A Powerful Alliance: Confidence Unchained and Proactive Leadership Join Forces

In today’s fast-moving world, leadership isn’t just about having the title — it’s about mastering the skills that inspire action, build trust, and drive real results. That’s why we’re excited to officially announce the joint venture between Confidence Unchained and Proactive Leadership — a collaboration that’s redefining how leaders are trained, developed, and empowered.

Why This Partnership Matters

This joint venture brings together two powerful forces in leadership development:

Confidence Unchained, founded by Justin Atherton, delivers high-impact consulting and training programs rooted in nearly two decades of law enforcement leadership. Known for equipping teams to thrive under pressure, Justin specializes in enhancing communication, resilience, and team performance across fast-growth companies and mission-critical organizations.

Proactive Leadership, founded by Tab Cooper and Mary Daugherty, is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in Cognitive and Analytic Interviewing. Their science-based training is used by law enforcement, government agencies, and corporate leaders to master high-stakes conversations, uncover truth, and drive smarter decision-making.

By joining forces, we’re combining tactical leadership experience with proven behavioral science — giving teams the tools they need to lead with clarity, confidence, and impact.

The Cognitive Interview:

Leadership’s Secret Weapon

One of the most powerful tools at the center of this partnership is the Cognitive Interview — a conversational technique originally developed to help law enforcement gather accurate, detailed, and truthful information.

But its applications go far beyond the interview room.

As Tab Cooper puts it, “It’s a conversational style of interviewing to obtain detailed, accurate, truthful information. This has a direct impact on the quality of your decision-making.”

In leadership, this means equipping managers, executives, and team leads with the ability to:

• Ask better questions

• Listen with purpose

• Uncover root causes of conflict

• Inspire buy-in and collaboration

• Make confident, informed decisions — even under pressure

  
  

This isn’t just theory. It’s a system built on interpersonal skill development, and it’s designed to help leaders inspire others to follow.

What We Deliver

Together, Confidence Unchained x Proactive Leadership delivers:

• Custom training programs for organizations seeking to develop confident, capable leaders at every level

• Science-backed strategies to enhance communication, improve team dynamics, and foster psychological safety

• Executive-level consulting designed to align leadership behavior with strategic business goals

  
  

Whether you're leading a corporate team, managing a public agency, or driving innovation in a fast-paced environment, our programs are built to help you lead stronger, communicate smarter, and achieve lasting results.

Meet the Team Behind the Mission

Justin Atherton – Vice President of Global Operations at Proactive Leadership | Founder of Confidence Unchained

Former SWAT breacher, detective, and supervisor, now a sought-after speaker and leadership consultant.

Tab Cooper & Mary Daugherty – Founders of Proactive Leadership

Visionary educators and trainers with decades of experience teaching interviewing and leadership skills across industries.

Mary Daugherty, a retired Senior Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), is recognized globally as a master interviewer and instructor in Analytic Interviewing, the Cognitive Interview, and micro-expression analysis. She was one of only 29 individuals out of 13,000 tested nationwide to be classified as a “Truth Wizard”—able to detect deception with over 80% accuracy in all three scientifically recognized areas of deceit. Her real-world experience includes working undercover within violent criminal organizations and surviving the 1993 Waco siege. Her teaching and leadership have influenced countless federal agents and international intelligence professionals. Much of her service remains classified.

Tab Cooper is a law enforcement veteran, academic, and leadership trainer with more than 30 years of experience. As a former police captain and graduate of the Texas Leadership and Command College, Tab developed the first mandatory leadership program for police chiefs in the United States and has taught leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence at Sam Houston State University. He is also a published researcher and certified instructor with the Institute of Analytic Interviewing, known for his dynamic, skills-based approach to developing leadership behaviors that create measurable results in both public safety and corporate environments.

Ready to Take Your Team to the Next Level?

If your organization is ready to level up its leadership, enhance team performance, and build a culture of clarity and trust — we’re here to make it happen.

👉 Let’s Talk.

Contact us today to explore how our joint programs can help your leaders thrive under pressure and communicate with impact.