She’s Her Own CEO® Interview with NYC Executive Coach, Alisa Cohn

She’s Her Own CEO® Interview with NYC Executive Coach, Alisa Cohn

with No Comments

SHOCEO® Reading for Success: Five (5) Minutes.

 

For this edition in the She’s Her Own CEO® interview series, we are excited to bring you NYC Executive Coach, Alisa Cohn!

Called the “Number 1 Startup Coach” by the iconic CEO coach Marshall Goldsmith, Alisa Cohn has been helping startup founders mature into world-class CEOs for nearly 20 years. A onetime CFO (and recovering CPA) and strategy consultant, Alisa has coached scores of CEOs, co-founders, and executive teams of young companies helping them build their cultures and scale operationally. Several of these companies have gone on to become household names, including Etsy, Foursquare, Venmo, InVision, Tory Burch, Mack Weldon and The Wirecutter.

In addition to startups, Alisa coaches and advises CEOs, senior executives, and board directors at industry-leading enterprises such as Bloomberg LLP, Dell, Hitachi Data Systems, Google, Kaiser Permanente, Sony Music, and The New York Times Company, among others.

 

Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: Hi Alisa, thanks for speaking with us today. Tell us your favorite example of how you Lead, Provide, and Create in your professional and/or personal world!

Alisa Cohn, Executive Coach: The approach I currently take with my coaching practice began with the youth group in which I grew up. It was there at age 13 where I began facilitating groups, found my belonging, and discovered the importance of building and nurturing my tribe. Leading this group served as the most pivotal experience in my professional life. It shaped my career, underscored my listening skills, and set the foundation for my public speaking.

Today, magical moments in my coaching practice occur when my clients experience one or more leadership breakthroughs. My role is to help CEOs identify gaps in their approach and processes. I utilize skillful listening, various frameworks, and find ways to enlighten in action. Helping leaders get in touch with their inner dialogue can lead to transformation within themselves, which in turn cascades throughout their respective organizations. I am known for being open and honest with my CEOs and have no problem talking “truth-to-power.” I also balance that approach with meeting them where they currently are in their leadership journey.

 

Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®Being the CEO of your world can take many forms (for example, volunteering in your community, holding a formal corporate position, engaging in creative pursuits, or being a reliable mom/sister/daughter). In your opinion, what is the best way to achieve success and to become the boss of your world?

Alisa Cohn, Executive Coach: What I regularly tell each of my clients is that “the first person you lead each day is yourself.” I live this advice in my own world, too! I am constantly challenging myself on where I want to go career-wise, all the while providing excellence and facilitative leadership to everyone I encounter. I see myself as a creator. I create my life every day. Last week, I was honored to receive Dr. Marshall Goldsmith’s “Number 1 Startup Coach” Award in London!

To become the CEO of your world, take time to discover what success means to you. Clarify your purpose and your values. How do you want to show up in the world? As you proceed through your day, constantly monitor your decisions and actions: do each of them meet your standards? If not, adjust accordingly.

Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®Any additional advice you can share with motivated, aspirational ladies?

Alisa Cohn, Executive Coach: Identify the critical voices in your head, put them in perspective (ignore them if necessary), and just go for it! Always do excellent work. When you encounter a professional setback, use it to propel yourself forward. If a specific approach doesn’t work for you, use it as a learning experience, and try something else.

These days, we are so lucky to have so many ways to share our message.  Find your method for communicating it, whether it is video, the written word, or some creative performance.  Experiment!  Find what works for you, and work on it diligently.

 

Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: Alisa, sincere congratulations on your Marshall Goldsmith Award, and thank you for sharing your perspectives!

Learn more about Alisa’s work at https://www.alisacohn.com/

 

xx Kathryn

Loading

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *