Meet Our Founders
Allison Cheston
Co-Founder & Facilitator, Success Lab NYC
Allison Cheston (LinkedIn) is a career strategist and trusted advisor with 20+ years helping executives and early-career professionals discover, launch, and pivot meaningful careers. Since 2005 she’s guided hundreds of clients using a marketing lens—connecting strengths and interests to viable roles, crafting a cohesive narrative, and navigating interviews and negotiations. At Success Lab, Allison co-designs the curriculum and facilitates our curated, in-person cohorts, providing a structured framework and deep course of inquiry, peer training and learning, and practical momentum. She works with clients across the U.S. and internationally, meeting in person and remotely from New York City.
Vanessa Hicks
Co-Founder & Facilitator, Success Lab NYC
Vanessa Hicks (LinkedIn) is an ICF-certified executive coach and HR consultant with 30+ years of experience in human capital strategy, leadership development, and organizational growth. She has held senior roles in financial services and maritime transport, and partnered with nonprofits in health care, social services, and the arts. Having lived and worked in Kenya, Singapore, Brazil, and across Europe, Vanessa brings a global perspective to her work and is known for her empathetic, approachable style in helping leaders clarify goals, strengthen teams, and navigate change with confidence. She is based in New York City and Rhode Island.
Why We Started Success Lab
As longtime friends and colleagues, we’ve respected each other’s work for decades—Vanessa in leadership development and executive coaching, Allison in career strategy and development. Over time, we both began to notice the same gap: early-career professionals with strong potential but limited access to the guidance, networks, and practical skills needed to navigate today’s complex workplace. We saw it not only in our clients but also reflected in our own children and their peers.
Success Lab grew out of these shared insights. By combining our complementary expertise, we designed a program that equips employed young professionals with tools for career and professional growth while building a community for the long term. Together, we believe we can make a real difference for the next generation of leaders.