Ed Cohen is a global thought leader in intentional culture, authentic leadership, and talent transformation. With a career spanning over 75 countries, he has shaped leadership and organizational excellence across industries. As Chief People Officer at SprintRay Inc., Ed fosters a high-trust, high-impact culture that aligns people and business strategy. His leadership at Booz Allen Hamilton and Tech Mahindra earned global recognition for cultivating resilient, people-centric workplaces. A bestselling author and advocate for authenticity, his upcoming memoir, VULNERABLE: One Man’s Journey from Abuse to Abundance, inspires people to break barriers, end the silence of abuse, and embrace humanity to drive lasting transformation around the world.
Could you describe your initiative/startup’s purpose and vision and how it benefits its target audience?
The VULNERABLE Initiative
Breaking the Silence. Transforming Lives. Building a Movement.
The VULNERABLE Initiative is a global movement inspired by VULNERABLE: One Man’s Journey from Abuse to Abundance. It is designed to empower survivors of trauma, entrepreneurs, leaders, and individuals seeking to grow personally and professionally by embracing vulnerability as a source of strength.
Purpose & Vision:
The initiative is built on the belief that breaking the silence around trauma is the first step toward healing, transformation, and success. By fostering open conversations, sharing stories, and providing tools for resilience, the VULNERABLE Initiative helps individuals step out of the shadows of their past and into a future of confidence, impact, and leadership.
How It Benefits Entrepreneurs & Skill Builders:
- Resilience in Business & Life: Entrepreneurship and career growth require adaptability, perseverance, and courage—qualities that are strengthened through overcoming adversity. The initiative provides a framework for transforming setbacks into growth opportunities.
- Authentic Leadership & Emotional Intelligence: By embracing their full story, leaders and entrepreneurs can develop stronger relationships, better decision-making skills, and higher emotional intelligence, leading to more meaningful connections in business and life.
- Overcoming Self-Doubt & Impostor Syndrome: Many individuals struggle with fear of failure, rejection, or not being “good enough.” The initiative provides tools and community support to help people rewrite limiting narratives and step into their power.
- Practical Strategies for Growth: Through workshops, coaching, and interactive programs, the initiative offers strategies on navigating change, developing leadership skills, and building a life of abundance.
Building a Movement:
The VULNERABLE Initiative is more than a book—it’s a call to action. Through speaking engagements, online communities, training programs, and partnerships with advocacy organizations, this movement is creating a world where silence is broken, healing is embraced, and success is redefined.
This initiative is for anyone who has faced adversity and wants to transform their pain into purpose, their struggles into strengths, and their past into a powerful future.
As far as entrepreneurship is concerned, your journey is quite inspiring. What are some of your most significant accomplishments and how did you achieve them?
As an entrepreneur and global leader in learning, development, and talent management, I have received widespread recognition for my contributions to transforming organizations and empowering individuals.
Recognition & Impact:
- PwC Entrepreneur of the Year (1987): Recognized for excellence in business leadership and innovation in talent development.
- ATD’s BEST Awards: Led organizations, including Booz Allen Hamilton and Tech Mahindra, to #1 for groundbreaking leadership and workforce development programs.
- Nelson Cohen Global Consulting: Co-founded the firm, driving leadership transformation for Fortune 500 companies through authentic leadership, intentional culture, and resilience-building.
- ATD Excellence in Practice Awards: Delivered over $500M in measurable ROI through people-focused strategies.
- Corporate Leadership Development: Built and led corporate universities, including Booz Allen’s Center for Performance Excellence and Tech Mahindra’s School of Leadership, shaping the careers of thousands of global professionals.
Author of Multiple Leadership Books:
- Leadership Without Borders (Amazon #1 International Business Bestseller, translated globally)
- Riding the Tiger: Leading Through Learning in Turbulent Times
- Leadership Traits: Insights for Today, Pathway to the Future
- Transformative Team Excellence (Coming in 2026)
- VULNERABLE: One Man’s Journey from Abuse to Abundance (Upcoming memoir)
Thought Leadership & Industry Influence:
- Published over 200 articles in Training Magazine, Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Magazine, Strategy & Business, HRDQ, and ATD publications on leadership, talent strategy, and organizational culture.
- Speaker and executive coach to global leaders, influencing leadership and workplace transformation in over 75 countries.
What Clients, Leaders & Organizations Say:
- Executives credit my leadership with building high-performance cultures that foster trust, collaboration, and innovation.
- Entrepreneurs and professionals use my frameworks to enhance leadership skills, navigate workplace challenges, and scale their businesses.
- Organizations have leveraged my expertise to rebuild leadership pipelines, drive employee engagement, and sustain growth during crisis periods.
With a career dedicated to learning, leadership development, and talent strategy, I continue to empower individuals and organizations to embrace change, lead with authenticity, and create lasting impact.
In what ways has your life changed since you began your entrepreneurial journey?
My entrepreneurial journey has been one of transformation, resilience, and impact. From building global talent strategies to shaping intentional cultures in organizations across 75+ countries, my life has been profoundly shaped by the people, experiences, and challenges along the way.
Key Changes & Milestones:
- Global Perspective & Cultural Influence: Living in India for seven years deeply influenced my leadership philosophy, blending mindfulness, authentic leadership, and resilience-building into my approach. This experience redefined how I nurture talent, develop leaders, and foster cultural transformation.
- Building a Legacy in Learning & Talent Management: From Booz Allen Hamilton to Tech Mahindra, I spearheaded talent strategies that not only rebuilt leadership pipelines but also delivered over $500M in measurable ROI.
- Entrepreneurial Recognition & Influence: Winning the PwC Entrepreneur of the Year (1987) validated my early efforts in building high-impact leadership programs. Since then, my influence has grown, culminating in industry awards, global speaking engagements, and consulting with Fortune 500 companies.
- Publishing & Thought Leadership: Writing books such as Leadership Without Borders (Amazon #1 International Business Bestseller) and VULNERABLE: One Man’s Journey from Abuse to Abundance has allowed me to bridge the gap between professional success and personal authenticity, helping others find strength in their own stories.
- Helping Entrepreneurs & Future Leaders: Through my work, I have empowered entrepreneurs and professionals to build resilience, embrace vulnerability, and lead with authenticity.
My mission remains the same: helping people unlock their full potential, one conversation, one leader, and one organization at a time.
