Coaching Courage, LLC Earns LGBTBE® Certification

We’re proud to celebrate Shannon Cochran-Yzquierdo and Coaching Courage, LLC on their recent LGBTBE® certification. The conversation below explores the work behind the business, the path that led here, and what this milestone represents.

How would you describe your business and what you do?

I am the Founder and Executive Coach of Coaching Courage, LLC, where I work as a Leadership Coach, Facilitator, Motivational Speaker, and Certified Grief Educator. I empower leaders and individuals across various industries to build their "courage muscle" through confidence building, gentle challenges to step outside their comfort zone, and by working through stress-induced and anxiety-filled professional challenges. My services include ICF-credentialed executive coaching, motivational speaking, and facilitating high-impact inclusivity and leadership programs. In addition to my corporate work, I spearhead specialized grief workshops, such as Threads of Courage: Navigating Loss and A Tapestry of Courage: Weaving Love and Preparation in the Face of Terminal Illness, creating safe environments for demographics facing the anticipation and aftermath of loss. Ultimately, my approach combines "truth to power" candor with gentle support, helping clients safely navigate difficult conversations, complex environments, and see their true leadership potential.

When was your business founded, and what inspired you to start it?

I founded Coaching Courage, LLC in September 2019. After earning my Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University in 2020, I was inspired to launch a business that combined all of my diverse educational and professional experiences into one dynamic role. With a servant’s heart, I find profound joy and gratitude in supporting others on their courageous journeys of growth, empowerment, and self-awareness. Later, my mission expanded in a deeply personal way: my experience as a caregiver for my father, who passed away in 2023, inspired me to become a Certified Grief Educator and develop grief-specific workshops. I want to honor his legacy by ensuring no family ever has to walk the path of terminal illness alone.

What sets your business apart, or what do you most want people to understand about your work?

I am a professional unicorn! My career spans over 25 years and includes some wild, glitter-filled, and beautiful pivots: I transitioned from a high school science teacher and head volleyball coach to an FBI Intelligence Analyst, an Intelligence Community Government Contractor, and finally an Executive Coach. This diverse background, paired with my outgoing, playful, and bold personality, allows me to be completely fearless when entering uncharted waters with my clients.

What really sets my work apart is how I blend emotional intelligence with structural discipline. For example, I use my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification to bring clarity and accountability to the chaotic journey of grief, helping clients manage the logistical "business of dying" so they can focus on the "business of living and loving". I also guide my clients through what I call "The Onion Story," helping them peel back their protective layers—even the raw, messy, and stinky ones—to reveal their inner wisdom and vulnerabilities.

What does being an LGBT Business Enterprise® mean to you, and how do your values show up in how you run your business?

Becoming a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE) is incredibly meaningful because it honors the intersectionality of who I am. I draw heavily on my own life experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as my mixed Hispanic and Caucasian heritage, to inform my coaching style. This directly translates to my business values: I am deeply committed to supporting and strengthening the leadership capacity of women, minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

My professional ethos is anchored by a framework I call COURAGE: Connection, Optimism, Understanding, Respect, Accountability, Gratitude, and Equity. These values show up every day as I work to create psychological safety for my clients to explore their authenticity, challenge their boundaries, and ensure equitable opportunities for every single team and individual I support.