Christiane Constantineau: Defying the Odds with Resilience and Leadership

Christiane Constantineau is no stranger to challenges. From an early rheumatic fever diagnosis that damaged her heart to giving birth in her 20s against medical advice, she has continuously defied expectations. Her perseverance paved the way for an impressive career spanning international organizations, startups, and her own companies — all while raising two sons alone for several years.   

Now a prominent C-suite executive and entrepreneur, Christiane’s life story is equally remarkable and relatable. She credits her resilience and work ethic to humble beginnings.   

Beating Odds Fuels Ambitions   

Born in a small town near Ottawa, Canada, Christiane’s early life was anything but ordinary. Diagnosed with rheumatic fever at a young age, she faced a health challenge that left an indelible mark on her heart—both physically and metaphorically. Yet, she chose to become a mother in her early twenties, a decision that spoke volumes about her tenacity. Her parents, embodiments of hard work, instilled in her the value of diligence and the understanding that success is earned, not given.    

While working for an international organization, Christiane set her sights on advancing her education in business and finance. She earned an undergraduate degree in administration, followed by two post-graduate diplomas (DESS) in finance. “I always knew that to change my stars, education, and seizing opportunities were key,” Christiane recalls. Never one to stop striving, she also completed an Executive MBA program.     

Global Roots Seed Entrepreneurism   

Christiane leveraged her bilingual skills in English and French to launch her career with an international organization. There, she honed global business acumen through an MBA consulting project for a China startup, “I advised on recommendations, identified financial and operational risks, and assessed country and business risks,” she explains.   

Over a decade, Christiane rose through the ranks at a world-renowned research center. Her proudest moment came leading a monumental small business initiative in South Africa. This year-long leadership role developed talents like managing multi-national partners and navigating complex foreign contexts.   

Back in Canada, Christiane daringly changed jobs despite no position waiting. Her fluency fast-tracked hiring at a top national finance firm, where she rocketed to commercial banking success. Within years, she single-handedly built an impressive $1 billion startup funding portfolio. “I find it because I took all these opportunities; I was able to create a whole portfolio of a billion dollars easily within a few years,” says Christiane .   

Throughout intense professional challenges, Christiane mastered listening to clients and seizing opportunities. These relationship-building and risk-taking skills paved the way for her to launch her own ventures. Her trailblazing career that traversed global settings laid a foundation of broad experience to ultimately build businesses around her passions.   

Blazing Entrepreneurial Trails   

Armed with an MBA and a wealth of international financial expertise, Christiane struck out on her own in 2014. Her first startup, Turbulence, reflected the high-flying pace she maintained for clients like airports and electric transport systems.   

When a disastrous server crash nearly sank the flagship project, Christiane shifted gears. She founded her second company, 6DT Consulting , just two years later in the cloud to prevent any potential data losses. The name’ 6 degrees of turbulence’ gave a nod to her sons’ favorite rock song while cementing her reputation for navigating stormy situations.   

6DT Consulting rapidly became Canada’s fastest-growing and most lucrative cloud bookkeeping firm, serving small business clients from Ottawa to Percé. Christiane specialized in platforms like QuickBooks and Xero to expertly manage cash flow for these entrepreneurs. Christiane and her team educate countless startups and small businesses on maximizing their financial data.   

Battling Breast Cancer Like a BossLady   

In 2019, on the cusp of her company hitting $2 million annually, Christiane received a Stage 3C breast cancer diagnosis. She drew inspiration from her son’s resilience during his childhood leukemia battle. While navigating excruciating treatments, she made 6DT Consulting her “problem client” that couldn’t be ignored no matter how ugly circumstances became.   

“You can’t just get rid of a bad change; you need to manage it. It’s important because you either want to be paid or you don’t want it to negatively impact your reputation,” she asserts. Christiane appointed her sister Danielle as interim general manager, leveraging her talents to steer the company. Her son Mathieu also stepped into daily operations. “If someone offers you help, and it’s beneficial for you or your business, then accept it. Prioritize what’s good for you first,” she advises.   

Even with an amazing support network, Christiane confessed to underestimating her stamina. “My brain wasn’t there; I was not functioning. So, it took me about 18 months total,” she admits. The grueling recovery period inspired her book for entrepreneurs battling long-term illness, ‘ Cancer Sucks... The Journey of an Entrepreneur and Her Fight Against Cancer While Running Her Business .’ True to form, Christiane wrote the entire book while completing post-cancer treatments.   

She urges readers to put self-care first when faced with chronic health conditions impacting work. “First, think about yourself and your business. You will find solutions. I did find solutions,” Christiane encourages.   

The book walks through constructing a practical plan of action for personal healing while keeping business fires burning. Core insights address taking time to process emotions, securing assistance early on, being gentle with limitations, and retaining hope through stormy seasons. Christiane considers the book a way to pay forward the support she’s received during life’s difficulties.    

What’s Next for this Serial TrailBlazer   

Christiane recently handed ownership of 6DT Consulting to her youngest son but stays actively engaged with global clients. She maintains a foot firmly planted in Canada along with extensive travel pursuits. Given boundless energy stores, she spends her free time volunteering, golfing and indulging in voracious reading habits. Keeping up with technology innovations also occupies mindshare. Most of all, Christiane prioritizes her family, including her husband Martin and two sons, Benoît and Mathieu.    

Always looking ahead, this human dynamo is penning two more books soon to be published. Count on the works to contain characteristic doses of vulnerability, wisdom and nonconformist inspiration. Because defying the odds is simply part of Christiane Constantineau’s extraordinary life story—and she’s just getting started fueling her legend.   

Connect with Christiane: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/cconstantineau