From Fortune 500 C-Suite
to Your Success Partner
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Dr. Joan Lawrence-Ross brings the rare combination of senior executive experience and advanced psychological expertise to help leaders unlock their hidden potential and fearlessly pursue the roles they were meant for.
Meet Our Founder
THE EXECUTIVE WHO BECAME THE COACH
What sets Dr. Joan apart from other leadership coaches? She has been exactly where you are—and where you want to go.
The Pattern She Could Not Ignore
After serving as Global Chief Learning Officer at AIG, Vice President and Chief Learning Officer at AXA Equitable, and Senior Vice President of Learning & Development at Citigroup, Dr. Joan had seen a troubling pattern repeat itself across three of the world's most prestigious financial institutions.
Brilliant executives were plateauing—not because they lacked skill, but because they were paralyzed by fear.
She watched talented leaders turn down stretch assignments. She saw capable professionals sabotage their own promotions by waiting for "perfect readiness" that would never come. She observed high-potential executives avoid complex, challenging opportunities because they feared they were not "quite ready yet."
The biggest barrier to executive success was not capability. It was the fear of stepping into hidden potential.
The corporate playbook for leadership development was failing the very people it claimed to serve. Programs focused on skills and competencies but ignored the psychological barriers that kept talented leaders playing small.
The Discovery That Changed Everything
Drawing on her dual Ph.D. credentials in Training & Performance Improvement (Capella University) and Industrial & Organizational Psychology (CUNY Baruch College), combined with over 25 years of Fortune 500 C-suite experience, Dr. Joan uncovered a transformative truth:
When executives learn to transform fear into courage, build unshakeable confidence, and commit fully to their vision—they don't just advance. They become the leaders that successful companies are quick to hire and fight to keep.
This insight became the foundation of her proprietary 3C Leadership Method: Courage gets you started, Confidence keeps you going, and Commitment brings the win.
The Decision That Defined a Mission
In 2014, Dr. Joan faced her own moment of choice: continue the prestige and security of corporate C-suite roles or pursue what she had discovered to be her true calling—helping executives unlock the potential that fear was keeping locked away.
She chose transformation over tradition. She founded Uncomon Resilience LLC with a singular focus: help ambitious executives discover their hidden potential and fearlessly pursue the leadership roles they were meant for.
This was not just a career change. It was personal. Every breakthrough, every promotion, every moment when a client realizes their true worth becomes her victory too. As she puts it:
"I live vicariously through the success of others. Their wins are my wins. I love the discovery of hope for people who are under-estimated, under-valued and under-appreciated."
Relentless Pursuit of Excellence!
Unmatched Credentials
Core Academic Focus
- Ph.D. in Training and Performance Improvement - Capella University
- Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology - CUNY Baruch College
- M.S. in Applied Psychology/Organizational Behavior - Stevens Institute of Technology
Elite Coaching & Consulting Affiliations
- Executive Coach for Spencer Stuart - Top-tier executive search and leadership advisory
- Executive Coach for Kincentric - A Spencer Stuart Company
- Executive Coach for Aon - Top-tier professional services company and Global HR consulting
- Consultant & Adjunct Faculty - Mona School of Business, University of the West Indies
Fortune 500 Executive Track Record
Dr. Joan's approach to executive coaching is not theoretical—it is born from decades of leading transformational change at the highest levels of global business.
AIG (2012-2014) | Global Chief Learning Officer
Led worldwide learning and development strategy for one of the world's largest insurance companies, building comprehensive leadership development programs and performance management systems that prepared executives for the demands of global leadership.
AXA Equitable (2007-2012) | Vice President, Chief Learning Officer
Designed and implemented sustainable learning models, created the Management Professional College, and steered organization-wide culture change initiatives across the enterprise. Her strategies tested at AIG, AXA, and Citi now form the backbone of her coaching methodology.
Citigroup (2000-2007) | Senior Vice President, Learning & Development
Spearheaded global learning initiatives across 100+ countries, managed relationships at all organizational levels, and reduced global training costs by 15-20% annually while dramatically improving leadership development effectiveness. These results were not about cutting budgets—they were about strategic precision in developing leaders who deliver.
The Track Record Since 2014
Since founding Uncomon Resilience, Dr. Joan has:
- Transformed hundreds of executives from self-doubt to fearless leadership
- Guided leaders to C-suite roles, including CEO placements at mid-size insurance and technology companies
- Partnered with elite firms Spencer Stuart and Kincentric (a Spencer Stuart Company) as an executive coach and strategic consultant
- Delivered measurable results across global corporations spanning Financial Services, Insurance, Consumer Goods, Pharmaceuticals, Energy, Telecommunications, Professional Services, and Government
- Built programs that combine cutting-edge organizational psychology with battle-tested executive strategies and holistic human development
The Proof Is in the Transformation
"She was laid off after 20 years as a senior executive at her company. Uncertain about her next move and doubting her capabilities, she couldn't see what I saw immediately—that she was CEO material. After just a couple of conversations about pursuing those opportunities instead of playing it safe, she gained the courage to sign with an executive search firm. Today, she's the CEO of a mid-size insurance company."
This is the power of discovering your hidden potential and refusing to let fear dictate your next chapter.
What Makes Dr. Joan Different From Other Executive Coaches
She Has Been Where You Want to Go
Dr. Joan is not a theorist who studied leadership from the sidelines. She is a former Fortune 500 C-suite executive who led global learning strategies, navigated high-stakes organizational politics, made decisions affecting thousands of employees across 100+ countries, and delivered transformational results while managing billion-dollar responsibilities.
She understands what it is like to sit in your chair because she has sat in it herself—and succeeded. When she coaches you through a complex stakeholder challenge or a high-pressure decision, she is drawing from lived experience, not textbook theory.
"My clients often say working with me feels like I have a crystal ball - I see their potential, their blind spots, their path forward before they can. That's because I've learned to look beyond credentials and titles to see the leader within."
Dual Ph.D. Expertise That Addresses Both Mind and Method
Most coaches focus on either the psychological or the tactical. Dr. Joan's unique combination of Training & Performance Improvement (Capella) and Industrial & Organizational Psychology (CUNY Baruch College) means she addresses both simultaneously.
She understands the internal barriers (fear, self-doubt, imposter syndrome) and the external strategies (stakeholder management, executive presence, strategic decision-making). This dual expertise is rare and powerful.
Assessment-Driven Precision
Every coaching relationship begins with comprehensive insight assessments that identify your specific strengths, growth opportunities, and hidden potential. This is not generic coaching with one-size-fits-all advice. It is precision-targeted development focused on what matters most for your unique situation.
You do not waste time on irrelevant topics. You focus on the 20% of development that will drive 80% of your results.
Proven Methodology Tested at the Highest Levels
The 3C Leadership Method is not new-age theory. It is a framework refined over 25+ years working with Fortune 500 executives at AIG, AXA, and Citigroup, then battle-tested with hundreds of coaching clients since 2014.
Dr. Joan's strategies are not experimental. They are proven at the highest levels of global business and adapted specifically for your situation.
Global Perspective Meets Local Reality
Having led initiatives across North America, EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, Dr. Joan brings a multicultural understanding of leadership challenges. She currently serves clients across New York, New Jersey, China, Turkey, Switzerland, and beyond.
She understands that leadership principles are universal, but their application must account for cultural context, organizational politics, and industry-specific realities.
Elite Network and Strategic Partnerships
As an executive coach for Spencer Stuart (top-tier executive search) and consultant for Kincentric (a Spencer Stuart Company focused on HR consulting), Dr. Joan operates at the intersection of talent strategy and leadership development.
She understands what executive search firms look for in C-suite candidates because she works with them. She knows what separates the executives who get promoted from those who plateau because she has seen it from both the corporate and consulting perspectives.
Global Expertise & Industry Mastery
Industries Served
Dr. Joan has held senior executive roles and provided consulting services across:
- Financial Services
- Insurance
- Consumer Goods
- Pharmaceuticals
- Energy & Telecommunications
- Professional Services
- Government Agencies
International Experience
Having worked across EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, Dr. Joan brings a global perspective to leadership challenges.Â
How UNCOMON Began: A Legacy of Serendipity
The story of UNCOMON Resilience begins with an unexpected moment and a beloved companion.
In 2014, as I was registering my business name "Uncommon Resilience," my dog Winnie jumped onto my laptop. In one miraculous motion, she deleted an 'M' and hit enter—officially registering "UNCOMON Resilience" with the state.
Most people would have seen this as a mistake to correct. I saw it as a sign.
The name was now truly uncommon—different, distinctive, memorable. It perfectly captured what I help leaders become: not just excellent, but genuinely uncommon in their approach, their impact, and their results.
I kept the name. I embraced what made it different. And I built a business philosophy around that moment: excellence requires breaking from convention and embracing what makes you distinctively powerful.
Winnie gave me 12 beautiful years before cancer took her in February 2022. But her legacy lives on in every leader we transform, every breakthrough our clients achieve, and in the very name that reminds us all to embrace what makes us UNCOMON.
To Winnie: Thank you for the gift of a name that would define a movement.
OUR MISSION
Help you master essential leadership skills to increase your impact, influence, income, personal and professional achievements.
OUR VISION
Reach one million individuals with our Leadership Success Accelerator programs and create a global community of high-performing leaders.
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"Courage gets you started, Confidence keeps you going, and Commitment brings the win."Â
— Dr. Joan Lawrence-Ross
THE 3C LEADERSHIP METHOD
Dr. Joan's Signature Approach
Born from decades of executive experience and psychological expertise, the 3C Leadership Method transforms fear into fearless leadership:
COURAGE Gets You Started
"Do not fear change. Do not fear starting over."
CONFIDENCE Keeps You Going
"Never let the negative comments of others distract you from your goals."
COMMITMENT Brings the Win
"Extraordinary results require extraordinary persistence."
A Transformation That Says It All
"She was laid off after 20 years as a senior executive at her company. Uncertain about her next move and doubting her capabilities, she couldn't see what I saw immediately—that she was CEO material. After just a couple of conversations about pursuing those opportunities instead of playing it safe, she gained the courage to sign with an executive search firm. Today, she's the CEO of a mid-size insurance company."
This is the power of discovering your hidden potential and refusing to let fear dictate your next chapter.
What Our Clients Say
"I was asked to take over a very high-profile, highly controversial project, the kind of project no-one volunteers for. Working with Joan provided support and mental stability during times of adversity, giving me guidance to help weather difficult circumstances, conversations, and decisions. The coaching sessions gave me the accelerated support, frameworks, and techniques that proved crucial to moving the project forward."
(Chetan P.)
"It was like Joan had a crystal ball and could see all my potential. I was able to identify specific areas for improvement, learned new skills and implemented strategies that solved recurring issues that many of my peers still struggle with. I am now coaching some of my peers using the techniques and tools I picked up during my coaching sessions."
(Michael N.)
"Joan provided me with tools to help me stay focused on my goals while managing competing priorities and day-to-day tasks. I no longer feel overwhelmed, I now know how to renegotiate on competing priorities and balance the workload for my team without compromising on delivering significant results."
(Katy M.)
“I was the person people did not feel comfortable to approach. I was the leader who lost patience with team members who did not think, act, or speak like me. I was the leader people were quick to leave to work for someone else. After working with Joan, I am now the person, who people are eager to work, partner and do business with.”
(Vidya S.)
Why Executives Choose Uncomon Resilience
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The Unique Advantage
When you work with Dr. Joan, you are not just getting a coach—you are getting a strategic partner who:
âś… Understands Your World ... she has navigated the exact challenges you face
✅ Speaks Your Language ... she knows Fortune 500 culture, politics, and pressures
✅ Delivers Proven Methods ... she uses strategies tested at the highest corporate levels
✅ Provides Global Perspective ... she brings international experience to local challenges
✅ Combines Science & Practice ... she merges psychological expertise with executive experience
What Sets Us Apart
Unlock Hidden Potential: Most executives operate at 60-70% of their capability. We identify and activate the remaining 30-40% that separates good leaders from transformational ones.
Fortune 500-Tested Methods: Our strategies are not theoretical - they are battle-tested at the highest levels of AIG, AXA, and Citi. We know what works because we have implemented it in billion-dollar organizations.
Executive-Caliber Customization: C-suite challenges require C-suite solutions. We design development strategies based on your specific industry, role complexity, and career trajectory.
Results-Driven Timeline: While most leadership development takes years, our clients see measurable impact within months. Time is your most valuable asset - we help you invest it wisely.
Our Commitment To You
The Core Values That Guide Everything We Do
Accountability
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of delivery and results. We partner with clients who are equally committed to their transformation and ready to do the work required for breakthrough success.
Authenticity
We believe in genuine, direct communication that cuts through corporate politics. We encourage leaders to lead from their authentic strengths while developing areas that matter most.
Confidentiality
We operate with trustworthiness. We prioritize safeguarding sensitive information. We respect and protect our clients' confidentiality and privacy.
Continuous Learning
We stay ahead of leadership trends and emerging challenges. Our clients benefit from cutting-edge research, proven methodologies, and insights from the highest levels of business.
Excellence
We deliver measurable results that advance careers and transform organizations. Our success is measured by our clients' promotions, expanded influence, and increased impact.
Integrity
We commit to conducting business in an honest, transparent, and ethical manner.
Publications & Recognition
Academic Contributions
- Published Researcher in Academy of Management Proceedings
- Regular Speaker on Strategic Thinking and Essential Leadership Skills
- YouTube Host of "Leadership Talk" channel
- Webcast Presenter on Results-Based Leadership
Executive Education
- Adjunct Faculty Member delivering programs in Results-Based Leadership and Strategic Thinking
- Assessment Designer for Fortune 500 leadership development
- Thought Leader in converting management research to practical application
Ready To Unlock Your Leadership Potential?
The Transformation You Can Expect
Before: Talented executives held back by fear of complex, challenging roles
After: Confident leaders who pursue and excel in the most demanding positions
"The biggest change my clients experience is the discovery of hidden potential that allows them to lead on a higher and more effective level. They no longer fear pursuing complex and challenging leadership roles."
Your Next Step
If you are ready to transform fear into courage and unlock the hidden potential that is waiting to emerge, Dr. Joan is ready to guide you on that journey.
Discover what is possible when you have a coach who has been exactly where you are—and where you want to go.
Contact Information
đź“Ť Based in West Orange, New Jersey
🌍 Serving the NY/NJ Tri-State Area and International Clients
đź’» Available for Virtual and In-Person Coaching
Trusted by 500+ executives | Fortune 500 proven
Your Next Decision!
Invest in your leadership journey with Dr. Joan Lawrence-Ross, a distinguished Leadership Success Coach who combines Fortune 500 executive experience with advanced psychological expertise. Unlock your true potential, drive exceptional results, and become the impactful leader you were meant to be.
With a strategic mindset and a passion for transformation, Joan will guide you through the complexities of leadership, equipping you with the tools and insights needed to succeed in today's ever-changing business landscape.
It is time to rise above and become the exceptional leader you were destined to be.
Your potential for extraordinary leadership is not a question - it is a certainty.Â
The only question is: Are You Ready To Claim It?
