Shea Coakley is Co-Founder of LeanBox, Valica, Back Bay Roasters, Grind Coffee and PERKS. He is also the Founder of nonprofit clothing brand, 1luvbrands.
Before Shea Coakley is an entrepreneur, co-founder or startup strategist, he’s a father, husband, friend and more importantly a human. In all of his professional pursuits, the human experience has been at the core of his approaches. Where some entrepreneurs might see numbers, trends, analytics and other numerals, Coakley sees people, first and foremost. This idea is championed by employee experience centric outfits he’s co-founded, like PERKS.
Entrepreneur & Founder
Coakley’s rise as an entrepreneur has been very much a human experience in itself. No lucky star story, Coakley’s journey certainly wasn’t one completed overnight — he’ll be the first to tell you that. Navigating the road that led him to build multiple companies that continue to grow today wasn’t easy. When he says his approaches are tried, tested and true — he means it. This startup strategist will give it to you straight: success isn’t achieved in six seconds.
Since childhood, Shea Coakley dreamed of starting his own company. At 26 years old, the young entrepreneur found himself at what felt like a standstill when his attempt at starting a restaurant chain fell through. Even in the face of adversity, Coakley was determined to work towards his dream. Ten years later, he has established himself as a capable and energetic entrepreneur. Through it all, Coakley’s never lost sight of his focus on the human experience in the professional world. Today, the ventures he has Co-Founded are emphatic of his vision of enriching the human experience in work and living environments, from food service ventures, LeanBox and Grind Coffee to professional associations like PERKS as well e-commerce platform, Valica.
Career Mentor
Transparency, inclusivity and productivity are the cornerstones of Shea Coakley’s approaches. His angle as an entrepreneur is echoed in his efforts to mentor other innovators in their careers. A believer in the empowering process of collaboration, Coakley values the opportunity to work with and hear from other entrepreneurs, regardless of where they are in their careers. In his experience, there’s something to learn from everyone, from novice to certified expert. Talking to other start-up founders about their unique journeys energizes Coakley’s own approaches. As he continues to grow through experience and interaction, the entrepreneur hopes to offer guidance, perspective and mentorship to dreamers early into their professional journeys.