Naomi’s path didn’t start with a perfect plan; it started with a question: “Is this really all that’s out there for me?” Early in her career, she struggled to find her footing in the corporate world and often felt lost trying to figure out where she belonged. That began to change when a woman a few years ahead of her took her under her wing and created a space where Naomi felt safe to express herself. This mentor saw her potential long before she could see it herself, and that belief became an anchor during a time of uncertainty. Naomi credits this relationship with shaping much of the perspective she carries into her career today.
A defining turning point came when she was laid off from her first corporate job. The company had been struggling for many years, and a large portion of her team was let go. Being laid off felt scary and, in some ways, embarrassing. In hindsight, though, she sees it as a blessing in disguise. That moment became the key catalyst that led her to where she is now. Without that experience, she believes she might never have discovered her passion for being an early member of companies building things from the ground up. In large organizations, it is easy to get lost in the system, especially when you are still learning how to speak up for yourself in hierarchical environments. Once she stepped outside of that box, she began expanding her knowledge across different industries and networking in ways that eventually opened the door to startups. It was a hard lesson, but one she is incredibly grateful for because it set her on the path she walks today.
Along the way, there were many moments when the logical route would have been to follow the conventional playbook. Naomi’s career, though, has been anything but conventional in her eyes. She has often chosen to prioritize relationships, empathy, and values over purely transactional choices, whether that meant advocating for a new idea, supporting a colleague, or pursuing a mission that felt deeply meaningful. Those decisions did not always make immediate sense on paper, but they consistently led to stronger partnerships, deeper trust, and unexpected opportunities. Over time, she has learned that intuition and values are just as powerful as logic in shaping the right outcome and can lead to rich learning experiences.
These pivots strengthened Naomi’s confidence in trusting her own path, even when it did not look like everyone else’s. They ingrained in her a sense of resilience and adaptability, qualities that are essential when navigating change and uncertainty. Most importantly, they helped her develop a stronger sense of purpose in her work and the courage to pursue opportunities that truly align with her values. Saying yes to what felt aligned, and walking away from what didn’t, became her way of stepping into her real power.
For Naomi, one truth about being a woman in leadership is that it is not always easy. “Women are often forced to navigate expectations, skepticism, and pressure from multiple directions. Yet those challenges can shape a deeply respectable kind of leadership rooted in resilience, empathy, and loyalty, the kind of leadership that makes people genuinely want to come along for the ride.” She believes women who rise to leadership aren’t just successful because of their titles; they are successful when they create space for other women to grow too.
Community and family have been central threads in her story. They remind her who she is beyond her work and keep her grounded in what truly matters. Their support, encouragement, and perspective have helped her move through difficult seasons and celebrate the wins along the way. “Having people who believe in you makes it easier to take risks and pursue the things you are passionate about, and what could be better than that?”
For any woman standing at a similar crossroads, questioning her path, facing a layoff, or feeling the pull toward something less conventional, Naomi offers this practical step: acknowledge what feels aligned with your goals and your passions, even if it seems a little crazy or you don’t have the entire path figured out yet. Find that one person who can mentor you and have honest conversations; those conversations can open doors you didn’t even know existed. Progress doesn’t happen overnight, and you are unlikely to have all the answers at first. The movement comes from having the courage to move forward anyway.
Naomi Cosman is the Head of Global Marketing and Investor Relations at Koning Health, where she works to expand access to advanced breast imaging technology with the Koning Vera scan, the only non-compression, true 3D breast imaging modality available around the world. She also serves as the Head of Marketing Strategy for Club Mamabee, where she’s helping build a community that amplifies women’s voices and brings together female leaders who want to create meaningful impact.
Connect with Naomi at LinkedIn and join us in celebrating her as one of our 100 founding Queen Bees.
You know those women you admire?
The ones who carry themselves with elegant composure?
The ones who seem to lead with sophisticated ease?
The ones who have sustainable success, the kind that feels as good on the inside as it looks on paper?
They’ve moved from survival mode to mastery mode.
They’ve learned to lead from calm authority instead of constant vigilance.
They’ve mastered exceptional emotional intelligence, not through more effort, but through rewiring the patterns that were keeping them stuck.
You know those women you admire?
The ones who carry themselves with elegant composure?
The ones who seem to lead with sophisticated ease?
The ones who have sustainable success, the kind that feels as good on the inside as it looks on paper?
They’ve moved from survival mode to mastery mode.
They’ve learned to lead from calm authority instead of constant vigilance.
They’ve mastered exceptional emotional intelligence, not through more effort, but through rewiring the patterns that were keeping them stuck.
