Gillian Stein

• Stein has said that she first experienced significant changes in mood during her first year at McGill University. [1]
• During one severe manic episode while she was at university, she became convinced that she was in Arizona when she was actually in Montreal. At the Montreal airport, she asked for a bus schedule to Phoenix. Her mother helped her get psychiatric care. [1]
• Stein tried several medications, many with unwanted side effects. She has said that it took about a year to get the diagnosis right, after which she eventually found medication that worked for her. [1]
• For many years, she told only close friends and family about the diagnosis. In 2021, while serving as CEO of Henry’s, she publicly disclosed that she had bipolar disorder. [1]

• Stein has described periods of depression and mania when she was younger. During the severe airport episode, she became convinced that she was somewhere other than Montreal. [5][1]
• She has said that she has not experienced another episode as severe as that one, although she continues to experience changes in mood. [1]

• Stein has described trying several medications before finding treatment that worked for her. She has said that an early experience with lithium left her feeling emotionally flattened. [5]
• She continues to manage bipolar disorder with medication and pays close attention to sleep, exercise and stress. She has also described therapy, regular medical care and support from people close to her as important. [4][1]
• Stein has said that she has asked her family, particularly her husband, to speak up and advocate for her if they become concerned about her mood. [1]

• Stein has described her bipolar disorder as very well managed. [1]
• She has built a long career in business leadership, including serving as CEO of Henry’s and later CEO of Sluyter. [2]

• Stein has said that when people in senior positions keep mental illness private, it can create the impression that people with serious mental illness do not occupy those positions. [4]
• She has said that she hopes sharing her experience can help other people feel seen, understood and empowered. [3]
• She has continued discussing mental health and leadership publicly, including in a 2026 PwC interview. [2]

“My diagnosis has shaped my life, but it hasn’t controlled my life.”

— Gillian Stein [3]