Cathleen Allen
Cathleen Allen is a Leadership Development Specialist and founder of CYA Enterprises, Inc., where she combines over 25 years of experience in coaching, leadership, and personal development to empower individuals and organizations to achieve excellence. With a Master’s degree in Leadership and a Bachelor’s in Organizational Management from Palm Beach Atlantic University, Cathleen has cultivated a career dedicated to helping people rise above limitations, transform challenges into growth, and step into their full potential as leaders.
Cathleen’s professional journey spans both corporate and entrepreneurial realms. She began as a life coach, guiding clients through personal challenges and helping them reclaim their power, while simultaneously serving in corporate roles as a Customer Service Ambassador, developing and leading training programs focused on customer service excellence. In 2019, she authored The 5-Star Playbook, a framework for developing the mindset, strategies, and attributes of high-performing leaders. This work became the foundation of CYA Enterprises, where Cathleen delivers coaching, training, and consulting services that bridge leadership development, personal empowerment, and organizational excellence.
Throughout her career, Cathleen has remained committed to helping individuals and organizations transform. Her mission is to equip teams with the tools to build empowered, high-performing cultures and to guide individuals in turning personal and professional challenges into opportunities for growth. Cathleen’s recent recognition with the Academic Excellence Award for Highest Distinction reflects her ongoing dedication to learning, development, and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of her work.
• Palm Beach Atlantic University - MSL
• Palm Beach Atlantic University - BS
What do you attribute your success to?
Cathleen attributes her success to passion, purpose-driven work, and a genuine commitment to helping others experience breakthroughs. She believes her ability to connect deeply with people, combined with consistent learning and refinement of her methods, has been key to her longevity and impact. Cathleen’s primary areas of expertise include professional coaching, customer service excellence, leadership development, public speaking, and personal transformation training.
Through her company, CYA Enterprises, Cathleen delivers coaching frameworks and training programs designed to help individuals and organizations achieve clarity, confidence, and sustainable growth. She brings 25 years of experience in coaching and personal development, with her entrepreneurial venture, CYA Enterprises, founded in 2019. Her long-standing career reflects depth, consistency, and evolution within the coaching and training space.
Cathleen identifies her most notable professional achievement as authoring the 5-Star Playbook, which serves as the foundational framework for her coaching and training programs. She also recently received an Academic Excellence Award for Highest Distinction in a 14-week development course, recognizing her continued dedication to excellence and growth.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Her growth has been influenced by educators, thought leaders, and experiences that emphasized resilience, empowerment, and lifelong learning. These influences shaped her coaching philosophy and her commitment to personal excellence.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Cathleen encourages young women to believe in their greatness, invest in personal development, and remain adaptable. She emphasizes the importance of clarity, confidence, and staying aligned with one’s purpose, even as industries and technologies continue to evolve.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Cathleen identifies two major challenges in her field: adapting coaching and training programs to remain relevant in the age of AI, and reaching organizations that genuinely value employee empowerment. At the same time, she sees strong opportunities in human-centered development, emphasizing that personal connection, emotional intelligence, and leadership growth will remain essential regardless of technological advances.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Cathleen values empowerment, authenticity, growth, and human connection. She believes meaningful development occurs when people feel seen, supported, and encouraged to step into their potential both professionally and personally. Outside of work, Cathleen enjoys traveling, reading self-development and empowerment books, and continuously learning new skills, with her current personal goal being to learn to play the piano. She also treasures family traditions, especially celebrating birthdays with ice cream favoring Jamoca Almond Fudge mixed with rum raisin.