New Orleans CEO Natasha Cox Named to Forbes 30 Under 30

Forbes has named Natasha Cox, CEO and Owner of Avani Services, to the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 List in Education for her work building high-impact team performance improvement solutions and modern training programs for organizations across the country.

Headquartered in New Orleans, Natasha has grown Avani into a firm known for strengthening how teams communicate, collaborate, and lead. Avani’s work spans leadership development, executive coaching, curriculum design, and performance improvement solutions for federal agencies, mission-driven organizations, private-sector partners. Clients range from small businesses to federal teams, including the White House, the Department of War, and the Department of Homeland Security.

“Our work is simple at its core,” Natasha said. “Teams perform at a higher level when expectations are clear, leaders model consistency, and people feel supported. We build the systems, support, and training that make that possible so organizations can achieve their mission and reach their goals.”

Avani trains more than 500 leaders a year and helps organizations strengthen communication, accountability, and culture through custom solutions.

Natasha earned a Political Science degree from Barnard College of Columbia University with a concentration in Leadership. After graduating, she moved down to New Orleans through Venture for America to join the Gulf Coast entrepreneurial ecosystem, working in several training startups before launching Avani.

A member of the Forbes Business Council, she recently graduated from Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses program in New Orleans, and is nationally recognized for advancing practical and accessible approaches to performance improvement that blend strategy, technology, and human-centered design.

For more information, visit www.avaniservices.com.

About Avani
Avani is a performance improvement and leadership development firm that helps organizations strengthen their people, culture, and systems. Avani provides leadership training, executive coaching, curriculum design, and custom solutions for agencies, companies, and mission-driven institutions across the United States.