September 9, 2026 – High-performing sales reps and startup founders operate in different arenas, but the underlying demands are strikingly similar: uncertainty, pressure, constant learning and the need to perform while building something from scratch.
As author and keynote speaker Alisa Cohn puts it, success in both worlds comes down to “learning rapidly, adapting rapidly to current situation.” The best performers execute – and evolve – in real time.
Cohn is an executive coach who works with startup founders, CEOs and senior leaders to help them scale not just their companies, but their leadership. She is the author of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, an award-winning book that explores how founders evolve as their businesses grow. Cohn has coached leadership teams at high-growth startups like Venmo, Etsy and DraftKings, as well as major organizations such as Google, IBM and Microsoft. Her work focuses on helping leaders build self-awareness, improve communication and navigate the challenges of rapid growth and uncertainty.
In an interview with Repertoire Magazine, Cohn shared several valuable insights reps can take from business founders and successful entrepreneurs.