Helping Founders Navigate Product & Design
The founder's journey is an intense rollercoaster of highs and lows. You're constantly juggling multiple roles, making critical decisions that will shape your company's future, and trying to articulate your vision in a way that inspires both your team and potential investors. It's a delicate balance that requires strategic thinking, strong communication, and an unwavering focus on your users and market. And let's be honest, sometimes it feels like you're the only one who truly understands the potential of what you're building.
Whether you're a technical founder trying to navigate the world of product management and design, or a visionary leader looking to build out your product and design teams, I'm here to help you succeed.
Building Out Product & Design
As your company grows, you'll need to think about Product & Design as functions that can thrive independent of you. Here's how I help founders establish these crucial functions:
Establishing a Strong Foundation
- Develop a clear product vision and strategy that aligns with your business goals
- Establish stage-appropriate processes for product development and design (because what works for Google probably won't work for you... yet)
- Create a culture that balances user-centric design with business outcomes
Building High-Performance Teams
- Design an org structure that matches your stage and growth trajectory
- Craft compelling job descriptions that attract the right talent
- Develop effective interview processes to assess both skills and cultural fit
- Navigate the transition from doing everything yourself to empowering others
Translating Vision into Action
- Craft a compelling product story that resonates with investors, partners, and employees
- Develop strategies to incorporate user feedback while maintaining your vision
- Balance founder intuition with data-driven decision making
Leading Product & Design
As your company evolves, you may find your sweet spot in leading Product and/or Design. Here's how I help founders excel in these crucial leadership roles:
Elevating Your Expertise
- Deepen your understanding of product and design principles relevant to your business
- Develop strategies to stay connected with users as you scale
- Build a product and design organization that supports sustainable growth
Evolving from Founder to Functional Leader
- Define your long-term role within product or design
- Balance founder responsibilities with functional leadership
- Empower your team while maintaining your strategic vision
Scaling Your Operations
- Establish scalable processes that maintain agility as your team grows
- Develop strategies for managing expanding product portfolios
- Create frameworks for consistently delivering value to users and business
Ready to Elevate Your Company's Product & Design Functions?
Whether you're in the early stages of your startup journey or scaling rapidly, I'm here as your trusted advisor and thought partner. My background spans large tech companies and high-growth startups, complemented by years of professional coaching experience — bringing a unique perspective to the challenges you face as a founder.
Let's explore how we can work together to bring your vision to life through exceptional product and design leadership. My approach adapts to your specific needs, whether you're establishing your first product development process or evolving your design culture as you scale. And don't worry, I promise not to suggest "pivoting to the flavor of the week" as the solution to your problems.