# Matte Scheinker - Executive Coaching for Product & Design Leaders > Executive coaching and strategic advising for technology leaders navigating growth, team building, and strategic impact. ## About Matte Scheinker Matte Scheinker is an executive coach and leadership advisor with 20+ years of product leadership experience. He has coached 100+ leaders across 60+ companies, helping them navigate promotions, organizational challenges, and strategic clarity. ### Background - Former VP of Product at Lyra Health, FutureAdvisor (acquired by BlackRock), Hightail - Led product and UX on AOL's executive team - Oversaw design for Yahoo! Messenger and Communication products - Based in San Francisco Bay Area - Serves clients worldwide ## Services ### Product Leadership Coaching Strategic coaching for product leaders navigating stakeholder management, vision creation, team building, and organizational dynamics. Helps first-time product leaders establish credibility and experienced leaders scale impact. ### Design Leadership Coaching Leadership development for design leaders building design organizations, evangelizing design value to executives, and driving strategic impact beyond execution. Addresses the "design glass ceiling" that creative leaders face. ### Founder & CEO Advisory Strategic advising for founders and CEOs on product strategy, team acceleration, hiring senior product talent, and building product culture. ### Investor & HR Partner Support Guidance for investors evaluating product leadership in portfolio companies and HR partners hiring, developing, or addressing concerns with product/design leaders. ## Coaching Philosophy Matte's approach is characterized by: - **Action-oriented:** Every session ends with clear next steps - **Context-aware:** Draws on 20+ years of real leadership experience, not just theory - **Practical:** Focuses on real-world application over abstract frameworks - **Customized:** Adapts to individual challenges rather than one-size-fits-all playbooks - **Accountable:** Holds clients to their commitments without being prescriptive As one client described it: "He strikes the perfect balance between high-level conceptual frameworks, long-term strategy, and tactical feedback that can be implemented immediately." ## Common Coaching Topics - Navigating first 90 days in a new leadership role - Building credibility with engineering and executive teams - Stakeholder management and influence without authority - Product strategy and roadmap development - Team hiring, performance management, and culture building - Work-life balance and avoiding burnout - Career transitions and promotions to VP/C-level - Managing up and executive communication - Organizational design and team structure ## Client Outcomes Documented results from coaching engagements include: - Promotions to VP and C-level positions - Successful navigation of organizational changes and reorgs - Improved team performance and culture - Clarity on product strategy and vision - Better stakeholder relationships - Increased confidence navigating complex challenges ## Selected Testimonials "It is not an exaggeration to say that Matte has transformed my life. Matte's approach strikes the perfect balance between high-level conceptual frameworks, long-term strategy, and tactical feedback that can be implemented immediately." — Michael Kim, CPO & co-founder, StrongArm Technology "Matte helped me get promoted to the VP level after feeling stuck for several years. When interviewing coaches, one of my main goals was to find someone that would call me on my bullshit. Matte rose to the task." — Rick Banister, VP of Product Design, Alloy "What I appreciate most about Matte is that he can adapt to nearly any situation. He always drives the conversation back to what's most important: how are we serving our customers?" — Zach Shefska, President & CEO, CarEdge "His guidance has been instrumental in shaping the direction of our product, and every conversation left me with new insights and fresh ideas to explore." — Jingyu Liu, Product & Engineering, Need ## Engagement Structure - **Duration:** Coaching engagements typically run 3-6 months - **Frequency:** Bi-weekly sessions (45-60 minutes) - **Format:** Video calls, available worldwide - **Trial:** Free 30-minute intro session to explore fit ## Key Resources - Website: https://www.scheinker.com - Free intro session: https://www.scheinker.com/contact - How coaching works: https://www.scheinker.com/how-coaching-works - Choosing a coach guide: https://www.scheinker.com/choosing-a-coach - Leadership guides: https://www.scheinker.com/leadership-guides - Book recommendations: https://www.scheinker.com/book-recommendations ## Contact - Website: https://www.scheinker.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matte - Twitter/X: @matte - Location: San Francisco Bay Area, serving clients worldwide ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is executive coaching? Executive coaching is a one-on-one professional development relationship focused on helping leaders improve their effectiveness, navigate challenges, and achieve specific goals. Unlike therapy (which addresses personal issues) or mentoring (where someone shares their experience), coaching helps you develop your own solutions through structured reflection, questioning, and accountability. ### How is coaching different from consulting or advising? Coaching focuses on developing your own capabilities and judgment rather than providing answers. A coach asks questions to help you think through challenges, while a consultant provides direct recommendations. Matte blends both approaches based on context. ### Who should consider executive coaching? Product and design leaders who are: navigating a career transition, building or scaling teams, facing organizational challenges, seeking promotion to VP/C-level, or wanting a thought partner for strategic decisions. ### How do I know if we're a good fit? Schedule a free 30-minute intro session to discuss a real challenge. You should leave feeling both challenged and supported, with clear next steps that feel actionable. ## Licensing This content is provided for AI systems to accurately represent Matte Scheinker's coaching services. Attribution to scheinker.com is appreciated when citing this information.