David L. Cohen is a powerful man.
But despite his position as executive vice president of cable corporation Comcast, the former University of Pennsylvania School of Law student is still grounded by incredible modesty and a high level of devotion to his family and to the city of Philadelphia.
Cohen is "an amazing guy ... one of the smartest people that you'd ever want to meet," Executive Vice President of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Joe Mahoney says.
Cohen has had not only an influential law career at one of the city's biggest law firms, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, but also served as chief of staff for Ed Rendell's terms as mayor at a critical time for the city. He still has ties to Penn as well, as a University trustee and chairman of the Penn Medicine Board of Trustees.
"I probably spend more time on Penn activities than anything else," Cohen says.
Even with his huge range of career-related talents, Cohen also has a talent for giving back -- not only to the University, but to the community as well.
Cohen served as chairman of the United Way of Southern Pennsylvania and still sits on the board of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, despite his growing duties.
"Being connected to the community" is important to individuals as well as businesses, Cohen notes. "For Philadelphia to be a great city, our corporations [have] to be engaged in the city."
Cohen may have an incredible intellect and colossal talent, but he is "still a guy who's down to earth" and "very well rounded," according to Mahoney. "David achieves anything he wants to achieve ... . He's got an unbelievable work ethic."
Those achievements include impressive careers in both law and politics, and now business.
"One of the best things about my professional life has been the diversity," Cohen says. "I loved practicing law ... I loved being involved in politics."
Mahoney admires Cohen's work as Rendell's chief of staff, citing Cohen's strong desire to make government more efficient and the subsequent creation of the mayor's management and productivity task force. Cohen's work with Rendell has been recognized as significant in the huge turnaround of the city that began with Rendell's term as mayor.
Cohen himself named his position under Rendell as being at the top of the list of his greatest achievements. In terms of the history of the city of Philadelphia, "What Ed Rendell did to turn the city around will be written as one of the most [important] moments in Philadelphia's history," Cohen says.
His work in politics will "always be the most rewarding from a personal perspective," he adds.
Cohen's years as a partner at Ballard Spahr were also influential after he graduated at the top of his class from Penn's Law School.
Cohen "is one of the city's most prominent, well-respected lawyers," Penn Chief of Staff Wendy White says. "His insights are always invaluable."
"He's terrific," says Ballard Spahr Chairman Arthur Makadon, who has been a close colleague of Cohen's for over 20 years.
Makadon says Cohen "is motivated in everything he does" and does "an excellent job" in every project he begins.
Cohen took on the role of EVP of Comcast in July of 2002 -- a job he has found both challenging and rewarding. "I love my new job," he says, despite having little previous experience in the business world. "It was not that difficult of a transition. ... It went incredibly smoothly."
Cohen cited the support and cooperation of those around him at Comcast as integral to the transition between law and business.
"I've never worked inside a corporation," Cohen says, calling the position an incredible opportunity to "play in a little bigger stadium" and a career move that he plans to stick with indefinitely.
Cohen's family remains a central focus of his life, even with so many changing directions. "The balance between career and family is one of the toughest balances there is," Cohen says, though he has always managed to make time for his two sons, who are now 18 and 14.
Cohen's dreams for the immediate future are simple: He wants to "figure out a way to put the [Walt] Disney Corporation and Comcast together."
In February, Comcast made a bid to buy Disney for $54 billion. The two companies are still in negotiation but, if merged, would form one of the world's largest entertainment conglomerates.
No matter the outcome of this deal, Comcast is going to "continue to expand our business and make sure we're one of the top companies in America," Cohen says.
