In the high-stakes business world, where challenges often appear as fast as successes, one trait consistently sets great leaders apart: resilience.
Alison Godfrey knows this well. A former C-suite executive turned executive coach, Alison has spent over four decades helping leaders endure challenges and transform them into stepping stones for growth. With an extensive career spanning leading international startups to founding research labs backed by tech icons, Alison now channels her experience into cultivating resilient, impactful leaders through her work with the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute and her own business: AG Concierge Executive Coaching. Her mission? To teach that resilience is more than just “bouncing back”—it’s about reframing setbacks, adapting, and emerging stronger.
In her coaching practice, Alison empowers leaders to face tough moments with renewed strength and perspective.
Alison Godfrey: A Lifetime of Leadership and Adaptation
Alison’s career spans a variety of roles, from CEO of innovative research firms to founding AG Concierge Executive Coaching to the position of Executive Coach and Facilitator at the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute.
One of the defining moments in Alison’s career came during her tenure as CEO of Concentric Advisors in Texas, where she led a groundbreaking research lab, collaborating closely with some of the world’s premier minds in science and technology. Her team consisted of experts in physics, electrochemistry, and materials science, all working under the strategic direction of Bill Gates. When Gates’ company decided to close the lab, Alison found herself at a crossroads. “I felt devastated,” she recalls. “For a long time, I blamed myself, questioning what I could have done differently.” But with time, Alison reframed the setback as an opportunity, pivoting into executive coaching and finding renewed purpose in empowering others. Her learning from this journey was extensive and could not have happened had she known the truth about why the lab was shuttered: the impending pandemic that struck 2 months later.
The Power of Reframing Setbacks
Alison’s journey into coaching was marked by resilience—a quality she now instills in her clients. “Resilience is the story we tell ourselves about the challenges we face,” she explains.
By changing the narrative, leaders can transform adversity into valuable learning experiences. During the pandemic, when the world moved online, Alison embraced virtual coaching, expanding her reach globally. This transition allowed her to continue her passion for leadership development while adapting to new realities.
In her work with clients, Alison helps leaders reframe setbacks to foster growth rather than defeat. One of her clients, struggling with long-term unemployment, felt increasingly disheartened. Alison’s coaching enabled them to reframe the experience, focusing on personal growth and rediscovering their self-worth. “Resilience isn’t about bouncing back; it’s about learning from our toughest moments and moving forward stronger,” Alison explains. Her methods empower leaders to embrace their stories, even the challenging parts, as integral aspects of their leadership journey.
Teaching Resilience in Leadership: Why It Matters
At Berkeley’s Haas Business School, Alison delivered Executive Leadership and Communication courses, guiding Executive MBA candidates in developing the resilience they need to lead in an unpredictable world. Her lessons in emotional intelligence and strategic leadership focused on helping executives navigate fear, insecurity, and other complex emotions that surface in high-stakes environments. Through her coaching, Alison cultivates a mindset shift in leaders, equipping them with the tools to manage difficult emotions constructively rather than avoiding them.
For Alison, resilience is an individual trait and a critical leadership skill that fosters a positive organizational culture. She encourages leaders to model team resilience, creating a supportive environment where challenges are seen as learning opportunities. This, in turn, promotes a culture of continuous improvement, where setbacks are embraced and growth is celebrated.
Why Resilience Matters More Than Ever
Resilience has become an essential leadership quality in modern business’s complex and demanding world. Leaders who can adapt, learn, and grow from their experiences are better positioned to guide their teams through periods of change and upheaval.
Alison Godfrey’s journey—from navigating the unexpected closure of a lab to becoming an executive coach—demonstrates the power of resilience as a transformative force in leadership.
As Alison continues her work with AG Concierge Executive Coaching and the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, she remains committed to helping leaders harness the power of resilience to overcome obstacles and drive impactful, sustainable growth. By cultivating resilience in themselves, today’s leaders can not only navigate their challenges but also inspire a culture of strength, adaptability, and innovation within their organizations.
Published By: Aize Perez
