CEO Coach for

The Hardest Things

CEOs are forced to face the hardest things.

The Startup CEO’s mind is the most significant bit in a company. I help CEOs move through the hardest of times, helping their minds go from battlegrounds, to solid ground.

Startup CEOs need the ability to see their blind spots and patterns of behavior because they can cause real damage to decision-making and how they show up for their team, their board, their customers, their families.

I help the the highest leverage person, at the highest leverage times.

Topics I frequently discuss with CEOs…

| Fundraising: Keeping the mind steady during rejection and volatility

| Cofounder Conflict: Clarifying situations and paths forward

| RIFs: Acting decisively with both wisdom and compassion

| M&As: Remaining focused under overwhelming decision-making and information

| Pivots: Marking the hard calls and bringing the team along

| Personal x Professional: Finding your balance between sacrifice and success

I’ve worked with CEOs funded by:

  • August Capital

  • General Catalyst

  • Lightspeed Venture Partners

  • Lux Capital

  • Maven Ventures

  • Sequoia Capital

  • Union Square Ventures

  • Y Combinator

About me

The most important thing to know about me is that I’ve always sought the hardest things. Why? Because it’s in the challenges that we find meaning. In my work, I wanted to work with people suffering the greatest crises of their lives, from heart-transplant patients facing the end of life, to community mental health where people suffered incredible traumas and striving to rise above their past. As a Psychologist, I was honored to spend seven years working with combat Veterans from WWII to Vietnam to Afghanistan dealing with chronic health issues and intense trauma.

While doing this, I married a tech founder CEO, whose journey started in 2012, right after we got married. I’ve had a front-row seat on the startup roller coaster. I’ve lived through many rounds of funding, from seed to Series C, a pandemic, RIFs, many intense negotiations, losing and winning major contracts, had 3 children, moved 8 times and thankfully, had a successful exit, all while starting and growing 2 businesses of my own.

My biggest pivot was from the world of Veterans to the world of Venture, specifically working with tech founder CEOs. In both worlds, it’s important to help people get to where they want to go, as fast as possible. I’m a practical person. I value my time and yours. I want to identify things that you can put into action immediately, to help get you from the hardest things you’re facing, to where you want to be, faster.

Testimonials

“I started working with Sarah in the middle of an M&A. Sarah kept me steady and focused while things changed every day. I fully believe the outcome was better because of my work with Sarah.”

“Sarah helped me through both a failed and then a successful M&A. I leaned on her sometimes daily to help get me through.”

“Sarah helped me face RIFs during the pandemic and make swifter moves that helped my company survive tough times.”

“Sarah helped me stay focused while facing the loss of a cofounder and fundraising in a tough economy.”

“Sarah helped me through a very tough phase - I was pregnant, moving across the country, and fundraising at the same time.”

“Sarah is a rare combination given her background as a psychologist and CEO Coach.”

“Sarah is great at explaining theoretical research to motivate me as to why and then distill it into actionable recommendations.”

“I was struggling with pitching and after a session with Sarah, I gave my best pitch.”

- Quotes from Founder CEOs with backgrounds including: xGoogle, Stanford, Harvard, PhD, YC

FAQs

  • Nope.

  • Yes.

  • Therapy involves the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a mental health disorder. This means that a person is suffering to a great extent, or not functioning well in their daily lives.

    Coaching helps people with a specific goal or challenge that comes along in the course of life that is NOT impacting their ability to function in their daily lives. Coaching helps people level up, try different approaches, or perspectives that help them function at a higher level. There are a variety of different types of coaches, from the very specific focus (CFO Coach) to broad generalists (Life Coach) and everywhere in between.

  • I’m a painkiller when you have a migraine. If you are looking for a vitamin or a supplement, I’m probably not for you.

    Startup CEOs need people to talk to, who are willing to help them identify and work with truths that others may not see, or be unwilling to share. Because I’ve spent thousands of hours working with people going through the hardest of times, I’ve honed my ability to cut through the noise, and quickly identify most relevant mental challenges and move into meaningful Action. I’m the startup CEOs confidant and guide when they’re going through tough times - because being a CEO is incredibly hard.

  • Improved self awareness that is directly and practically applicable to how you lead. If your perspective, leadership behaviors, or decision-making doesn’t change, I haven’t done my job.

  • This is a tough one. I’ll be honest - the coaching field is a mess, and consumers pay the price. Anyone can call themselves a coach and it’s a field riddled with certification programs - some of which might be meaningful, and others that literally can be bought.

    This is why most people find coaches through trusted referrals.

  • People deserve to get the best help, as fast as possible. I think it will be some time before the training sets get good enough to produce genuinely effective and personalized therapy or coaching (and this is namely because ineffective practice runs rampant in these fields), but certainly the time is coming.