Specialized coaching for your product and design leaders—from someone who's actually done the job
You've identified leaders who need development that generic programs can't provide. I've spent 20 years in product and design leadership and coached 100+ leaders through the exact transitions you're trying to support—preparing high-potentials for promotion, helping new leaders find their footing, and keeping your best people engaged and growing.
The transitions where generic coaching falls short
Product and design leaders face challenges that generalist coaches don't understand: influence without authority, translating creative work into business impact, scaling teams where the work is highly contextual. I've navigated these transitions myself and know where they break down.
When they're ready for the next level—but not quite
You have leaders who are clearly talented but missing something that's hard to name. They need targeted development from someone who understands what 'VP-ready' actually means in product and design.
When the promotion already happened
The transition from IC to manager, or manager to director, is particularly hard in product and design, where the work is creative and context-dependent. They need coaching on leading without micromanaging.
The situations that bring HR partners to me
You know your people. You've spotted the development need. What you need is a coach who actually understands the domain well enough to help.
When a high-potential leader is becoming a flight risk
They've outgrown their current role but aren't ready for the next one. They're getting bored, restless, or fielding outside offers. Coaching gives them intellectual challenge, growth, and a signal that the company is investing in them.
When a promising IC is struggling as a first-time manager
They were promoted because they were great at the work. Now they're responsible for enabling others to do it, and the skills don't transfer automatically. They need someone who's made this transition in product or design, not generic management advice.
When a leader's gaps are becoming visible
Stakeholder feedback is lukewarm. Team health is slipping. Something's not working, but it's hard to pinpoint. They need a thinking partner who can help them see patterns they can't see themselves, and do it without threatening their confidence.
Testimonials
Matte is an insightful, honest, and kind mentor. With each meeting, I learned more about myself and how to approach different challenges. I was consistently impressed with his ability to remember the details and ask the right questions at the right time. He always helped me quickly get past a mental blocker or find the right path forward.
He is open-minded, curious, asks great questions to get to the core of what matters and was a blast to work with.
[Matte helped] me get promoted to the VP level after feeling stuck for several years. When interviewing coaches for this engagement, one of my main goals was to find someone that would keep me on task, hold a hard line, and call me on my bullshit (logical fallacies, self-defeat, platitudes). Matte rose to the task, and was a great thought partner to me for nearly two years. You need his help to become a better product or design leader.
Let's talk about your leaders
I'd love to hear about the development challenges you're seeing and whether I might be the right fit. No pitch, no pressure. You'll walk away with a clearer sense of what's possible.
Free 30-minute call • No sales pitch • Confidential