Jason Zygadlo:
Beyond the Hamster Wheel
When Jason Zygadlo was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, his life as a high-achieving medical device salesman came to a screeching halt. Faced with his own mortality, he was forced to reevaluate what truly mattered—and ultimately, he left behind comfort and stability to build a new path that aligned with his purpose.
Bio
With nearly two decades of experience in the competitive world of medical device sales, Jason has mastered the art of standing out in a crowded market and being different. Now, after almost 20 years of helping healthcare professionals navigate complex purchasing decisions, he has turned his expertise towards a new venture: Build.Your.Own.Brand. This innovative company is dedicated to empower individuals and groups to embrace their uniqueness and make a lasting impact by being creative, different and memorable.
A proud graduate of Kent State University, Jason combines a deep understanding of strategic positioning with a passion for creativity. Build.Your.Own.Brand. offers a fresh perspective on personal and organizational branding, helping clients break out of the sea of sameness from the ordinary and leave a memorable mark.
In his spare time, Jason serves on the National Board of Directors of the Alumni Association at Kent State University. Additionally, he is also still involved in numerous ways with his fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega. Jason is the founder of ZIGGYSTRONG…a non profit that helps cancer patients during their treatment and beyond. Jason is also a cancer survivor who wanted to give back to the community. Community service is his passion along with Lake Erie, college football, but mostantly, his family.
Ready to redefine what it means to be unforgettable? Connect with Jason and discover how Build.Your.Own.Brand. can help you or your organization stand out in today’s crowded landscape.
Topics
- How a cancer diagnosis reshaped my definition of success
- The emotional rollercoaster of misdiagnosis and self-advocacy in healthcare
- Breaking free from a stable career to pursue true purpose
- Comfort as the enemy of personal and professional growth
- The mindset shift required to start over after a life-altering event
- How storytelling and personal branding can elevate careers
- Lessons from leaving a high-paying job to build something from scratch
- The balance of entrepreneurship and single parenthood
- How to take a leap of faith—even without a crisis pushing you
- Resilience, reinvention, and learning to bet on yourself
Guiding Questions
- Take us back to the moment you read your diagnosis—what was going through your mind?
- Before the diagnosis, did you ever imagine yourself leaving medical sales?
- What were the biggest internal battles you faced while deciding to change careers?
- How did you know it was time to finally take the leap and start your own business?
- What advice do you have for people who feel “stuck” in their careers but are afraid to leave?
- How did being a single dad impact the way you handled your diagnosis and career shift?
- What was the hardest part about walking away from a stable, well-paying career?
- You talk about “comfort being the enemy of growth”—what does that mean to you now?
- What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned about resilience through this experience?
- How can someone start building their personal brand and telling their story effectively?