Do you have a secret problem? One that you can't share with your team, your investors, your friends, or even your cofounder?
Startups are hard. They can be easier with a little support ... which can be hard to find at moments when growth is stressing the system.
Founders wear many hats to push the business forward.
I can identify the founder-habits that can hold the team back as they scale, and enjoy helping founders and early employees level-up their leadership to fully unlock their own potential to scale to the demands of the role.
And at times, I help founders identify if they need to transition to a different role and yield space for others.
One of my coaching superpowers is my ability to help leaders see the signal under the noise of behavior, feelings, and emotions.
I am proud to have helped thousands of founders, builders, and executives break through their roadblocks.
When you need a fresh point of view or a sounding board for sticky issues, reach out!
About Me
I'm a founder and executive coach who strives to impact people and companies today, and every day, to break through roadblocks and achieve their full potential.
Emerging leaders, founders, and technologists seek out my neurodivergent lens to explore non-linear pathways for reducing daily friction as they grow their companies and their teams.
I have led teams through a variety of challenges including founder transitions, culture change, and restructurings, as well as providing 1:1 executive coaching.
Previously, I was a managing partner at a venture fund, and spent 20 years working across multiple industries and sectors as a head of operations and strategy. I am a speaker/writer on the topics of employee onboarding, building resource-efficient hard tech startups, and neurodiversity at work.
My approach is influenced by my coach certification training from the Hudson Institute of Coaching. I am an ACC certified coach, and an alum of Washington University in St Louis and Harvard Business School.
In their words ...
Christine Schindler
Founder/CEO at PathSpot
"Our conversations with Shaun are consistently centering and his questions and perspectives are impactful and actionable! He holistically helps us think through areas we are navigating which are most helpful to the business. We always leave our calls with actionable followups which support the next phases and create plans that drive real results on everything from team to sales. Thank you, Shaun!"
Dave Spandorfer
Founder/CEO @ Janji
"I've known Shaun since the day we started Janji as college students. He's advised us, mentored us, and helped us chew through problems at a high, and incredibly granular, level. His thought process is always action-oriented, not just academic. Shaun is a caring, outside-of-the-box thinker. We wouldn't be where we're at without Shaun. Any startup would be lucky to work with him."
Wyatt Taubman
Founder/Exited-CEO @ Vive and FloWater
"I've had the pleasure of working with Shaun for over a decade on my two startup companies. From the earliest days of getting the companies off the ground through years of growth, his advise and guidance has been invaluable to me and has helped me navigate many important/tough decisions. Shaun asks great questions, is always willing to roll up his sleeves and help out, and he brings a level of critical thinking that greatly supports key decision making. I highly recommend Shaun to anyone considering him."
Jack Al-Kahwati
Founder/CEO @ Lattis
"I’ve had the pleasure of working with Shaun on customer discovery and I can’t recommend him enough. He’s not just smart; he’s got this knack for really understanding what customers need, and it makes all the difference. Shaun is the kind of team member who elevates everyone’s game—experienced, strategic, and incredibly easy to work with. He’s a true asset in any setting, blending top-notch professionalism with a genuinely approachable style."
Nitin K. Chexal
Founder/CEO @ Palladius Capital Management
"What also sets Shaun apart is his unwavering commitment to helping those he works with reach their full potential. His natural ability to connect with people at a deeper level, combined with his experience working with c-suite professionals, is what makes him a great executive coach for leaders at companies at Series A or at the growth equity stage.”
M.F.
Founder/CEO @ Stealth Biotech Company
"I am forever grateful for your support during one of the most significant chapters in my life so far."
Cory Grenier
CEO @ Geenee
"Appreciate you generously sharing your time today to deep dive into Geenee leadership challenges, and the opportunity to explore the cost benefit of retaining, or rotating a legacy staff member. I was particularly impressed by your patience, active listening skills, and ability to maintain the focus on one key topic at a time. You also expressed empathy and asked open ended questions. Finally, I’ve observed that you are traditionally a laconic speaker, which is a comparative advantage in the field of executive coaches who otherwise do not get straight to the point, which is typically to solve a pressing business problem."
Joy Leach, MS MCC
Founder @ PRI Leadership
“You are a deeply caring and talented coach.”
Yves Behar
Founder/CEO @ fuseproject
“Thank you for sharing your work supporting inventors and entrepreneurs. I love that work myself, but you seem to be on your way to institutionalizing how it’s done at an “industrial scale”...which I think is very cool.”
Julia Perederiy
CEO @ OmBiome
"I get tremendous insight from our conversations, which helps me to keep going and make the hard decisions."
J.J.
Founder/CEO @ Seed Stage 20
"It's having our backs in the toughest of times that helped us the most"
Soroush Pourreza
Founder/CTO @ Datadoor
"When I first met Shaun, I was at a crucial point with my startup, wrestling with how to communicate with my team, motivate them, and step up as the leader they needed. Shaun's method is brilliantly supportive, guiding you to dive deep into your own experiences and wisdom to discover solutions. It's not about quick fixes but fostering a lasting sense of personal growth and self-reliance - similar to what a therapist does.
During our sessions, Shaun provided insights and strategies that were tailored to my unique situation, always emphasizing the power of understanding and empathy in leadership. His questions prompted profound reflection, which led to clear, actionable steps that I could immediately implement with my team.
The impact of our work together has been profound. I've seen a marked change in how I approach challenges and engage with my team. My team has responded positively to the newfound clarity and direction in my leadership. I've not only become more confident but also a more effective and inspiring leader, all thanks to Shaun's guidance and support."
Shaun has Coached Leaders at the Following Companies:
