Steering the Company While Overseeing the Care Team:Caregivers in the C-Suite
The caregiving journey does not bypass the C-Suite. As the population of working caregivers in this country continues to rise (63 million), so does the number of business leaders who find themselves steering large organizations while caring for a loved one. These executives are retelling the narrative around leadership – one that combines high-level business responsibility with intricately personal caregiving duties.
In this blog, we delve into how some CEOs have faced the crossroads between their roles as business leaders and caring for family loved ones, and the personal choices they made. Let's look at the profiles of some of these CEOs, and their unwavering commitments around the importance of navigating through their care journeys while maintaining personal values, empathy and “family first” perspectives.
Angela F. Williams - Former President and CEO, United Way Worldwide
In the Spring of 2026, Angela Williams stepped down from her global leadership position at United Way to become a family caregiver for her 87-year-old mom. She attributes a large part of her decision to the death of her father who passed away while she was on an international business trip.
“My father’s passing was a turning point that shifted my mind-set, helping me realize that it was time to prioritize my family.”
Before leaving her leadership role, Williams helped move United Way toward a more employee-first culture, and modeled what it meant to be a caregiving leader. She helped to clarify caregiving as a legitimate workplace issue, not a private burden.
“Leadership isn’t just about the job you hold. It’s also about showing up for the people who need you most because sometimes the most important work we do isn’t in the office – it’s at home.”
(AARP, May 2026)
We were honored to have Angela Williams as a guest on our podcast and appreciate the insights she shared from her business and personal experiences.
Andy Cohen – Co-Founder & CEO, Caring.com
In 2007, after serving as a caregiver for his mother, who was suffering from lung cancer, Cohen launched Caring.com. Its purpose was to serve as a resource for addressing emotional and logistical challenges of caregiving. Today, Caring.com provides vital support to millions of adult children who take care of their aging parents. Cohen used his personal caregiving experiences with his mother to inspire his mission-driven entrepreneurship that empowers millions.
Eric Yuan – CEO, Zoom
Yuan openly walks the talk, consistently prioritizing family over work, stating that in conflicts between family and business events, “family always comes first.” He delayed launching Zoom while his children were young and avoided traveling. Even so, he still says that he regrets not having spent more time with his children when they were younger.
“I tell our team, ‘Guys, you know, there’s no way to balance. Work is life, life is work.’ […] However, whenever there’s a conflict, guess what? Family first. That’s it.” (Business Insider)
Josh Silverman, CEO, Etsy
Silverman is a strong public advocate for broader federal support for caregiving. In meetings with U.S. lawmakers, he emphasizes that the importance of federal caregiving support is both good policy and good for the economy. Using his own company as an example, he points out that many Etsy sellers are also caregivers and that the main thing holding them back is time.
“If you are a business of one, there is no real caregiving support. Paid time off is not a thing when you’re a business of one. […] If you’re not there to make the product and ship the product, revenue is zero that day.” (PYMNTS.com)
“We feel like it’s very important to get to some form of federal support for caregiving, because it’s good for our economy, it’s not just good policy.” (Axios)
Somia Farid Silber – CEO, Edible Brands (Edible Arrangements)
While raising her own young family, Silber took over the leadership of the edible brands at just 31 years old. To help her manage work and family responsibilities, she outsources household chores and purposefully sets aside personal time and time to spend with her children. Her unapologetic approach to caregiving promotes a new generation of C-Suite executives who show that work responsibilities and family commitments don’t have to be opposing forces but can be integrated to accomplish both.
Silber often speaks publicly about the importance of support systems in balancing motherhood and leadership. “...a lot of credit to my family and my support system for giving me the chance to really shine and supporting me both personally and professionally.” (CEO.com)
Sophie Condie – CEO Shieldpay (UK)
While heading her UK financial tech firm, Condie is raising three children, including her eldest son, who is disabled. She credits parenting her disabled son as a source of strengthening her emotional intelligence and communication skills.
“Being a CEO is the most demanding role I’ve ever had, but being a parent is much harder.”
“Raising a disabled child has taught me a new level of resilience, and it’s helped me be a better CEO.” (Business Insider)
Mark Middleton – CEO, Icon Group
CEO of a global health care provider in oncology, Middleton’s mission is deeply personal.
His leadership is shaped to a large extent by the trauma of losing his father to suicide in 2005. He regularly speaks out about the importance of mental health, compassion, and vulnerability in leadership.
Middleton consistently reflects his emphasis on supporting families and caregivers by delivering care “as close to home as possible.” In a public statement announcing Icon’s expansion of cancer treatment he stated: “No longer will cancer patients need to travel long distances away from loved ones to access the care they need or face financial and emotional stress over what can be months of treatment.” (Mildura Health Fund)
Closing Thoughts
The stories of these leaders of multi-million-dollar organizations—from entrepreneurs to global executives—reveal a key truth: caregiving does not weaken companies; it develops stronger leaders. By shifting the narrative around working caregiving, these business leaders are helping to change the workplace culture, not only in their respective organizations, but in the care economy at large. These leaders prove that business acumen and empathy in leadership can work together to build employee trust, engagement and productivity.
References
AARP, Exclusive Interview: From CEO to Caregiver, by Paul Wynn, May 19, 2026
Business Insider, June 10, 2025
PYMNTS.com, April 27, 2025
Business Insider, July 9, 2025