About Gena Cox, PhD

Clients say my nuanced observations and guidance and my straightforward-yet-relatable style are important reasons they seek my counsel. I am an organizational psychologist, executive coach, and speaker who blends research insights and real-world experience to help leaders enhance their influence and impact.

I wrote Leading Inclusion, an award-winning guidebook for building inclusive organizations from the top down. I value human-centered leadership, and these ideas underpin my guidance to leaders as they respond to evolving stakeholder expectations. I believe that “diversity and inclusion” are nothing more than effective leadership and healthy work culture. And my mottos are “Inclusion tops diversity“ and “Respect is the vital outcome all employees need to see and feel.”

Before this, at IBM and Perceptyx, I advised leaders in the Fortune 500 and other large global companies to build psychologically healthy and engaging organizational cultures that drive business outcomes. And I have held internal corporate leadership roles in organizational consulting and performance, talent assessment, talent selection, and talent acquisition.

I currently co-chair the Awards Committee of the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), and I am a member of the Society’s 2022 Leading Edge Consortium Planning Committee. In addition, serving on the National Women’s Hall of Fame 2023 Inductee Selection Committee brings me great joy.

My work has been featured far and wide, including Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Fast Company, Forbes, New York Times, Business Insider, Market Watch/Barrons, Business Journals, BBC Worklife, Readers Digest, and The Telegraph (UK).

I earned a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational (I-O) Psychology. I am a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), the International Coach Federation (ICF) and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). And I am an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC).