Upon meeting Cynthia Cohen, it is clear that she embodies her modus operandi, “be so good that they can’t refuse you.” Often seen with a snack cake to share and a faithful dog coined Coco Chanel, it’s easy to be drawn into her strong yet hospitable personality.
Used to breaking through glass ceilings in the corporate realm, Cynthia has made it an aspiration to help women founders do the same. A first generation student, she ended up attending Boston University at night to earn her degree, while working full time. She worked hard to form an illustrious career that saw her rise to become the first woman partner in the Southeast region of Touche Ross, and eventually led to the creation of her own strategic consulting firm, Impact 2040.
Commitment to Female Empowerment and Entrepreneurship
Throughout her career, Cynthia found herself drawn to the startup world of disruptive and innovative ventures, and particularly wanted to be able to support and mentor female founders. There is a glaring gap in funding for female founders, with only about 2% of the total capital invested in venture-backed startups going to women (Forbes, 2023). “In a startup ecosystem dominated by men, women need to be at the table, making decisions, participating, being visible, and making an impact,” Cynthia said. Recently, Cynthia took the time to meet with all of the women founders within the Wond’ry Founder program, to hear them pitch and provide impactful insight.
“Since day one, Cynthia has been an active supporter of TuneHatch, connecting us to opportunities and individuals that align with the great vision we have for our company”, commented Christal Hector, Vanderbilt MBA Candidate and Co-Founder of TuneHatch, Inc.
Partnering with Vanderbilt and the Wond’ry Founder Program through Philanthropy
For Cynthia, choosing to financially support Vanderbilt University and sponsor the Wond’ry’s Founder Program was a no-brainer. “I love the University environment,” she said, “because it encourages boundless innovation and plays a vibrant role in the startup ecosystem.” Cynthia’s decision to philanthropically support the program through the establishment of the Impact 2040 Fund is a strategic move aimed at nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs. This fund is poised to finance the Founder Program over the next five years, providing a significant boost to innovative ideas and ventures within the Nashville ecosystem. In addition, Cynthia joined on as a mentor at the Wond’ry underscoring her commitment to giving back and fostering a nurturing environment for aspiring entrepreneurs of all genders.
“I am so inspired by Cynthia”, said Wond’ry Deputy Director, Deanna Meador, “both her journey and her commitment to sharing her expertise to support the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders. She has an amazing gift for working with founders in a way that is just the right blend of challenge and fierce support. We are so very grateful that she has decided to call Nashville home.”