Her Story
About Gwendolyn
Gwendolyn Opel is the founder of Lady Boss Leadership, a leadership development coaching practice built on the foundation of a nearly three-decade career spanning military service and federal government work. After rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel over 26 years in the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer, and spending roughly 15 years in federal national security work with a three-letter agency, Opel transitioned into civilian leadership development in 2022, channeling the lessons of high-stakes, high-consequence environments into practical coaching for emerging and entry-level leaders. She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a master's degree in Military Strategic Studies from the USAF Air War College, and a professional certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University, and she is currently completing the iPEC Coach Certification Program toward her Certified Professional Coach credential.
Throughout her career, Opel has built a reputation for developing people and organizations, from leading multinational teams within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance to designing leadership curricula for graduate-level military education and state government agencies. Her coaching philosophy centers on integrity, transparency, and the idea of "failing forward," treating setbacks not as detours but as essential material for growth and resilience. She is passionate about translating the traits instilled by military service into strengths that emerging leaders and female veterans can carry into civilian careers, and she is currently writing a book that shares the experiences of women who served, aiming to bridge the understanding gap between military and civilian workplaces.
Beyond her consulting work, Opel remains deeply engaged in her community and the veteran space, serving as vice chair of her local Veterans Commission, pursuing a board role with Honoring American Veterans, and volunteering with SCORE mentoring and her son's PTA. Her contributions have earned her recognition as a featured honoree in Influential Women for 2026. A single mother raising a young son, Opel balances her professional pursuits with personal interests in travel, writing, and home improvement, and she continues to measure her success not by titles or accolades but by the lasting relationships she has built with the soldiers and colleagues she has led.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Gwendolyn
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to failing forward. There has been plenty of failure throughout my career, and I believe your relationship with failure, along with what you choose to do next despite your last mistake, is what really determines your resilience. Failure has taught me a great deal, even the failures that were only perceived as such, and that has kept me both humble and moving forward.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received is that what got you here won't get you there. I often think of the scene from Devil Wears Prada to illustrate this point: the skills and approach that earn you a new role won't necessarily be what allows you to thrive once you're in it. Advancing successfully requires adjusting to new environments and leaning on emotional intelligence.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I'd tell young women that there is a leader in all of us, so go for it. Take the interview, take the chance, and stop underselling yourself. You will learn something valuable no matter the outcome, even from failure, because that's where real growth happens.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Coaching remains a largely unregulated field with few governing bodies, which makes finding your niche and effectively marketing and selling it a real challenge. At the same time, we're in the middle of a major generational shift, with Baby Boomers exiting the workforce and Gen Z entering it, which creates both challenges and opportunities in how we share and apply our specialties.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, transparency, and honesty matter most to me, values that were ingrained in me through my military background alongside leadership, loyalty, duty, respect, honor, self-service, and personal courage. I believe that transparency in leadership positions empowers employees and builds stronger, more trusting organizations.
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