Jeannette Cochran
Jeannette Cochran
The Pastor Coach for Women Leaders
Hey there, Friend!
I'm a pastor, entrepreneur, and women's leadership coach. I have spent more than two decades leading at the executive level in the church and non-profit sectors. I hold Master's degrees in Organizational Leadership and Practical Theology, blending my two passions: Jesus and leadership. I'm a certified leadership coach with specialized training in the cognitive science of change and a certified DISC consultant. I live in the suburbs of Washington, DC. with my husband Ed. We have 3 adult children and 2 grand daughters. I'm committed to living fully, leading boldly, and building a life I love. I want to inspire and equip women everywhere to do the same.
I understand the complex challenges that women leaders face because I've been there.
I know what it’s like to be a woman with hopes and dreams and goals. To feel called to lead only to be discounted or overlooked simply because I am a woman.
I know what it’s like to be the only woman in the room and to know in my heart that I am supposed to be there yet still struggle with self-doubt.
Mimicking the male leaders around me didn't feel quite right but neither did the typical women's ministry training. I spent way too much time downplaying my femininity or softening my bold-charging style, or trying to strike a perfect balance between the two. It was exhausting.
And that was only half of it. My family is my number one priority but I often felt guilty that maybe I wasn’t a good enough mother or wife because of all I was juggling. In my attempt to do it all perfectly, my self-care often took a backseat.
I spent way too many days feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, and alone. I was desperate to find new ways of living and leading that authentically aligned with my identity, gifts, and values.
My graduate education taught me all the leadership theories, how to motivate others, and lead change but it didn't address the challenges that come with being a female leader in organizations largely shaped by masculine models of leadership.
Through years of trial and error, loads of research, and engaging in leadership coaching myself, I gained the understanding and tools needed to own my authentic leadership style.
I learned to identify and overcome the obstacles (both internal and external) that were holding me back from stepping into the fullness of my leadership identity and potential.
