Jeanne Coughlin

Jeanne Coughlin is a nationally recognized family business expert, board member, and award-winning author with more than 35 years of experience helping small and mid-sized organizations achieve sustainable, strategic growth. She has guided privately held and family-owned companies through strategic planning, leadership development, and successful generational transitions. Her diverse industry experience includes healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, technology, and professional services.

Jeanne’s professional credentials reflect a deep commitment to leadership excellence and the creation of engaged, high-performing teams.  She holds a Certificate in Private Company Governance and is a Certified Professional Business Coach, Certified Professional Behavior Analyst, Certified Stages of Growth Strategist, and One-Page Business Plan® implementer.  Jeanne is certified to facilitate Blanchard’s SLII Leadership Model, Lencioni’s Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, and TTI’s Talent Insights DISC & Driving Forces.

A respected thought leader, Jeanne, has held influential board positions with some of the nation’s most impactful organizations. She is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Board for JumpStart Inc., a premier venture development organization, and she has served on the boards of the National Small Business Association in Washington, D.C., the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), Team NEO, and Mercy Hospital. As a founding member of the Private Directors Association (PDA) Cleveland Chapter, Jeanne is a driving force behind advancing board governance and excellence.

An acclaimed author, Jeanne wrote The Rise of Women Entrepreneurs: People, Process and Global Trends, which received the prestigious Featured Book Recommendation from Harvard Working Knowledge. She is also Chapter Chair of the Women Presidents Organization, a peer advisory group for second-stage, women-led, multimillion-dollar companies.

A celebrated leader, Jeanne has been honored as one of Crain’s Cleveland Business ‘Women of Note’ and named to the ‘Notable Women in Entrepreneurship’ list, reflecting her influence and impact within the business community.

Jeanne earned her Bachelor of Science in business from Bowling Green State University. She resides in the Cleveland area with her husband, Kevin, and is the proud mother of two grown daughters.