“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

– Maya Angelou

Learn about our history and what makes us stand out!

Coaching Courage History

Coaching Courage, LLC is certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB). The company was founded in 2019 to empower leaders to embrace their courage as they transform into their best selves. Coaching Courage works with leaders, teams, and organizations to reframe the way they see themselves. Visualization opens their aperture to see themselves and their leadership through a new lens, creating awareness and an opportunity for self-reflection. Coaching Courage works to inspire and motivate leaders to become the best version of themselves through its services. Its services include leadership, career, & mentor coaching, strategic communications consulting, facilitation, and motivational speaking,

Meet The Coaching Courage Founder and Owner

Shannon Cochran-Yzquierdo is the founder and owner of Coaching Courage, LLC. She is passionate about inspiring and motivating leaders to embrace their courage as they transition into their best selves. Her clients build and strengthen their ‘courage muscle’ and find increased awareness of their own behaviors, which supports their journey of transformation into courageous leaders. Shannon’s use of situational role-playing and direct communication are her key strengths.

Shannon’s Hispanic/Caucasian heritage and LGBTQ+ life experience provide a unique lens to see the world. She supports, empowers, and strengthens the leadership capacity of women, minorities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.  She coaches middle managers to senior leaders across various industries infusing courage into every interaction. She provides tools, techniques, and skills that clients can utilize well after the engagement ends. Shannon’s warm, welcoming, and friendly demeanor allows for connection with people at any leadership level. 

She is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, an active volunteer with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, where she voluntarily shaves her head annually to raise money and awareness for children’s cancer research. She is also the Marketing Chair for the Georgetown ITL Network Board of Directors.

Shannon’s leadership, collaboration and relationship-building expertise, flexibility, and teamwork make her a sought-after resource. She is a connector, who motivates and inspires others. She is known for her candor, direct communication, strategic thinking, program coordination, organization, and execution. In addition, speaking ‘truth to power’ is a gift she offers leaders. While being gentle and straightforward, she challenges boundaries clients place on themselves.  She respects client fears and helps them embrace their courage as they face those fears and experience growth.

Her professional journey includes many pivot points which provide her with a unique lens to support each client on their personal and professional journey.  Her journey includes navigation from High School Science Teacher & Head Volleyball Coach; FBI New Agent Trainee to Intelligence Analyst; Government Contractor supporting multiple organizations within the United States Intelligence Community (USIC) to Executive Leadership Coach.

She created Courageous Leadership in Action: No One Said It Would Be Easy, offered through Georgetown University, to build and support leaders in their courageous leadership growth.  The workshop can be tailored to any audience.

Shannon earned a B.S in Biology Education and a M.S. in Forensic Science. She received her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2016 from the Project Management Institute and an Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching in 2020 from Georgetown University. She is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC).  

Shannon’s Specialties: Coaching Services, Consulting Services, Motivational Speaking, Workshop

Book with Shannon

Working with Shannon was such a great experience. Her sense of empathy and calm demeanor helped pave the way in building a trusting relationship between coach and client, which is absolutely important in order to have a successful experience. Her ability to guide you as you dig deep into areas where you’d like to improve is gentle but also straight forward. She was an excellent coach to me and know others will experience the same.

– Mariela C.
Director of Special Events, St. Baldrick’s Foundation

Shannon possesses the best attributes of a great coach. She’s focused, intuitive, and supportive…and has a great sense of humor! I really enjoyed working with Shannon during the recruitment process and as I settled into a new role. She helped me prepare for interviews, focus on my strengths, and organize a strategy for success. She doesn’t just give you the answers…she helps guide you to them! I highly recommend Shannon as a mentor and leadership coach.

– Drew B.
Vice President, Global Corporate Security and HSE, Coty

Before meeting with Shannon, I did not realize I could push myself even further on my inner thinking as a leader. Very quickly, Shannon understood my personality and knew exactly how to challenge me through tough questions but always kept a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. I enjoyed our weekly discussions very much. Bottom line, I feel I am ready to take my leadership role to the next level. Thank you, Shannon, for this very interesting and inspiring experience.

– Philippe B.
US Country Manager, Angelini Pharma Inc.

I have had numerous opportunities, in several professional settings, to watch Shannon help executives bring their best thinking and talents to the resolution of issues. She is an organizer, teacher, coach and consensus builder by nature. She is warm and respectful to others, really a joyful person to be around. But she accepts neither excuses nor nonsense in her determination to bring out the best in a group and its individual members. I have spent much of my professional career in leadership positions, and I have found Shannon to be a remarkably quick, honest and constructive force in any serious discussion, as well as a superb analyst of the conduct and effectiveness of leaders.

– Jack Lichtenstein
Principle, JDL Advisory, LLC

Shannon is well-organized and will partner with you to set goals in your professional life through leadership coaching. You will find her very personable and approachable. She has strong leadership skills, is a good listener, and will partner with you as you reach toward your personal and professional goals. Shannon is a model for kindness and compassion for her friends, colleagues, and clients. She has prepared for and is fulfilling her dream of becoming a leadership coach. Let her be your change agent and help you fulfill your personal and professional goals.

– Jan Chadwick M. Ed.
Retired Educator

I had quite a few aha! moments throughout our coaching sessions. After hours of analyzing and over-analyzing my predicaments in my head beforehand, Shannon quickly defined the problem and provided logical solutions for my consideration. Her knowledge, patience, understanding, and calming nature was the breath of fresh air I needed to steady my thoughts, develop a plan for my team, and move forward when I felt stuck. She gave me greater insight into myself, my actions, reactions, and the tools to better understand what I, and those around me, need to be successful. Shannon was absolutely wonderful. Her coaching sessions were invaluable and I highly recommend her.

– Jaime R.
Board of Directors, Chairwoman

I was feeling trapped in my career without knowing what opportunities were available to me. After my first coaching session with Shannon, I felt like I was able to begin the purging process and knew with the resources and suggestions provided I would be able to move from “spinning” to moving forward. Shannon’s ability to push when needed, challenge thoughts, and be supportive were qualities I enjoyed most about working with her. She has a sense of calm and balance to her approach that did not make me feel that we were just going through the motions of talking. This experience provided me with a new sense of appreciation and confidence in the skills that I have and an understanding that the “holes” I have are okay and can be strengths, too. I feel more relaxed in understanding my skill set and the importance of taking time to pause before reacting. While working with Shannon, I applied for and was selected for a new position I am excited to begin.

– Jennifer M.
Instructional Coach, Colorado Public Schools

I was fed up at work and wanted a change, which led me to Shannon’s leadership coaching service. I knew after the first session that I made a good decision in choosing her as my leadership coach. She was positive, professional and transparent. Her coaching helped me to be more assertive, take some practical steps toward securing a new position and hold myself accountable for energy I contribute to my work environment. She helped me reframe the story I have been telling myself for years, resulting in me becoming a more confident leader. She helped me to question assumptions I make about what others are thinking. I enjoyed her candor and incredible patience. I recommend Shannon because I think she genuinely wants to help people achieve their sense of purpose.

– Anonymous
Manager, U.S Government

Shannon is a wonderful leadership coach. Her direct communication and thoughtful coaching style allowed me to focus on my strengths and take steps towards achieving my goals. Shannon helped me gain new perspectives and identify strategies to achieve important milestones with greater confidence and self-compassion. Shannon will invite you to step out of your comfort zone. If you do, you will feel supported and encouraged as you pursue your goals! I highly recommend Shannon’s coaching services to anyone who is committed to their leadership development and growth.

– Alexandra
Higher Education Director and Entrepreneur

Shannon and I just completed our coaching engagement and I couldn’t be more pleased! Working in partnership with her, I was able to get “unstuck” in steps to finally launch my business. Shannon was able to understand what was holding me back and ask just the right, powerful questions to open my eyes to see for myself. From that, I took action to get the results I wanted. Her direct yet empathetic style and approach were effective and efficient. I couldn’t recommend her more as a coach!

– Marji B.
Leadership Coach & Development Consultant

Shannon is a capable coach who strives for excellence in everything she does. I’ve been really impressed by her genuine interest for her clients; and by her ability to create a safe space to open up and explore your vulnerabilities, your greatest fears, your strengths and especially your possibilities. She meets you where you are and challenges you to move forward towards your goals. She has a unique combination of savvy and heart. I highly recommend her if you are ready to work towards a better version of yourself.

– Mónica H.
Executive Coach