Meet Ed Cohen
Ed Cohen
Ed Cohen’s life is a powerful testament to resilience, transformation, and global leadership. Born into a family plagued by severe abuse and turmoil, Ed’s early years were marked by fear, instability, and the constant threat of violence. To the outside world, he wore a mask of normalcy, concealing the pain that defined his childhood. Behind this façade, however, Ed was quietly forging a path to survival, using education as a lifeline and drawing strength from key individuals who believed in his potential.
Despite these early challenges, Ed rose from humble beginnings to become a globally recognized leader in talent development, executive coaching, and leadership strategy, with a career spanning over four decades. He has worked with prestigious organizations such as Booz Allen Hamilton and Tech Mahindra, where his leadership during the Satyam crisis (2009) played a pivotal role in rebuilding the company’s leadership pipeline. His expertise in crisis management, learning initiatives, and leadership development has left an indelible mark on the global stage, transforming the futures of thousands of professionals across industries.
Ed’s global perspective is not only informed by his professional experience but also by his extensive travel and time spent abroad. Having lived in India for seven years, Ed gained a deep understanding of cross-cultural leadership and community resilience. His immersion in Indian culture, coupled with his involvement in humanitarian efforts—including supporting local orphanages—has further enriched his approach to leadership and social impact. His time in India shaped his worldview, reinforcing his commitment to fostering leadership across diverse cultures and driving social change.
With a passion for education, Ed has traveled to more than seventy-five countries, delivering keynote speeches, facilitating leadership workshops, and inspiring organizations worldwide. His global experiences have deepened his understanding of leadership dynamics, adaptability, and resilience, which he has shared in his writing and public speaking.
An accomplished author, Ed has written extensively on leadership, learning, and global talent management. His books Leadership Without Borders (John Wiley & Sons, 2007) and Riding the Tiger (ASTD Press, 2010) are widely regarded in the fields of cross-cultural leadership and have sold thousands of copies worldwide. Throughout his career, he has published hundreds of articles and delivered speeches at international conferences, sharing his insights on leadership, crisis management, and the importance of continuous learning. His thought leadership has made a lasting impact on the global talent development field, inspiring tens of thousands of professionals.
Today, Ed combines his professional expertise with his personal journey in his latest book, VULNERABLE: One Man’s Journey from Abuse to Abundance. In this deeply personal memoir, Ed breaks his silence about the childhood trauma that shaped his life and shares his powerful journey to healing. His story is not just a testament to survival but a beacon of hope and empowerment for abuse survivors worldwide. Through his work, Ed continues to inspire others to transform their pain into purpose, break their silence, and embrace resilience.
Upcoming Book
VULNERABLE
VULNERABLE is an urgent call to action—the start of a movement to break the crushing silence of abuse and help people reclaim their lives.
Book Coming Soon
One Man’s Journey from Abuse to Abundance
1959
My Birth and Early Childhood
Born into a family scarred by severe abuse, my father’s physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual violence shaped my life from the start.
1966
A Spark of Resilience
Severely burned at six, I spent months in the hospital enduring infections, surgeries, and a coma. Mrs. Hanson, my first-grade teacher, became a lifeline, showing me that kindness could exist amid suffering. Even after I nearly died, my father’s abuse continued relentlessly.
Late 1960s
Coping Mechanisms
As my father’s abuse persisted, I created the mantra, “I’m not crazy; he is,” to keep my sanity and remind myself that he was the one who was sick. Watching civil rights and women’s movements on TV sparked a longing in me to stand against injustice and one day escape my prison.
1969
A Glimmer of Hope
Watching the Apollo 11 landing and the first person walk on the moon inspired me. It served as a moment of hope that maybe I, too, could escape. Yet my father’s vengeance remained an ever-present part of my life.
Early 1970s
Forced Labor and Moral Conflict
At ten years of age, I was forced to work at my father’s gas station, where I witnessed his infidelities and endured his manipulation.
1971
The Labor Day Nightmare
On this holiday weekend, my father stabbed my mother. Later, he held a knife to my throat, claiming he had already killed her and my sister. Inside, I was screaming, “Just do it.”
1975
My Father’s Suicide
My father’s death brought complicated feelings of relief, guilt, and lingering trauma. The nightmares of his violence stayed with me, even in his absence.
1976
A New Beginning at University
Education became my escape. I left for college at sixteen. I saw education as my path to freedom and a new beginning.
1980s
Darkness and Isolation
While living in New York and working at IBM, I appeared successful on the outside but was trapped in a cycle of bulimia, obsessive exercise, and isolation. Out of desperation, I sought encounters with strangers, perpetuating my own suffering.
1989
A True Partnership
Marriage brought moments of joy, while adopting our daughter offered a glimpse of hope. Despite these incredible additions to my life, I remained haunted, locked in a constant battle with the ghost of a past I couldn’t escape.
Early 2000s
Confronting the Past
My journey continued, supported by therapy, retreats, resilience-building, and the care of a few close allies, helping me move forward even as pain resurfaced unexpectedly. For the first time, I explored vulnerability, confronted my biases, and began breaking the silence around my past.
2003
Loss of Guiding Lights
My mother’s death reopened old wounds, plunging me back into depression and self-abusive behaviors. A year later, my Aunt Audre, my guiding light, passed away. Her final words urged me to release the past and embrace my future.
2005-2012
Growth in India
Moving to India opened new paths for healing. Volunteering at a Hyderabad orphanage, I connected with children who had also suffered deeply. By helping them, I found renewed strength and purpose in my own journey.
Late 2010s
Embracing Vulnerability:
During these years, I gradually broke the silence around my pain, finding strength in being vulnerable rather than viewing it as a weakness. I continued to confront the shadows of my past with greater awareness, transforming buried pain into resilience and healing.
2024
Breaking the Silence
Writing Vulnerable has transformed my pain into resilience, encouraging others to end the silence and find strength in vulnerability. This journey isn’t just mine—it’s a movement for others to reclaim their voices, shed their masks, and journey from abuse to abundance.