We're accountable to cancer patients, survivors, advocates, researchers, health-care workers, and leaders in government policy. I call them our stakeholders.

The foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. What do you consider its most significant achievement to date?
There are two, really. The first is that we've helped change the culture surrounding breast cancer. People didn't talk about breast cancer 25 years ago; they didn't share their stories. Women carried the "shame" of breast cancer to their graves. The second is the clinical piece of the pie. By the end of our 25th year, we will have invested close to $1 billion toward breast cancer research.

What's next for Komen?
This month, we're announcing that we're changing our name. We will now be called Susan G. Komen for the Cure. We're also updating our logo.

What was the impetus behind the changes?
We saw our anniversary as not only a chance to celebrate our accomplishments but a time to look ahead. And as we move forward, we want to put more emphasis on branding. Because if we do a good job at branding, then awareness is enhanced. And the new name gets to what we're really about: It's definitive. It's a call to action. It takes you back to Nancy Brinker's promise when she started the foundation that she wouldn't rest until there was a cure.

You were diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. Do you think that has helped you in your new position?
Do I think someone who hasn't had or experienced breast cancer could do this job? Yes. Because ultimately it's about leadership, about driving the membership. But having had breast cancer does give me a unique perspective, a credibility and relatability with our audience. I can listen as both a CEO and a survivor.