Cynthia Bissett Germanotta is President of Born This Way Foundation, which she co-founded with her daughter Lady Gaga in 2012.

Under Cynthia’s leadership, the Foundation has connected with tens of thousands of young people across the country and around the world, launched innovative youth-focused programming, and conducted cutting-edge research to improve the understanding of mental wellness.  

Born This Way Foundation supports the mental health of young people and works with them to build a kinder and braver world. Through high-impact programming, youth-led conversations, and strategic, cross-sectoral partnerships, the Foundation aims to make kindness cool, validate the emotions of young people, and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health.  

Cynthia is a former telecommunications executive whose career in sales and management spanned 25 years. In May 2019, the United Nations’ World Health Organization appointed Cynthia as a global Goodwill Ambassador for mental health.

Cynthia was born and raised in West Virginia, earned her Bachelors degree at West Virginia University and a Masters degree from The George Washington University. She now resides in New York City with her husband Joe Germanotta. Joe and Cynthia have two wonderful daughters, Natali and Stefani, and are owners of a charming NYC restaurant, Joanne Trattoria.  Learn how the Foundation encourages people to practice kindness towards themselves and their communities at bornthisway.foundation and its storytelling platform Channel Kindness at channelkindness.org.