Cecelia Corson, PhD, MBA

Positive Organizational Psychologist, Executive Leadership Coach, Experienced Facilitator and Educator

BACKGROUND

Dr. Cecelia Corson is an organizational psychologist and executive coach who partners with women leaders and organizations to strengthen leadership capabilities including identity, influence, and effectiveness in complex, high-stakes environments. She brings more than 20 years of experience spanning healthcare, biotech, technology, and higher education, with a career rooted in leadership development, organizational culture, and behavior change.

Cecelia specializes in coaching women leaders who are navigating promotion readiness, expanded scope, visibility, and complex organizational dynamics. Her coaching supports women leaders in developing clarity, confidence, and influence—particularly at critical career inflection points where identity, power, and expectations converge.

Her work is deeply informed by organizational psychology, leadership, and motivation research, as well as extensive applied experience designing and leading enterprise-wide leadership development programs. Cecelia has coached more than 200 leaders across levels and functions, and has designed and delivered leadership initiatives focused on leader identity development, cultivating presence and influence, and sustainable performance through focusing on wellbeing.

Cecelia’s coaching approach is evidence-based, reflective, and practical. She helps leaders translate insight into meaningful behavior change by combining rigorous assessment, structured reflection, and real-world experimentation. Her style balances challenge and support, encouraging leaders to lead with greater intention while remaining grounded in their values, strengths, and identity.

Cecelia works with women leaders across healthcare, biotech, technology, and mission-driven organizations through individual executive coaching, leadership development programs, and targeted coaching engagements for high-potential and high-impact leaders.

"Empowering Organizations Through Positive Psychology, Leadership Excellence, and Transformative Change"

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As a former competitive swimmer, marathoner, and triathlete, Cecelia takes advantage of the California sun with regular outdoor nature workouts.  She lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA with her amazing husband, her two magical daughters, and their very distinguished dogs, Archie and Winston.

  • Having focused her education and coach training in concepts of positive organizational psychology, neuroscience, and appreciative inquiry, Cecelia’s approach to coaching combines transformative thinking with goal- and solution-oriented action planning. She believes that people learn and perform at their best when they experience positive emotions, so she orients her coaching practice using strengths, humor, connection, honesty, and authenticity. She approaches her coaching conversations with a lens of curiosity and non-judgement, and openness to the direction the conversations take her and her clients.

  • PhD, Positive Organizational Psychology, Claremont Graduate University

    MBA, University of California, San Diego

    MS, Global Business Leadership, University of San Diego

    BS, Psychology, University of California, Davis

  • ICF/International Coaching Federation Accredited Coach, ACC

    The NeuroLeadership Institute, Brain Based Coach Training

    Shift Positive, Shift+ 360 Feedback Training

    Case Western Reserve, Appreciative Inquiry Practitioner Executive Training

    Positive Intelligence, Coach Training

    LeAD Labs, LeAD Self-Assessment and 360 Debrief Certified

    Claremont Graduate University, Preparing Future Faculty Certificate