Alisa Cohn

Techstars

Mentor and Speaker at Techstars Riyadh, one of the leading global venture capital and accelerator programs.

Mentor, TechStars Mentor Series

Alisa Cohn & Associates, Inc.

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Member Of The Board Of Advisors

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Revbox

Corporate Alumni

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Manager

I was named the #1 Startup Coach in the world at the Thinkers50 Marshall Goldsmith Leading Coaches Awards in London. I was also named one of the Top 30 Global Gurus for Startups. Based in NYC, I coach startup CEOs, co-founders, other startup executives and board members all over the world. I also coach senior and emerging leaders from Fortune 500 companies. My clients include Venmo, Foursquare, InVision, Etsy, The Wirecutter (sold to The New York Times), Pfizer, Novartis, Dell, Hitachi, IBM, Calvin Klein, Tory Burch, The New York Times. I also speak at Cornell, Harvard, The Naval War College and am the executive coach for the Runway Program at Cornell Tech.

I write for Inc and Forbes and Harvard Business Review. I have been featured in BBC, Bloomberg, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other regional publications. 

My specialties include executive presence, power, influence & charisma, corporate politics, personal mastery, strategic decision-making, developing a strong personal brand, and building social capital. Additionally, I design workshops and give talks for executives, remote teams, managers and employees on similar topics. 

Prior to becoming an executive coach, I was Vice President at two high-tech companies, CFO of a start-up company, and a consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and The Monitor Group.

I was selected as one of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches Project #MG100. I am also an angel investor and Broadway investor. 

My specialties include:
Startup coaching - founders, co-founders, CEOs, executive teams and their investors
Building influence
New leader onboarding
Developing a strong personal brand
Navigating corporate politics
Building your social capital 
Increasing your resilience - building mental toughness
Feedback and coaching

Find your tribe.

That’s the most common advice that successful entrepreneurs and artists share with the people they mentor.

The things we’re the most proud of always carry the imprint of your companions on your path. They are your collaborators, your cheerleaders, your critics. 

Dorie Clark and I regularly organize what we call “AC/DC Masterminds.” And I’m so glad we pulled one together this week and got to spend  the day with this handsome group so we could all help each other move forward!

Some of my takeaways were:

🌿How to think about pitching sponsors: Don’t pitch! Find a story they will want to buy into.

🌿Reframe marketing your books (and your business) as a creative act - an interesting puzzle to solve. 

🌿“You think your work is wall to wall carpeting. But it looks better as an area rug.”

🌿When you brainstorm every day you may not get any good ideas. That’s not the point. The point is to build the muscle of idea of creation.

🌿Sometimes procrastination looks like planning.

🌿Look for things that fit you like a glove. But when you turn into a foot, go out and find a good pair of socks. 

🌿You can always do more. But have you done enough?

I find it very easy to just work work work. It’s hard to carve a full day out for community. And it’s certainly hard to set it up. 

But it’s so so so worth.

Thanks for your brilliant minds and beautiful hearts A.J. Jacobs, Guy Winch, Jenny Blake, Mita Mallick, Terri Trespicio, Terry Rice, Erica Keswin, Melody Wilding, LMSW, Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg, and of course my partner in crime Dorie Clark.

Global CEO Coach to startups and Fortune 500; Best-selling Author and Podcaster (From Start-up to Grown-up); Writes for HBR, Forbes, Fast Company; Named Top 50 Coaches in the World by Thinkers50

I failed my first F-35 mission.

I got to visit The Squadron and experience their super cool team building experience. 

I got a briefing and a mission. 

Let’s say that after my first mission there was room for improvement. (My flying lessons helped not at all.)

Second try: massive improvement!

The gamechanger? A debrief. To learn what went wrong and how to improve. 

1️⃣ Debrief key projects. Always
Get the team together and talk about what worked, what didn’t, and - most importantly - what you’ll do differently next time.

2️⃣ Set specific, behavior-based goals
“Try harder” doesn’t help. In my mission I was too conservative, going for easy targets. My new rule was “don’t try for easy targets. Only go for medium or hard ones.”

3️⃣ It’s all data
When you stop taking performance personally, you can analyze what actually happened and adjust the process.
And yep - I wore the goofy suit. May as well get into the spirit of things!

Get a 30 minute meeting with your team this week and debrief your biggest project. Don’t forget to clarify exactly what you’ll change! 

Thanks Ohad Boaz for inviting me!

💪 You can’t lead well if you don’t live well.

Lately, I’ve been reminded how much our health underpins everything: our focus, creativity, resilience, and even our ability to show up for others. 

In a world that glorifies hustle, it’s easy to forget that real success starts with a strong foundation: your body and mind.

Here are three habits I’ve learned to prioritize (and wish I’d started sooner):

1️⃣ Lift weights.
Strength training isn’t just about muscles, it’s about independence, confidence, and longevity. I want to lift my suitcase into the overhead bin when I’m 85. Don’t you?

2️⃣ Know your numbers.
A DEXA scan can show your body composition and bone density. Regular blood works helps you track progress and identify issues early. Tracking key metrics helps you take action before it’s too late. Knowledge really is power when it comes to your health.

3️⃣ Deal with your demons.
Stress and anxiety drain your energy. Invest in meditation, community, therapy or whatever helps you manage your inner world.

💭 What’s one habit you’re committing to for a healthier, more productive you?

One of my clients just got an opportunity that she would have *killed* for 5 years ago.

Today, she turned it down.

But she almost took it! Because she didn’t realize how much she’d grown. 

It was only after our conversation that she saw that she was relating to herself as the person she’d been, not the person she is now. Or who she’s becoming. 

It got me thinking about the trajectory of careers. 

🌿It’s hard to see your progression when you’re in the middle of it. 

🌿You don’t always see what you’ve accomplished, how far you’ve come, or how much you’ve grown.

So it’s helpful to check in regularly to reacquaint with yourself. 

Here are some questions you can ask yourself 

🔵 What skills have I built in the past year (or 3 years, or 5)?

🔵 What are some beliefs about myself or the world that are no longer serving me?

🔵 What are some things I used to crave that are now part of my normal day-to-day?

It’s also helpful to keep meeting new colleagues and friends. They didn’t know you when you were younger and less accomplished. They only see a more fully formed you, which in turn can help you see yourself that way.

Don’t forget that you can do this for others too!

What are some things which used to feel out of reach for you and are now just normal?

If you’re on vacation, driving to your next stop, and everyone is on their phones, what do you do?

If you’re Paul English, cofounder of Kayak (and too many other companies and non-profits to count), you invent a product. Of course if you’re Paul English, you might invent a new product every day, because that’s how he rolls. 

He also gathers fascinating entrepreneurs, investors, and builders for dinners, and I was lucky enough to be at one this week. 

It was an astonishingly interesting group. Here are some of my takeaways:

⚡Playing in a high school band is one of the best ways to learn to work with teams.

⚡Having “big ears” is the only way to stay in sync. You have to listen carefully to your teammates and to the market. 

⚡Time management is not a calendar problem. It is a priorities problem.

⚡Related: Focus on the most important metric and execute that with bone crushing consistency. The flywheel can spin when you do the boring parts well.

⚡When you’re the CEO you obviously get pulled in many directions. But if you’re a product CEO, focus on product. Having a killer product sets you up to win.

⚡“One way you know you need to work for yourself is when you realize that having a boss makes you sick.“

⚡AI is….complicated. It’s either going to enhance our humanity or rob us of it. But being able to hear smart people and their diverse opinions is electric and makes you better. Steel sharpens steel. 

⚡Entrepreneurs are inherently impatient. Even when they’re moving fast it feels slow.

⚡We all struggle with similar problems. 

⚡And, when you want to hire a dog trainer whenever your dog runs away, put aside time in your calendar to call the dog trainer. That is not a metaphor, but it’s also a metaphor. 

Thanks for gathering us Paul and for the amazing conversation Brian Kalma, Dmitry Koltunov, Luka Ivicevic, Stephen Kuhl, Aparajita Chauhan, Ziad Ahmed

Here’s the biggest communication mistakes I see everyone make. It doesn’t matter if they’re an executive, a founder, or an employee. 

They don’t spend enough time working on this one skill, which is hiding in plain sight. 

Most people obsess over what they want to say.

The best obsess over how it’s going to land for the other person.

You can change this immediately with this quick fix:

🔸If you’re leader, ask yourself:

➡️“Could this make people worried, defensive, or intimidated?”

➡️“Have I made my intent crystal clear?”

➡️“Have I given context so this doesn’t feel like it’s coming from thin air?”

Try mini-scripts  like: 

“This won’t impact you or your team immediately, but I’m letting you know so you’re not surprised.”
 
“My intent is to help you improve,  not to criticize you.”

🔸If you’re an employee, ask yourself:

💡“What’s on my manager’s plate today?”

💡“Do they remember where we left off?”

💡“Have I made the ‘so what’ unmistakably clear?”

Try mini-scripts like:

“I know you’re in budget meetings all day. I need one quick thing from you to keep this project moving and then we can talk more in-depth next week if you have time.

“Quick recap from last week so we’re on the same page”

“Here’s the headline and I can share details if helpful.”

This one habit upgrades your communication at work (and, not for nothing, at home.)

Before you speak, pause for a few seconds and step into their shoes.

Ask yourself: 

🔹”What are they worried about?”

🔹”What are they hoping for?”

🔹”What are they distracted by?”

🔹”What are their top priorities?”

Start with just one conversation this week.

You’ll notice that your messages land and that you’re building more trust.

Save this post to use as a tool to help  you communicate better when it matters the most.

I love meetings! Or to be more specific, I love the potential of meetings.
Engaged people in a room, talking passionately about a topic, coming to decisions. What’s not to love?

Oh, your meetings aren’t like that? 

Use these strategies and you’ll stop wasting so much time. Suddenly, meetings will fuel you and not drag you down.

 1️⃣ Define the goal. Know what will be different when the meeting ends.
 2️⃣ Set the agenda to match the goal. Discussion, presentation, or decision, use the right approach.
 3️⃣ Agree on norms. Phones down, everyone participates, clear roles so everyone knows what’s expected.

The difference between a draining meeting and a great one is intentional design.

👇 What’s one thing you’ll change in your next meeting?

Thank you so much Ryusuke Komura for inviting me to speak at Venture Café Tokyo last week! It was a blast to meet you and the team and to mingle with such fantastic entrepreneurs from Japan and all over the world!

Some of my takeaways are:

1) Imposter syndrome is universal. And entrepreneurs all over the world are subject to it.

2) Corporate politics is anathema to the success of a startup. So if you come from the corporate world, startup success is in direct proportion to your ability to *unlearn* politics.

3) Telling your story as a founder is not something you do in your spare time. It’s one of your main jobs.

4) Corollary: figuring out the right story to tell doesn’t always come naturally. It may take a few tries. Stick with it.

5) Moving to a different company means you may have to build a network from scratch. But you have a differentiated perspective which is hard to beat. 

Tokyo is a fantastic city building a vibrant startup community! Now I understand why everyone is going there! Thanks so much to John L. for connecting me to Ryu!

Are you planning to head to Tokyo? Hit me up in the comments for tips!

💬 How should you tell your team bad news?

Every leader faces that moment. The one where you have to share something difficult.

A missed target.

A round that didn’t close.

A big customer leaving.

Organizational changes that will hurt. 

It’s tempting to soften it or delay it. 

But here’s the truth:
Your team can handle the truth. What they can’t handle is confusion.

When it’s time to share bad news:

 1️⃣ Prepare yourself — your message, your tone, your mindset.

 2️⃣ Say what’s true — no sugarcoating, no spin.

 3️⃣ Rebuild confidence — explain why you’re still optimistic and what comes next.

Trust is built through leaning into the real talk along with showing that you care. 

👀 Swipe through the carousel for the full framework.

Save this post to refer back to you when you have to deliver bad news.

How Should You Tell Your Team the Bad News

You’re probably getting triggered too easily when one of you people gets defensive. 

So you may be making things worse without meaning to. 

I’ve coached hundreds of executives and here’s the truth. Defensiveness is normal. What matters is how you respond.

✅ Predict who might get defensive.

👂 Listen without giving in.

💬 Acknowledge their emotions (“I didn’t mean to upset you”) and stay calm.

Because when you stay grounded, you turn tension into trust and conflict into collaboration.

Save this for your next hard 1:1.

💡 Most people think they don’t have a personal brand. But they do.

The only question is: are you shaping it or letting it shape you?

And if you’re a founder, coach, or leader, your brand determines the opportunities that come your way.

If you’re ready to strengthen yours, use these 3 simple tools.
 
✨ Understand how others see you
 
✨ Clarify how you want to be known

 ✨ Expand your network with new connections

Your brand isn’t built in a day. 

It’s built every time you show up.

💭 What is one step you can take to build your brand this week? Share it in the comments so we can all learn together.

How to Build Your Brand with Just 3 Tools

Your team is not confused about the work. They’re confused about how to work with you! 

That’s why every leader should create a personal operating manual. It’s a  simple guide to how you work best.

Some examples of things to share are:

✨ How you like to communicate

✨ How you give feedback

✨ What you expect from collaboration and decision-making

When your team knows how you operate, they can work with you and not around you.

And here’s the bonus: have them create their own manuals too. You’ll be amazed how much faster (and smoother) everything gets.

💡 What’s one thing you’d include in your personal operating manual?

Are you avoiding forecasting because it feels uncertain?

For founders and leaders, it can be tempting to shy away from forecasting. Whether it’s predicting project outcomes or revenue, founders tend to avoid it especially in the early stages.

But forecasting isn’t just about numbers. It’s about building a strong foundation.

Forecasting helps by forcing you to:

🔵 Think it through. Forecasting pushes  you to rigorously plan how to reach your goals.

🔵Practice makes perfect. Early forecasting might be inaccurate, but it’s essential practice.

🔵 Setting goals together. It helps your team set and take ownership of goals, driving sustainability.

The process of forecasting helps you align your team and set the stage for long-term success. 

The skill of forecasting is important for you and your team to learn. And like all skills, you’re often bad at it until you get good at it.

Practice forecasting and as you get better at it you’ll also get better at becoming a leader.

✨ What leaders can learn from creators.

About a month ago  I attended a gathering of remarkable creators. What an energizing experience!

I always love meeting people who think differently from me. People with fresh approaches to work and life. For the moment, I consider myself “creator adjacent”. But after this meetup, I was inspired to create more.

Leaders have a lot to learn from creators especially when it comes to how they think, connect, and build. Here are a few key takeaways I shared in my recent Forbes article on what leaders can learn from creators:

1️⃣ Vision.
 Creators are self-driven. They think up their own ideas and bring them to life.

The best leaders do the same: they align with the company’s vision, but they also put their own spin on it to motivate their teams.

2️⃣ Collaboration.
 Creators love to collaborate and support each other’s work.

Leaders can do this too. Get  to know colleagues across the company. You can offer  help or speak  at each other’s team meetings. It builds trust, visibility, and shared momentum.

3️⃣ Build your platform.
 Creators know that if nobody knows about their work, they can’t grow.

Leaders, the same applies to you. Share your insights. Speak at events. Contribute to your company newsletter. The more people who know your work, the more impact you can have.

4️⃣ Consistency.
 Successful creators understand the power of bone-crushing consistency.

The same is true for leaders. Show up for your people. Keep your eye on the metrics. Repeat yourself over and over again. Great leadership often looks like simple predictability.

💡 What do you think a creator mindset adds? I’d love to hear your thoughts below.👇

✨ Just promoted into leadership? Congratulations! And good luck; you’re going to need it! 

Becoming a new leader is actually a lot like being a founder: you’re learning fast, influencing in every direction, and making big decisions with imperfect information.

In my latest Forbes article, I share six habits from founders that every new leader can and should  steal to ramp up faster.

Self-reflection, leaning into tough talks and learning to do less, not more, are some of the tools entrepreneurs have to learn by doing. 

Thanks to these great founders for sharing insights: 

💡 Arvind Jain cofounder of Glean

💡 Sadie Lincoln cofounder of barre3

💡 Joe Thomas cofounder of Loom

💡 Matt Blumberg cofounder of Bolster 

💡 Paul English cofounder of KAYAK

💡 Nick Huber, The Sweaty Startup

These lessons will help you strengthen your leadership muscles even when things get uncomfortable.

👉 Read the full piece in the link below the comment section.

Here’s the secret to executing a project perfectly: understand that you’re never going to execute a project perfectly.

Or, as I tell my clients all the time, join me here in the real word.

Every meaningful project, every personal stretch, comes with snags and setbacks. It’s part of the process. What matters most is that you keep moving forward.

The key is to expect problems and blockers. Don’t be surprised when they come up. Plan for how you’ll move around them.

When you know what you want to accomplish and how you’ll maneuver around obstacles you’ll be much more likely to move forward faster.

I loved my chat with the dynamic duo Kass Lazerow and Michael Lazerow, co-founders of multiple companies, including Buddy Media, which they sold to Salesforce for $750 million. They’re also investors and authors of "Shoveling Sh*t: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur's Messy Path to Success."

Kass and Mike share real-talk insights into entrepreneurship, co-founder dynamics, company-building, and how to stay married when you’re also co-founders.

Here are three key takeaways from our conversation:

➡️ Radical transparency isn't optional; it's essential. Sharing both the good and the bad openly with your team builds trust and resilience.

➡️ Choose your co-founders wisely. The strength of your partnership can determine your company's success or failure; it's more critical than the business idea itself.

➡️ Entrepreneurship requires accepting that there are no shortcuts. It’s always hard. You have to do the work and genuinely love the process.

One memorable insight from Kass and Mike: "Entrepreneurs shovel all day long. You come in optimistic, get punched in the face repeatedly, and celebrate mini wins along the way. It’s about loving the shoveling."

In this clip, Kass and Mike talk about the importance of role clarity, both at home and at work.

👉 Listen to the full episode in the comments.

If you’re a founder, a leader, or a spouse, you’ll love this episode!

It is a special group of people that help you build a startup from day one.

And while those early employees are critical to the success of a company’s first stages of growth, they don’t always make the leap to the next level of your company’s growth.

Here are three signs to be on the lookout for to see if your executive team is helping you scale the way you need them to:

Is this idea worth failing at?

That’s one of the questions legendary investor Randy Komisar asks founders when they’re pitching their idea. 

He also asks his “3 whys” 

▪️Why this?

▪️Why you?

▪️Why now?

I loved this whole conversation so much that I’m re-running it. We cover so much ground that has nothing to do with investing! We talked about:

🔍 How to read people
Randy’s father was both a salesman and a professional gambler. How’s that for an education in what makes people tick? 

🍀 How to increase your luck
Some things are just luck, but you can increase the “surface area of serendipity.” 

👥 Why every leader needs a coach 
Legendary coach Bill Campbell helped shape Randy’s style by holding up a mirror and serving as a role model. 

But my favorite part comes at the beginning when Randy shares how he once bombed an interview with Neil Young.

Check it out and let me know what you think. Link to the episode in the comments.

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