The entrepreneurial journey
is a rollercoaster. Let me help you enjoy the ride.

Let me help you enjoy the ride

About Me

I started my career working as a technology consultant and operator working across several industries from supply chain and financial services to healthcare and non-profits. I got the startup bug in the late 1990s and have been there ever since. I have been in technology leadership roles during the early days of some of the most successful tech companies of our day: Akamai, VMware, and DigitalOcean. I am an angel investor and have advised hundreds of startups. I sit on startup boards, have been an active mentor at TechStars since 2014, and founded a non-profit organization Good For Her to support founders who identify as women. I am also the author of After The Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup.

I was appointed to the faculty at Harvard Business School in 2016 where I've taught Product Management, served as the faculty lead of Startup Bootcamp, and launched several new courses, such as my popular course Startup Operations, The Startup Operations Studio and short intensive course The Startup Toolkit. I also served as the faculty co-chair of the Rock Center for Entrepreneurship from 2023-2025 and I am now an Executive Fellow at HBS, supporting faculty and students focused on Entrepreneurship. I received my Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential in 2023 from the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Coaching entrepreneurs through their startup journeys brings me joy. There is nothing more energizing than helping people realize their dreams and allowing them step into their power. Read more about my coaching services below.

About Me

My Services

Since 2013, I’ve worked exclusively with founders and startup leaders navigating the realities of building companies—from early idea through scale.

With more than three decades as a startup operator, executive, board member, and educator, I bring a practical, inside-the-company perspective to coaching founders, CEOs, and founding executives. My work focuses on leadership growth, organizational development, and strategic decision-making.

Because I’ve spent my career operating inside startups, we won’t waste time getting up to speed. I understand the dynamics of product development, engineering execution, talent challenges, go-to-market strategy, fundraising, and board management. I’ve seen—and lived through—many of the same “movies” you’re likely experiencing.

In our work together, I’ll be your thought partner, sounding board, and reality check—helping you grow into the leader your company needs.

My work with you

The extras

I focus on the whole individual and weave in my operational expertise as needed. I believe everyone has the answer to their own challenges – it’s a matter of bringing these answers to the surface and developing the confidence to realize the possibilities. That said, I am an advisor and educator when needed and each session together is often a blend of self-discovery and learning.

Our journey begins with a deep dive into your story. We will explore peak moments in your life, your education, career and key relationships. Through these initial discussions, we will develop a partnership where we will discover what makes you, you! From there, we will focus on whatever is most alive for you in each session. It is my role to hold space for you, guide you through solution discovery and serve as your accountability partner when needed.

In addition to weekly virtual sessions, I am available via emails/texts for time-sensitive situations. My clients also have access to my professional network which includes industry experts, investors, top rated job candidates and other coaches/mentors for members of client organizations.

I offer additional consulting engagements exclusively for my clients such as: