Susan Connelly-Wright
Susan Connelly-Wright is the CEO of Chrysalis, a transformational leader, speaker, and advocate whose life is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and purpose. At just 20 years old, Susan made the courageous decision to leave an abusive relationship, taking her children with her to a shelter in search of safety and a second chance. With no roadmap and every obstacle in front of her, she began rebuilding from the ground up—starting with earning her GED, proving one thing: she would not quit on her future. Susan came to believe that education was a vehicle out of poverty—and she drove it with everything she had. She earned her associate degree, then a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and pushed even further, obtaining her master's degree in management and leadership in her 40s. Each step forward was a declaration that her past would not define her. But her journey was not without devastating setbacks. In 2016, Susan lost everything and had to start over—again, with no idea where to begin. Determined to stand back up, she went door to door painting addresses on curbs just to survive. That season of humility and grit became another turning point. When she needed help, she turned to St. Joseph the Worker—an organization that helped her get back on her feet. Today, in a full-circle moment that speaks to the power of perseverance, Susan now serves on their Board of Directors. From that reset, Susan rebuilt not only her life, but her career. She went on to spend eight years in higher education, rising from admissions to Regional Student Services Manager, where she oversaw retention efforts across five campuses. She became known for strengthening culture, improving both employee and student experiences, and driving meaningful outcomes. Her ability to connect people and drive results led her into business-to-business sales development, and later into a Sales Manager role within HVAC distribution. There, she focused on realigning culture, improving sales performance, and upskilling teams to support organizational growth—bringing people together to execute on a shared vision. Her path has been shaped by both failure and triumph, and she no longer separates the two. What once tried to break her has become the catalyst for her passion and purpose. Throughout her journey, Susan has remained deeply committed to serving others—through recovery work, church leadership, board service, and volunteering. For years, she intentionally kept this passion separate from her professional career, ensuring her motives remained clear. In hindsight, that separation became one of her greatest strengths, equipping her with the leadership and experience she now uses to serve at a greater level. Today, those two worlds have powerfully converged. While leading in the distribution industry, Susan was approached in late 2025 to step into the role of CEO at Chrysalis—a moment where her professional expertise and personal mission aligned in a way she never imagined. Today, she leads Chrysalis with both executive strength and lived experience, committed to creating real, lasting impact for those facing domestic violence. Because she knows firsthand what it means to need help—and is determined to ensure others not only find it, but rise because of it.
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