Monica Cohen inspires bold leadership in a fast-changing world shaped by AI, culture, and constant disruption.
5.00 of 5
Top rated!5 of 5
Loved your message! It was funny and inspiring and the perfect finale to the morning. A great reminder to GO!
Kelly Cooper, Managing Director
Parris Communications
Monica Cohen is a keynote speaker who challenges leaders to rethink what it takes to succeed in today’s fast-moving world. With a career built on bold decisions and a willingness to question the status quo, she brings sharp insight and real experience to the stage. From leading large-scale transformation to navigating innovation in complex organizations, Monica shows how courageous leadership creates meaningful results. Her talks are engaging, honest, and packed with practical takeaways that inspire audiences to step up, think differently, and lead with confidence.
Monica Cohen has built her career on a clear and powerful belief: leadership is about being bold. It is about stepping forward when others hesitate, challenging what no longer works, and making decisions with intention. Her journey from intern to the C-suite reflects exactly that mindset, a willingness to take smart risks, speak up, and act when it matters most.
Today, Monica Cohen is a sought-after keynote speaker known for delivering high-impact talks that resonate with leaders and teams navigating change. She brings a refreshing perspective to leadership, one that cuts through noise and focuses on what actually drives progress in modern organizations.
As an executive at Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), Monica played a central role in shaping strategy, innovation, and transformation within a $24 billion global food and beverage company with 20,000 employees. In a complex and evolving industry, she led teams through change and demonstrated how bold leadership translates into tangible business outcomes.
Her ability to align people, strategy, and culture made a measurable difference. She showed that when leaders create an environment where people feel empowered to act, innovation follows naturally.
Later, as CEO of the American Cider Association, Monica brought that same energy and clarity to an entirely different challenge. She worked to elevate U.S. hard cider in a competitive and rapidly developing market, positioning the category for growth and recognition. Her leadership combined strategic thinking with a deep understanding of how to move an industry forward.
Monica Cohen’s keynote, Bold Leadership in the Age of AI, speaks directly to the challenges leaders face today. In a world shaped by rapid technological change and constant disruption, traditional leadership approaches are no longer enough.
Her message is clear: old playbooks don’t work anymore. Leaders need to rethink how they lead, how they make decisions, and how they engage their people.
Through her keynote, Monica helps audiences:
Her style is direct, engaging, and grounded in real experience. She combines humor, honesty, and practical insight, making her message both relatable and actionable.
One of Monica’s core strengths is her ability to show how leadership shapes culture. She believes that organizations succeed when people are encouraged to step up, contribute ideas, and take ownership.
Rather than focusing on theory, she shares what actually works inside organizations. She explains how leaders can remove barriers, build trust, and create momentum across teams.
Her approach helps leaders move from control to empowerment, from hesitation to action. The result is a culture where people don’t just follow, they contribute, innovate, and drive progress.
Monica Cohen is also a powerful voice in women’s empowerment. Drawing on her experience as the only woman in the C-suite at DFA, she speaks openly about the realities of leadership, growth, and responsibility.
Her message is grounded in experience, both the wins and the challenges. She shares the mindset, tools, and lessons that helped her rise, offering practical guidance for women who want to take ownership of their careers.
She encourages women to:
Her talks are honest, motivating, and empowering, giving audiences both inspiration and direction.
Monica Cohen delivers keynotes that leave a lasting impression. She challenges assumptions, sparks new thinking, and equips audiences with tools they can use immediately.
Whether speaking on leadership, innovation, corporate culture, artificial intelligence, or women’s empowerment, she brings clarity, energy, and depth to every stage.
If you are looking for a speaker who can inspire bold action and help your audience navigate a changing world with confidence, Monica Cohen is a compelling choice.
5 of 5
Loved your message! It was funny and inspiring and the perfect finale to the morning. A great reminder to GO!
Kelly Cooper, Managing Director Parris Communications
Monica Cohen
5 of 5
Your presentation was incredibly powerful…your confidence, insight, and authenticity truly resonated with us. You have a remarkable gift for connecting with people and making complex ideas feel accessible and inspiring. Thank you for the words of wisdom from your journey!
Hannah Klanke, Director of Consulting Netsmart
Monica Cohen
5 of 5
You were amazing! I couldn’t believe how much great stuff was all packed in before lunchtime! We are women who get s#!+ done!
Courtney Krusemark Registered Nurse and Health Coach, Under the Hood
Monica Cohen
5 of 5
Monica Cohen’s session was exactly the kind of leadership conversation our industry needs right now. She spoke with honesty, authority, and heart about what it truly takes to challenge entrenched systems and create meaningful change. Her message wasn’t about disruption for attention…it was about ownership, vision, and sustainable growth. Attendees walked away not just inspired, but equipped with practical strategies to redefine what’s possible in their careers and communities.
Erin Wallace Pink Boots Society, Board President + Conference Committee
Monica Cohen
5 of 5
She really tells it like it is and really connects with the audience in a way that is empowering and energizing.
Charlie Arnot Center for Food Integrity
Monica Cohen
5 of 5
Your presentation hit home as someone who could be more adventurous in work decisions. I appreciated the stories you wove through. Keep on being awesome and encouraging us to think differently!
Jolene Griffen United Dairy Industry of Michigan
Monica Cohen
5 of 5
I had the pleasure of attending your speech yesterday for IBA Women in Banking, and I must say, you were my favorite speaker out of the day.
Alysha Martin People’s Bank
Monica Cohen
5 of 5
Monica is a speaker who really prepares and delivers. She’s a top tier, strategic business leader yet understands consumers and society. She also engages audiences with candor.
Richard Hall Zenith Global
Monica Cohen
5 of 5
Phenomenal presentation. After lunch, energy is typically low, you really brought the goods!
Andrew Rose Bio-ISAC
Monica Cohen
5 of 5
I had the privilege of hearing Monica speak at an education forum with MPI, and her words truly resonated with me. Her insights and experiences mirrored many of the challenges I was facing in my own career. Inspired by her compelling speech, I reached out to Monica afterward, and she graciously took the time to connect with me.
Laura Hamilton, Director-Jayhawk Hospitality The University Kansas
Monica Cohen
5 of 5
Monica, Wow, you are an absolutely amazing speaker! I was on the edge of my seat and loved your message!
Audra Dinell, Founder of the Thread Kansas Chamber of Commerce
Monica Cohen
5 of 5
When Monica Massey presented at the Iowa Bankers Association Women in Banking Forum in June 2024, she left the audience invigorated, recharged and ready to make a difference for themselves and their employers! I hope you know that your work is truly inspiring to many young women like myself, we were speaking about you the rest of the day! You were awesome! I am so reenergized!
Iowa Bankers Association Women in Banking Conference
Monica Cohen
Keynote by Monica Cohen:
Bold organizations aren’t built by cautious leaders. They’re built by people willing to challenge what’s comfortable, question what’s working, and take smart risks before everyone else does.
That hasn’t changed.
What has changed? The speed. The stakes. The tools.
AI is here. Disruption is constant. And leaders everywhere are asking the same question: How do I leverage this without losing what makes us good?
Monica Cohen doesn’t preach hype or fear. Instead, she draws upon her decades in corporate America. Using her Bold Leadership Blueprint...a practical, no-fluff framework for leading in today’s ever-changing and increasingly AI-driven world, she shows why it’s not the companies with the most tools that win. It’s those who empower their people that do.
Attendees will learn how to:
Keynote by Monica Cohen:
In addition to her innovation and culture thought leadership, Monica is a highly- sought after women’s empowerment speaker. The only female in the C-suite of a $24-bil-dollar global org, Monica knows what it takes to not only survive, but thrive in a male-dominated industry.
In this electrifying talk, she challenges women to stop waiting for permission to take a seat at the table and instead build their own.
She reveals the tactics to help women assert themselves, negotiate like a boss, and unapologetically claim their value. No more asking for a chance...this is about seizing your power, smashing the glass ceiling, and turning your biggest dreams into a reality.
Audience Takeaways:
Watch Monica Cohen in action!
