to rationalize my new life, adding ‘cancer survivor’ to my list of life accomplishments. You can imagine it was a lot to process. 

Still today, it’s a constant priority to understand what I can proactively do to make the most of the time I have to take care of my health and well-being. Due to becoming postmenopausal early in life due to the effects of radiation on my body, bone density, and other physical changes will happen earlier in my life. Managing my required surveillance appointments post-cancer is time-consuming, expensive, and taxing. Thankfully, my husband and boys are a dedicated support system to keep my eye on the prize. We laugh, smile, and cry through the stinky side effects of all that wreaked havoc on my GI system. My physical, emotional, mental, financial, and social well-being is major work as I become the best version of myself beyond cancer. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m most proud of using my voice as a force for good in the lives of others. I am proud of putting in the hard work as a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity and singing for the MLB, NHL, and NFL. I am proud of my time in the corporate world, where I’ve used my voice to scale businesses and support people to root out bias and injustice and set a new standard. If someone would have told me I would hold the position of Chief People Officer and HR leader for companies like Sony Pictures Entertainment, Amazon, and tech start-ups like VideoAmp and Atom Tickets, I would have laughed it off! 

I founded BeSeen.Care to use my life experiences to spread awareness about early-onset colorectal cancer. Our mission is to help others avoid being unheard, unseen, and dismissed in their lives. This is critically important in settings where life-altering decisions require immediate attention to our own livelihood, health, and well-being. For me, this played out when I needed to be seen after voicing symptoms to doctors that resulted in my late-stage cancer diagnosis. 

I am now singing out, writing music and using creative media to spread the message to be your own advocate and take your health seriously. With the rise of colon and rectal cancer in young adults are putting lives at risk because of healthcare systems that are not making testing and colonoscopies easily accessible. There are a group of us involved in BeSeen.care, encouraging people to demand regular tests as part of their annual healthcare routine. 

Left to Right Clockwise: Marisa & Josh Peters, Heather Box, Robina Riccitiello, David Thau, and Lisa Gilmour (not pictured). This is our first “swarm meeting,” during which our launch team volunteers our time to generate buzz about the symptoms, interventions, and resources available. We’ve now shared the BE SEEN message and pledge on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The New York Times, Good Morning America, radio shows, podcasts, and been guests on regional news outlets. 

Soon, we’ll be launching the BE SEEN podcast dedicated to amplifying the voices of cancer survivors, caregivers, and advocates in the fight against early-onset cancer. I’m writing a book (working title: YOU DON’T KNOW SH!T) about what I’ve learned on the front lines of life-threatening adversity to fuel a better future. I am energized about going back to my creative roots to sing more, create original music, keynote speak, and inspire broader audiences to BE SEEN. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Leaving a legacy for my family and future generations is important to me. Music is part of the legacy I want to leave and was part of my medicine through treatment and recovery. Music connects me to others, helps me get through difficult times, processes what I’m thinking, and expresses my deepest emotions. For example, I created playlists to hype me up before infusions and surgeries, a different playlist to process the aftermath, and another to stay optimistic about the future. I wrote music for my husband, my little sister, who became my big sister through treatment and recorded songs that were special for me to share, like a good family movie collection on the shelf if the cancer were to get the best of me. I wanted our little boys to remember me through music. If you’re curious and want to sing along, you can check out the playlist of my cancer journey here. DM me your ‘battle cry’ hype song was if music has helped you through difficult times in life @beseen.care on Instagram. 

Being purposeful about time together and the impact we make on each other was inspired by authors like Brene Brown and her books like Braving the Wilderness, Dare to Lead, and Rising Strong. Atlas of the Heart helped me process emotions with great understanding and specificity. Work that Daniel Pink authored in Drive about purpose and the linking rewards to motivation fuels me and is a big part of how I coach people to find their true calling at work and in life. Adam Grant, Amy Edmundson, and Simon Sinek’s voice also shaped who I am as a leader, artist, and practitioner. 

Artists like The Chicks helped me communicate about my cancer (yes, I named my tumor Earl, because I knew from the day I met my cancer “Earl was gonna die”!) Sara Bareillis’s voice ringing out in her song “Brave,” Kelly Clarkson’s “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger” helped hype me up on tough days. These powerhouse women reminded me of the power of being your own advocate. You must care for yourself just as you would care for your partner, mother, sibling, and best friend. 

Take the pledge to BE SEEN today and help us reach our goal of 100,000 people. Follow and share with those you love on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. It could save their life. I know it saved mine. 

Know the symptoms and schedule your routine colonoscopy today if you’re age 45+.  

If you are in your 20s, 30s, and 40s, ask your parents about your family history of polyps/cancer. If you have a family history or even one of the symptoms, immediately schedule a test with your doctor.  

If you have blood in your stool, increased urgency to have a bowel movement, diarrhea or ongoing constipation that won’t go away, severe persistent stomach pain, vomiting or feeling abnormally full or extreme fatigue or anemia, ask for a colonoscopy or demand a Cologuard test kit be shipped to your home. It’s a simple stool test you can take at home that can show indications of cancer and help your doctor order a colonoscopy if needed.  

If you’re dismissed or turned away without conclusive test results, continue to be your own advocate, and don’t stop fighting until you get the answers. Your life depends on it. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beseen.care
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beseen.care/