June 10, 2025

Lauren Cohen: Solving the Corporate Leadership Crisis

Episode 51
“People want to be people at work.”

Lauren Cohen: Solving the Corporate Leadership Crisis

Episode 51

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"I had shoved down that part of myself and that inner wisdom and intuition because I was so busy listening to, like, what the world wanted for me, what my family wanted for me, what success looked like that I couldn't even hear my own voice anymore. And so it was coaching that really helped me rediscover that again. And for me, it was just totally transformative."

Join host Cynthia Kirkpatrick as she sits down with Lauren Cohen, founder and CEO of Cohen Leadership Group, who made the bold transition from successful corporate lawyer to transformational leadership coach. Lauren shares her powerful journey of leaving a lucrative 10-year legal career after experiencing what she calls a “low grade fever” of misalignment, and how she now helps leaders and teams in fast-growth companies boost energy, engagement, and purpose in the workplace. She discusses her innovative approach to “energy leadership,” the importance of authentic leadership, and why people want to be people at work—not just cogs in a machine.

This episode is perfect for anyone feeling stuck in their career, struggling with workplace culture, or questioning whether success should feel this hard. Leaders, managers, and ambitious professionals will learn practical frameworks for having difficult conversations, managing stress reactions, and creating psychologically safe environments where teams thrive. By the end, you’ll understand how to identify when you’re operating “above or below the line,” recognize your own limiting beliefs, and have the tools to either transform your current leadership style or find the courage to pursue work that truly aligns with who you are.

Guest Contact Information

Lauren Cohen

CEO & Founder
Cohen Leadership Group

Links from the Episode

Show Notes

Introduction to Lauren Cohen and Her Work (00:02 – 09:59)

  • Lauren Cohen is the founder, owner, and CEO of Cohen Leadership Group
  • Cohen Leadership Group focuses on helping leaders and teams strengthen leadership and strategically align teams, primarily in middle market and fast growth companies
  • Core services include executive coaching, team effectiveness, immersive leadership development, change management, and talent strategy
  • Their immersive leadership approach incorporates the 70-20-10 rule (10% from formal training, 70% from on-the-job experience, 20% from interactions with others)
  • Programs include peer success pods and accountability measures to ensure learning sticks

Leadership Development Methodology (09:59 – 19:42)

  • Cohen emphasizes the importance of leadership, with research from Gallup, Deloitte, and McKinsey showing leadership’s impact on employee engagement
  • Leadership programs are structured to help people feel engaged and connected to purpose
  • Cohen notes a shift in workplace expectations, especially post-COVID, with less tolerance for dehumanizing environments
  • People want to ‘be people at work’ rather than compartmentalizing their lives
  • Leaders need to model authenticity to create psychological safety for their teams
  • Leadership focus has shifted from just ‘doing’ to ‘being’ – developing full leadership self-concept

️ Practical Leadership Approaches (19:42 – 29:24)

  • Discussion about emotions in the workplace and how different generations were taught to process feelings
  • Cohen shares an example of energy management work with a high-performing but problematic leader
  • Explains the framework of ‘above the line’ (anabolic – productive, creative energy) vs. ‘below the line’ (catabolic – stress, destructive energy)
  • Through coaching and 360 feedback, the problematic leader transformed their approach, was promoted, and expanded their team
  • Similar framework was applied to an entire senior leadership team that was stuck in reactive patterns
  • The framework provides a common, non-judgmental language to discuss energy and reactions

‍️ Lauren’s Career Journey (29:26 – 38:56)

  • Lauren practiced law for 10 years before transitioning to leadership coaching
  • She went to law school because it aligned with her concept of success, not because it was her passion
  • Despite enjoying law and being good at it, she felt a persistent ‘low-grade fever’ of dissatisfaction
  • Her identity was deeply intertwined with being a lawyer, making it difficult to consider other paths
  • Lauren’s coaching experience was transformative in helping her rediscover her authentic self
  • The experience of being coached inspired her to become a coach herself

Transitioning Careers (38:56 – 49:00)

  • Lauren’s transition from law to coaching wasn’t immediate or linear
  • Her husband (an accountant) helped her work through financial concerns by reframing them as choices
  • In summer 2019, she completed a major copyright case against Katy Perry before giving her notice
  • Lauren emphasizes that happiness is a choice and it requires relentless pursuit
  • She discovered that achieving conventional success didn’t bring the fulfillment she expected
  • Lauren emphasizes the importance of discovering who you truly are beneath societal expectations and roles

‍️ Self-Discovery Process (49:00 – 58:47)

  • Lauren describes reaching a crisis point where she realized she was on the wrong path
  • She started her journey of self-discovery with a three-day yoga retreat to create space for thinking
  • Discusses the importance of having guides (coaches) who can reflect back what you can’t see yourself
  • Introduces the ‘GAIL’ framework that keeps people stuck: Gremlins (inner critic), Assumptions, Interpretations, and Limiting beliefs
  • The framework helps identify stories we tell ourselves that may not be objectively true
  • Lauren explains how coaching differs from therapy (therapy focuses on past, coaching on future, with overlap)

Building a Business (58:47 – 01:08:11)

  • Lauren discovered that many of her unhealthy work patterns followed her into entrepreneurship
  • Her coach pointed out she was ‘being a terrible boss’ to herself, with same grinding mentality
  • She had an unhealthy relationship with time (from billing in 6-minute increments as a lawyer)
  • COVID helped her realize freedom was her core value and primary motivator
  • Transformed her business from a solo coaching practice to a team of practitioners
  • This allowed her to focus on her ‘zone of genius’ as a strategist while creating more freedom

Ongoing Growth and Resources (01:08:11 – 01:16:11)

  • Lauren discusses the challenges of control and delegation as a business owner
  • Recommends the book ‘Who Not How’ by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Ben Hardy for entrepreneurs
  • She still struggles with perfectionism and the ‘gremlin voice’ telling her she’s not doing enough
  • Emphasizes that growth is a continuous journey, not a destination
  • Has developed rituals, practices and a community to stay grounded
  • Lauren can be found on LinkedIn or at www.cohenleadershipgroup.com

Content Notice

This podcast and all She Lift Project content represents the opinions of Cynthia Kirkpatrick and her guests. The content here is for informational purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice – financial, legal, medical, or otherwise.

Views and opinions expressed in the podcast and across all She Lift Project media channels are our own and do not represent that of our places of work. While we make every effort to ensure that the information we are sharing is accurate, we welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors.

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