Colonial Systems CEO Navigates Cancer Diagnosis While Leading Company to Record Year
Scott Lynch, CEO of Colonial Systems, shares how he led his company through its most successful year while battling metastatic testicular cancer, offering crucial insights for business leaders on crisis management and compassionate leadership during personal health challenges.
Scott Lynch, President and CEO of Massachusetts-based Colonial Systems Inc, faced an unprecedented challenge in 2024 when stomach issues he initially attributed to contaminated water turned out to be testicular cancer that had metastasized into a cellphone-sized tumor. Despite the year-long ordeal of diagnosis and treatment, Lynch continued leading New England's largest commercial and institutional interiors installation company while undergoing chemotherapy, resulting in the organization's most successful financial year.
The cancer diagnosis emerged unexpectedly after Lynch discovered a dead mouse at the bottom of his water bottle in late 2023. "When you drink water contaminated by a dead mouse, you obviously have stomach issues," Lynch explained. His subsequent rapid weight loss led him to seek medical attention, where a CT scan revealed the massive stomach tumor. He was diagnosed with Germ cell cancer, an offshoot of testicular cancer that had spread to his stomach.
Lynch's approach to communicating his diagnosis to employees emphasized frequent and honest communication despite having no preparation time. From his emergency room visit, he was immediately transported via ambulance to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, where he remained for 17 days while awaiting diagnosis and beginning chemotherapy treatment. He conducted initial Teams meetings with key managers to inform them of his hospitalization and subsequent diagnosis, asking everyone to step up during his absence.
The decision to continue working during treatment was driven by both personal and professional necessities. "When you become a CEO or President, they always say you need a plan 'in case you get hit by a bus,'" Lynch noted. "Well, I didn't get hit by a bus. I got cancer, and there's no handbook for when a CEO gets cancer." The company, which has collaborated with major organizations including LEGO, MIT, and Boston Children's Hospital, had no trained successor for Lynch's diverse responsibilities.
Balancing work and recovery required significant adaptation, including pivoting to remote leadership abruptly. Lynch worked from his laptop during his initial hospital stay and established a routine during chemotherapy where he worked minimally during treatment weeks and caught up during recovery periods. The experience ultimately strengthened the company's resilience, as demonstrated when another manager was diagnosed with cancer months after Lynch's return, and the organization continued operating smoothly during her treatment leave.
Lynch's experience offers critical lessons for business leaders facing similar challenges. He emphasizes the importance of seeking medical advice promptly, having crisis plans before emergencies occur, promoting a culture of compassion, and maintaining positivity during difficult times. "Your employees will follow your emotional lead," Lynch advised, noting that his team's support through care packages and emotional encouragement was essential to both his recovery and the company's continued success.
The experience has fundamentally changed Lynch's approach to work-life balance. "I tend to be someone who wants to lead by example, wants to be the last one to leave the office every day," he shared. "But this experience proved that my team is more than capable. I don't have to be working seven days a week." Now in remission following a nine-hour surgery in December 2024 to remove the remaining mass, Lynch continues to lead Colonial Systems while focusing on mental health and enjoying life beyond work.