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Coaching Services
Leadership Accelerator Coaching
From great engineer to great leader. 1:1 coaching for technologists stepping into leadership, delivered by former CTOs and engineering executives who made the same jump.
The leap nobody trains you for
You were promoted because you were great at the work. Now the work is different, and the skills that got you here aren't the ones that will carry you forward.
Most new tech leaders tell us some version of the same thing:
- You still get pulled back into the code, because it's faster to do it yourself.
- The people you now manage were your peers last month.
- You're not sure how to measure your own success anymore.
- Business leaders don't seem to hear you, even when you're right.
- Your calendar is full, and you're not sure any of it moved the team forward.
None of this means you're in the wrong role. It means you're making one of the hardest transitions in a technology career, usually without a guide.
Why AKF
Our coaches aren't career coaches. They're former CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and technology executives who have led teams from startup to global scale, and who have advised hundreds of technology companies since 2007.
That gives you two things a generic coach can't:
- Coaching from people who've done the job. We've hired, fired, reorganized, missed deadlines, and sat across from CEOs and boards. We know what the role actually demands.
- Proven AKF frameworks. Your coaching draws on the same models we use with executive teams, including the Experiential Chasm (closing the gap between technology and business leaders) and the Three Sentence Rule (communicating clearly and concisely to executives).
What we work on
Every engagement is built around your goals and your situation. Common focus areas include:
- Getting what you need from the business. We help you frame your needs, whether headcount, budget, or time to address technical debt, in terms business leaders understand. The result: you get the resources and support you need to succeed.
- Letting go of the keyboard. Delegating well and shifting your value from doing the work to multiplying the team's output.
- Leading former peers. Setting expectations, earning authority, and handling the awkward early conversations.
- 1:1s and feedback. Running meetings that build trust, and giving feedback people can act on.
- Prioritizing and saying no. Protecting your team's focus without damaging relationships.
- Hiring and building a team. Defining roles, interviewing well, and growing the people you have.
- Measuring your impact. Setting goals and metrics for yourself and your team that tie back to business outcomes.
How it works
A typical engagement runs six months with a dedicated AKF coach. You'll be matched with an AKF partner whose background fits your role and goals.
- Discovery call. A free 30-minute conversation to understand where you are and whether we're the right fit.
- Intake and goal setting. We learn your role, your team, and your challenges, and agree on two or three concrete goals. If your employer is sponsoring, they help shape those goals.
- Biweekly 1:1 sessions. Sixty-minute video sessions focused on real situations you're facing, with practical tools to apply between sessions.
- Midpoint check-in. We review progress against your goals and adjust the plan.
- Wrap-up review. We measure progress, capture what's working, and leave you with a plan for continued growth.
What you discuss in sessions stays between you and your coach. Sponsors receive progress updates on agreed goals, never session content.
Who it's for
For emerging leaders
You're a new manager, tech lead, or architect taking on people or org-wide responsibility, or you're preparing for that step. Invest in yourself with a coach who has walked the path, in complete confidence.
For CTOs, engineering leaders, and HR
Your best engineers are often your next leaders, and the transition is where many of them struggle or leave. Coaching puts real depth behind your succession plan: the people you've named as successors become ready-now leaders, not just names on a chart. Sponsor coaching to build that bench, retain high performers, and get progress updates tied to goals you help set.
For private equity firms
Leadership depth is one of the biggest risks in a portfolio company's technology organization. AKF already assesses technology leadership in due diligence; Leadership Accelerator Coaching turns those findings into a concrete plan to develop the leaders your value creation plan depends on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this for?
Individual contributors moving into leadership, new managers and tech leads in their first one to two years, and high performers preparing for that step.
How much time does it take?
About one hour every two weeks, plus a little time between sessions to apply what you're working on.
Is it confidential?
Yes. Session content stays between you and your coach. If your employer sponsors the engagement, they see progress against agreed goals only.
Is coaching remote or in person?
Sessions are held over video, so you can work with us from anywhere.
Can my employer pay for it?
Yes. Many engagements are sponsored by the coachee's company or, for portfolio companies, by their PE firm. We're happy to help you make the case internally.
How is this different from a leadership course?
Courses teach general principles. Coaching works on your real situations, week by week, with someone who has led technology teams.
What does it cost?
Pricing depends on engagement length and scope. We'll walk through options on your discovery call.