Meet Cynthia Bissett Germanotta

Cynthia Bissett Germanotta serves as President of Born This Way Foundation, a nonprofit organization co-founded with her daughter, Lady Gaga, that focuses on youth mental health. Since 2012, the Foundation has engaged with tens of thousands of young people across the globe, developed innovative programs centered on youth empowerment, and spearheaded groundbreaking research to enhance the understanding of mental wellness. At the 2024 Bloomberg American Health Summit on December 3, Cynthia will deliver a keynote address titled, "Empowering Youth: Advancing Mental Health and Wellness."

We sat down with Cynthia to learn more about what brought her to this work and what inspires her:
 

What brought you to this work?

Growing up in West Virginia, I never imagined the entrepreneurial spirit I would develop after a move to NYC and a 25-year career in technology. I also never imagined living through a challenging mental health experience with my daughter that propelled us both to respond to young people around the world by starting Born This Way Foundation. Her experiences and desire to build kinder, braver communities where young people are better equipped to support themselves and one another led to Born This Way Foundation’s mission: to empower and inspire young people to build a kinder, braver world that supports their mental health. Now, as president and co-founder, I have the privilege of working alongside inspiring young people and a dedicated team, uplifting stories of kindness, providing and investing in mental health resources, and supporting research to better understand and address the needs of today’s youth.

Given the current political climate, how do you think Born This Way Foundation can help to serve marginalized communities?

In today’s climate, young people, especially those from marginalized communities, face unique pressures and challenges that directly impact their mental health. At Born This Way Foundation, we strive to resource youth from all backgrounds, helping them find acceptance, support, and community. In our work we strive to: center young people in conversations with decision makers, follow evidence-based recommendations, and provide resources to the organizations that young people rely on in their communities. 

Because we know from research that young people in kind communities have higher mental health scores, we aim to center kindness in all we do. This creates a ripple effect of resilience and fostering environments where every young person—especially those from oppressed communities—can thrive and lead.

Through your work with Born This Way Foundation, are there any stories or experiences that stand out to you?

Over the past decade, every time I’ve had the privilege of hearing from young people directly I’ve been inspired by what they’re already doing to build a kinder, braver world. 

There’s Audrey Wang (she/her), a Taiwanese-American high school student who is on Born This Way Foundation’s Youth Advisory Board. She’s a change-maker and coder who isn’t interested in waiting for someone else to build a kinder internet, she’s using her talents to do it herself. Audrey just launched an online mental health platform - Affective Cookies - because, in her own words, “We need youth in the process of designing websites, online resources, social media applications, and more so they can share how these platforms will affect their mental health. If we make technology for youth and by youth then we can make a kinder and braver digital  world.” 

There’s Oscar Lopez III (he/him), a researcher, writer, and artist from Texas. Another Born This Way Foundation Youth Advisory Board Member, Oscar is currently serving as the 13th Youth Observer to the U.N. In this role, he’s making sure young people’s needs and perspectives are included at the United Nations. 

Like Audrey and Oscar, the young people in our network share their experiences and work on our online storytelling platform Channel Kindness, reflecting the issues young people are most passionate about, including social justice, mental health, culture, identity, wellness, and community. We have curated thousands of stories from around the world on this platform, all equally stand out. I feel so inspired by their stories and celebrate the courage and dedication of each young person who is already leading the change we so desperately need. 

What are your hopes for the future of your organization and for the work that you do?

We envision a future where all young people are empowered with the agency to build the kinder, braver world they want to see. The greatest hope we have for our work is that it ensures every young person is equipped with the skills and tools they need to thrive in kind communities that support their mental wellness and value them for who they are. 

We know this will only be possible if young people are included actively in their communities and have a seat at the table as we discuss solutions to support youth mental health. We’re working to center young people in these conversations and we hope more decision makers, community leaders, and others will join us in making room for the perspectives of young people themselves, just as we would expect for any other constituency. 

What is one thing you want people to take away from your remarks at the 2024 Bloomberg American Health Summit?

I would love to emphasize the central role of kindness in all of our initiatives at Born This Way Foundation, as we know from research that is directly linked to our mental health. She and I believe that, “it’s okay not to be okay,” and that by extending kindness and understanding, we can help one another through life’s challenges. 

We are also told by young people that kindness is taking action. According to our research, most young people say experiencing more kindness would improve their mental wellness—be it from others, themselves, or observed in the world around them. What’s more, the acts of kindness young people most commonly say would have the biggest impact on their mental wellness are having someone who: listens when they have a problem, believes in them and encourages them to do their best, and checks in on them or asks if they’re doing OK. 

Tune into the livestream to hear more from Cynthia on December 3 from 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST at the 2024 Bloomberg American Health Summit!