Thriving in the Fast Lane: CEAT alumna Jacquelyn Lane named to Forbes 30 Under 30

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Media Contact: Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT Marketing and Communications | 405-744-5831 | kristi.wheeler@okstate.edu

Jacquelyn Lane has always believed that problems have solutions and that with the right mindset, you can be part of the answer. That belief has guided her journey from a curious student at Oklahoma State University to an internationally recognized leader, strategist and bestselling author.

Named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the most influential thinkers in the coaching world, Lane has built a career at the intersection of leadership and impact. She co-founded 100 Coaches Agency and co-authored ‘Becoming Coachable,’ a Wall Street Journal bestseller on leadership growth.

But long before she entered the boardrooms of global companies, she was in the classrooms, labs and leadership councils within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.

Lane grew up in a family of engineers, seeing the world through a lens of possibility. That structured way of thinking shaped her academic life and eventually became the foundation of her leadership philosophy.

“I’ve always loved puzzles and solving problems,” Lane said. “It’s like a game to collect the ‘knowns’ and use different tools and formulas to solve for the ‘unknowns.’ And there is something so satisfying about believing (or knowing) that the problems we face do in fact have solutions, and we can be a part of those solutions.” 

At OSU, Lane didn’t just pursue her degree — she chased her curiosity. She co-founded the Stillwater Strong T-shirt campaign, raising $82,000 for victims of the 2015 OSU Homecoming parade tragedy. She also co-founded VisionaRx, a startup focused on novel drug delivery technology, where she served as team lead.

Her undergraduate years were marked by a whirlwind of activity. She served as alumni relations executive for the Student Alumni Board, and senator and senate vice chair of the Student Government Association. She was active in the President’s Leadership Council, the Society of Women Engineers and the Sustainability Executive Committee.

But perhaps the most transformative part of her CEAT journey was the global exposure she gained through the CEAT Scholars Program, which took her to China, Vietnam and the U.K.

“There’s something powerful about living in a totally new context and getting to observe the U.S. from the outside,” Lane said. “Cultures are different, but people are universally kind and value the same things. Exposure to the world is one of the most expansive experiences a person can have.”

 Lane was selected as a W.W. Allen Scholar, a program designed to support high-achieving students with leadership potential and career ambition. That opportunity led her to a master’s in sustainable engineering at Cambridge, sharpening her focus on human-centered challenges.

“The complexity of human behavior and psychology and how this influences the way we show up at work, behave as consumers, or navigate relationships fascinates me,” Lane said. 

Dr. Paul Tikalsky, civil and environmental professor and former CEAT dean, noted that he saw the extraordinary academic student Lane was when he traveled with Lane and another Allen Scholar to help plan a CEAT Scholars’ trip to China. There, Tikalsky witnessed her immense energy and global view. 

“It wasn’t the tourist views from the Great Wall, imperial gardens or the cuddly pandas that drew their attention, it was the history and purpose of the wall, the preservation efforts for the panda species, the people in the parks and markets, and talking freely to Chinese students their same age that drew their interest,” Tikalsky said.

After earning her graduate degree, Lane began her professional career at Phillips 66, gaining valuable experience in a corporate setting. In 2020, she met her future business partner, Scott Osman, who had gathered a community of elite leadership thinkers and executive coaches. That connection sparked 100 Coaches Agency — where visionary leaders meet top executive coaches.

Today, Lane continues to lead with clarity, purpose and a passion for human flourishing. Her advice to the next generation of CEAT students is simple: be bold.

“Be as fearless as you can manage and try lots of things out. Explore many curiosities and then commit to the things you believe in or are excited by,” she said. 

Lane’s journey reflects CEAT’s mission to develop leaders who don’t just solve problems, they reshape what’s possible. 

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Photos by: Provided and Gary Lawson

Story by: Desa James | IMPACT Magazine