What makes us unique...

We are a boutique leadership and team development firm that prides ourselves on doing things differently. 

  • We're all about creating high-impact, stickable change.
  • We don't put Band-Aids on boo boos; we identify and solve the root cause.
  • We approach leadership and team development through a strategic business lens.
  • Everything we do is partner-centered; we take the time to understand your unique challenges and desired outcomes to co-create a bespoke solution.
  • We have street cred. We have served as a trusted partner for hyper-growth organizations in nearly every industry. And the results keep them coming back.
  • We are highly-communicative and agile.
  • We are thoroughly trained and credentialed and abide by all ethical guidelines of the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Our Why

We do this work because we believe that self-actualized leaders and effective teaming conditions create a more energizing, more fulfilling experience for everyone (it also happens to be good for business)

Meet our Founder

founder lauren cohen photo
Lauren Cohen, JC, PCC, has spent her entire career helping leaders solve business and people problems. With a passion for entrepreneurship and an obsession for bringing out the best in people, she brings a unique blend of coaching, leadership consulting, business strategy, and thought partnership. Her special sauce is seeing the un-seeable, asking powerful questions, expanding energy, and creating collaborative partnerships to leverage improbable results.
Credentials…
Lauren is a ICF Certified Professional Coach (PCC) and has extensive training and certification in leadership and teams. She also holds certifications in the Hogan Personality Inventory, EQi-2.0 (Emotional Intelligence), Energy Leadership Index Assessment (ELI-MP), Six Team Conditions/Team Diagnostic Survey (TDS), and performs comprehensive 360 stakeholder assessments. Prior to launching Cohen Leadership Group, Lauren was a business litigation attorney. She holds a B.S. and a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. Lauren draws on her experience as a trial lawyer, problem-solver, and business advisor in her coaching and consulting practice.
A Bit Personal…
Lauren is a paradox of all things: extroverted introvert, free spirited achiever, hyper-rational empath. She brings edge and love in equal measure. She loves deep conversation, wandering in a new city, yoga, coffee, reading, concert-going, stargazing, and loving on her family.

Our Team of Experts

Sheila Bast headshot

Sheila Bast

Director of Leadership Development
With a passion for enabling and empowering employees and leaders to elevate themselves and achieve their greatest potential, Sheila partners with leaders to explore what is important to them, and what is holding them back in pursuit of their personal and professional goals. She specializes in coaching, leadership development training, and change management strategy and enablement.
Sheila is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and a certified Master Practitioner of the Energy Leadership Index™ (ELI-MP) through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), a premier program accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Sheila is also a certified Change Practitioner through Prosci®, a global leader in change management. Sheila has a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting from Saint Louis University. In the first two decades of her career, she served in various roles at a Fortune 500 Financial Services company focused on product development, product leadership, relationship management, and people leadership.

A bit personal…

Sheila is a playful spirit with a drive to make a difference. She finds joy in dancing at concerts, savoring good food, working out, traveling, and making memories with her family. Whether she’s celebrating with friends or mentoring young girls and professionals, she brings warmth and energy to every moment.

Blair Spector headshot

Blair Spector

Director of Talent Development
Blair serves as an advisor to leadership teams providing partnership in organizational development, talent development, performance management, strategic planning, and culture andchange management. Additionally, she coaches clients on leadership development, transition management, career growth and development, strategic communication, and team and individual effectiveness.
She is a Certified Executive Coach through the Center for Executive Coaching and is pursuing her Professional Certified Coach (PCC) designation through the International Coaching Federation. She is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) through the HR Certification Institute as well as a Certified Professional through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP). Blair holds a BA in Business Administration from Emory University. She brings 15+ years of progressive Human Resources, Talent Development, Organizational Design and Executive Coaching experience across various industries. She has worked inside organizations large and small, measured by workforce and revenue.
A bit personal… Blair brings warmth, wisdom, and thoughtful reasoning to everything she does. A born-planner, Blair’s love of people and preparation allow her to meet anyone exactly where they are and find the best way to nurture their individual growth. She enjoys traveling to visit new places and old friends, reading non-fiction books, watching documentaries, advocating for animal welfare, and walking with a great podcast. Blair lives in St. Louis with her husband, three kids, two rescue dogs, and a thousand friends.
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Jenny Beilsmith

Senior Facilitator
Jenny is a recognized facilitator, delivering leadership development experiences through an engaging and inclusive approach. Her goal is to move participants to greater success through new wisdom, coupled with contagious energy. She balances revealed insight with real solutions for immediate and positive change. Jenny empowers her clients to realize their full potential, make impactful shifts in their work/lives, improve their effectiveness, and achieve optimal performance and skills for lasting change.
Jenny is a Certified Everything DISC Facilitator and is certified in the Personal Communication Styles Inventory. She also is a certified professional coach through Coach U. Jenny has a BS in Education and a MS in Education from Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville, respectively. Jenny has worked in a variety of professional settings, including pharmaceutical sales and teaching and blends her experience in business and teaching in facilitating impactful leadership development programs.

A bit personal…
Jenny is a heart-centered, driven leader who strives to make an impact and genuinely touch the lives of others by her actions. As a lover of positive psychology, mindfulness and brain science she can be found connecting in deep conversation over a Coca-Cola(her favorite beverage). Her best loved vacations are exploring America’s natural wonders with her family, so far, she’s been to 20 out of 63 National Parks.

Erica North headshot

Erica North

Director of Organization Development
Erica is a passionate Organization Development & Human Resources leader with over 15 years of experience driving business success through strategic talent solutions. Her expertise spans diverse industries, from large corporations to nimble startups. Erica focuses on organization development consulting, partnering with companies to navigate transformations through initiatives like: organization design, strategic planning, succession planning, talent development, culture change, change management. Erica’s background also includes progressive leadership roles in organization development and human resources at both public and private organizations.
Erica holds a BA in Psychology and Communication from University of Missouri St. Louis and a MA in Industrial/Organization Psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She is also a certified executive coach, further enhancing her ability to empower individuals and teams.

A bit personal…
Erica is a goal-driven strategist who balances ambition with genuine relationship-building. With a knack for unraveling complexities and honing in on core issues, she combines drive with connection. Erica finds joy in traveling, discovering quaint coffee shops, reading, and spending quality time with her family.

We've Impacted

Thousands of leaders
Hundreds of Organizations
Dozens of Executive Teams

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