214 Alisa Cohn: CEO Startup Coach & Author of From Start-Up to Grown-Up

Corporate Beginnings

Alisa Cohn shares her experiences at PwC, where she worked with middle market companies, gaining insights into exit strategies, HR, and marketing strategies. Her role allowed her to prepare a company for IPO, providing a comprehensive view of corporate operations 1. Despite the promising career path, Alisa realized that the corporate environment felt too large and impersonal, leading her to seek more meaningful work 2. She reflects, "I kept thinking, to make a difference, that's what I wanted to do, to make a difference of the work of my hands mattered."

   

Entry into Startups

Transitioning from corporate roles, Alisa entered the startup world during the first dot-com bubble. She took on roles as head of strategy and CFO, which helped her develop leadership skills and understand business operations 1. Her journey into coaching began with an inspiring experience in strategic planning, where she was captivated by a facilitator's ability to manage group dynamics 3. Alisa recalls, "I was so inspired by her and the way she handled groups and the way she sort of dealt with even defensiveness and difficulty."

   

Becoming a Coach

Cohn discovered her passion for coaching through her love for intense conversations and real talk. From a young age, she was drawn to deep discussions, which eventually led her to a career in coaching 4. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the impact of leadership, noting that leaders must align their intentions with their impact on others 5. "You don't always come across the way you need to," she explains, highlighting the need for leaders to adapt their style as their company grows.