From Survival to Leading Others Through Transformation

I was born in Iran during the Revolution and raised in chaos.

Growing up meant verbal and physical abuse. Lies stacked on lies. Moving through over a dozen cities by the time I was a teenager—military schools, racism, never knowing where I belonged or who I really was. I didn't even know who my father was.

By 17, I was homeless with "struggling" tattooed on my arm—because that's what you do when you can't see a way forward. LA County Jail became one of many rock bottoms.

Then my brother was murdered. At his funeral, I couldn't even cry. My body had learned to shut down long before—a story I tell more fully in my upcoming book.

The Long Road Back

I've lived through the kind of experiences most people don't come back from.

But I refused to stay a victim. I committed to living an empowered life, and that choice changed everything.

The path forward started in rehab. From there, I went back to school and earned my college degree. I worked in corporate for many years, then got a law degree. My first job after law school was at a business consulting firm.

I spent years building what looked like success while doing the deeper work of rebuilding myself. I explored many modalities for my own healing—traditional therapy, coaching, somatic work, mystical practices, and psychedelics and plant medicine in intentional therapeutic settings.

I've shifted my identity many times—from who I was told to be, to who I survived as, to who I'm becoming. That kind of deep transformation work isn't a one-time event. It's a practice. It's courage repeated over and over.

What I developed from all of this is a framework that's not rigid—it's flexible, integrated, and designed to help individuals and organizations navigate the invisible challenges that come with success.

"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate." — Carl Jung

Organizations do the same thing. They cling to old identities that no longer serve them. Real transformation happens when we have the courage to let go of who we were and step into who we're becoming.

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." — Joseph Campbell

What This Means for You

For over a decade, I've worked with senior-level business professionals, executives, and entrepreneurs who've achieved remarkable success—and know there's another level waiting.

I've coached hundreds of leaders—including working for years with Navy SEALs transitioning into civilian leadership, as well as executives at Google, Microsoft, Wells Fargo, Fidelity, and AT&T. I've trained with some of the top experts in the world on what helps leaders and people thrive.

What I've learned is this: mindset, strategy, and emotional wellbeing are inseparably linked to business performance.

I've created the Ascend Framework—a system designed for leaders who want to thrive and build thriving businesses, not become glorified employees in their own companies.

Why This Work Is Different

Many people talk about transformation from theory they've learned in books. My transformation comes from life's circumstances—it's battle-tested. A coach can only take a client as far as they've gone themselves. I've navigated the terrain you're facing, and I know the way through.

Some clients call me their sherpa. I help you see what you can't see on your own—the patterns that helped you get here but won't get you there. The compartmentalization that once protected you but now limits you. The old stories about who you're supposed to be that are running your decisions without your permission.

These are the invisible challenges that come with success. My job is to bring you clarity.

My approach helps in areas including:

Gaining clarity on your vision, goals, and the direction you want to take your organization
Seeing the unconscious patterns driving your decisions and leadership
Leading from authenticity instead of autopilot
Scaling without burning out
Breaking free from old identities that no longer serve you

What Makes This Work Different

I've trained with the top transformational coaches and completed some of the most rigorous leadership programs in the world. All of it has been invaluable—and that's exactly why I don't rely on just one approach. When you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

I connect dots others miss. Traditional leadership tools meet unconventional approaches. Real-world strategy meets emotional depth. Professional growth meets personal healing. Because you can't separate who you are at work from who you are everywhere else.

This isn't theory. It's not motivational speeches or quick fixes. It's actionable strategies that create fundamental, lasting change—the kind that transforms how you lead at work and in life.

I've helped hundreds of leaders and organizations shift from fear to trust, from burnout to authenticity, from scattered to purposeful. The ripple effects are real—families change, teams transform, cultures evolve.

"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." — Marianne Williamson

Who This Is For

My clients are professionals, executives, and business owners (typically 30-60) who know surface-level solutions won't cut it. They're ready to do things differently. To go deeper. To break free from patterns that no longer serve them.

They want to grow their business, lead more powerfully, and stop compartmentalizing their lives. They're looking for a trusted advisor and secret weapon to unlock their true potential.

They're interested in an integrated approach that brings together strategy, emotional intelligence, and resilience—because they understand that real transformation happens when you address the whole system, not just the symptoms.

What's Possible

The chaos becomes clarity. You shift from survival mode into strategic leadership. You stop feeling disconnected from yourself and become fully embodied. The old stories that kept you small? They transform into authentic leadership that creates real impact.

Your business scales. Your team thrives. You lead with confidence and purpose. And you actually enjoy the life you're building.

This is fundamental, lasting change—for you, your leadership, and your organization.

My greatest leadership work? Raising my 13-year-old daughter. (Teenagers are humbling. 😅)

Let's Talk

If you're ready to go beyond surface-level solutions and do the real work of transformation—whether for yourself or your organization—let's have a conversation.

No pressure. Just possibility.

Joseph Conen, JD, PHR, ACC

We Are Looking Forward to Working With You

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