Shy as a child, Fleming thought she’d grow up to be a music teacher like her parents. Instead she became the reigning American soprano of her era, performing at opera houses around the world and winning five Grammys. She has excelled in other arenas, too: indie recordings, Broadway roles, adviser and artistic director positions at performing arts companies, and a World Health Organization ambassadorship. Her most recent project is curating Music and Mind, a book exploring the link between the arts and well-being.
A version of this article appeared in the March–April 2024 issue of Harvard Business Review.