An Interview with Cat O’Shaughnessy Coffrin on Direct Application with Matt Harrington

What does it really mean to be authentic at work - without oversharing, burning out, or losing your leadership credibility?

In this episode of Direct Application, host Matt Harrington sits down with Cat O’Shaughnessy Coffrin — executive communications strategist, founder of CaptivatingCo. She has partnered with global brands like Bayer, Starbucks, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - guiding executives, founders, and C-suites through brand positioning, internal comms, and leadership storytelling.

She’s also a published thought leader, with bylines or features in Fast Company, Business Insider, The Business Journals, Medium, and more —where she unpacks the human side of leadership, communication, and culture.

Together, they explore:

• How to lead with honesty without oversharing
• The risks and rewards of personal storytelling in professional spaces
• Why Millennials' search for purpose has sometimes led to self-exploitation
• How Gen Z is shifting the authenticity conversation- The balance between personal brand and company identity
• What it means to show up authentically on a Monday morning—especially when the stakes are high

Cat shares her journey of building a consulting business while navigating divorce, grief, and reinvention - and how radical honesty on LinkedIn helped her grow her audience from 5,000 to 17,000 in under a year.

Whether you're a CEO, team lead, HR professional, or rising talent, this conversation unpacks how to own your voice without losing your seat at the table.

📝 Resources mentioned in the show: https://www.captivatingco.com/tipsandtools/free-resources-writing-prompts-amp-writing-calendar

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your leadership content.

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