Shannon Cochran-Yzquierdo, ACC, PMP
Shannon Cochran-Yzquierdo is the founder and owner of Coaching Courage, LLC, where she empowers leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals to build confidence, deepen self-awareness, and lead with authenticity. Her career journey is marked by bold transitions—from beginning as a public school science teacher in Oklahoma to pursuing a master’s degree in forensic science, and later entering the world of federal service. Although an injury during FBI new agent training redirected her path, Shannon pivoted into intelligence analysis and went on to spend nearly two decades as a government contractor supporting the U.S. intelligence community.
Over time, Shannon’s work evolved from analytical and operational roles into people-centered leadership development. While serving as a relationship manager with the FBI, she discovered a passion for listening to leaders’ challenges and helping them navigate complex professional landscapes. Encouraged by a mentor, she pursued executive coaching through Georgetown University, which became a turning point in her career. Today, she works with executives and emerging leaders to strengthen their “courage muscle,” guiding them to embrace discomfort, expand their perspective, and grow into more effective, self-aware leaders.
Shannon’s coaching is deeply influenced by her diverse life experiences, including her multicultural background and identity within the LGBTQ+ community, allowing her to connect authentically with a wide range of clients. After the passing of her father in 2023, she further expanded her work by creating grief-focused workshops to support others navigating loss. Now a full-time entrepreneur, she combines her background in science, intelligence, and leadership development to deliver impactful coaching, facilitation, and speaking. Outside of her work, Shannon enjoys spending time with her wife, exploring nature, and giving back through volunteer efforts, living out her mission of helping others lead with courage and purpose.
• Certified Grief Educator
• University of Central Oklahoma
Bachelor of Science, Biology Education; Secondary Education
• University of Central Oklahoma
Master of Science, Forensic Science (Technical Investigations)
• Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
Executive Certificate, Leadership Coaching
• Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
Executive Certificate, Facilitation
• ASIS International
• International Coaching Federation
• Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce
• St. Baldrick's Foundation - Children's Cancer Research
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to relationships that I've built over time. I think having a respect and a want to learn and a curiosity about what makes people tick. I think those three things really are what I attribute my success to.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to find a mentor, whether it be someone that is younger than you or older than you, because I think both ages and both generations have a lot to offer. And network. Be sure to network. Even if you hate going out there and meeting people, set yourself a goal of, let me meet 3 people, and then I'm gonna go to my room and disconnect, especially if you're an introvert. If you do it with intentionality, you're gonna meet the people that are really also there for the same reasons, whatever it could be - a cocktail hour, a conference, a speaking engagement. Network, network, network. That would be the biggest, followed by Find a Mentor.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say find the people that know more than you and really just be a sponge. Soak it up - the knowledge, the information, the wisdom - and take what you want. You don't have to use everything that somebody has to offer, because maybe that's not, it doesn't fit into who you are as a person and a leader. Really take what you can from the people that have been there and have done some of the things that you're trying to do, and just take that as information and data that you can learn from. You don't have to use it, but you can certainly learn from it. That's what I would say - find people that know more than you, whether they be mentors or just advisors.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that I really follow in my personal life and also in my business are connection - I really want to make sure that I connect with the people that I'm supporting. Optimism - really staying optimistic, even when things around us seem so dark. I think there is definitely a benefit to staying optimistic. Understanding - trying to understand my clients' challenges and issues, and really helping to support them through that. Respect is a big one - really having respect for the person that's on the other side of a Zoom call, in person or online. Accountability is another big one. It drives me a little batty when people aren't held accountable for things that they say and do. I believe that accountability is one way that we learn, and there's a lot of really big growth lessons in that. If we're not held accountable, then we as people, it's human nature to keep pushing the boundaries. Gratitude - just being grateful for things each day, the big things, the little things, everything in between. And I think the final one, probably one of the biggest, is equity - making sure that my clients have equitable opportunities, and I hope to help them with that. And they spell out courage.