Executive leadership coaching for startup founders, executives, & investors

Head shot of Lauren Adelle

Overview

With over ten years of combined experience as an executive coach, operator in VC, and therapist, my background in clinical therapy and venture capital positions me uniquely to support startup founders and executives.

I have worked with founders and executives whose companies are backed by top venture firms including Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, Initialized Capital, Lightspeed, Redpoint, Sequoia, Y Combinator, and more.

Approach

I take a personalized and pragmatic approach with each of my clients. Whether we’re promoting greater well-being and productivity or working together through crisis, our work helps leaders uncover insights and develop skills to grow and scale healthy organizations.

My approach with clients creates impact at the individual and company level. I incorporate Cognitive-Behavioral and Systems theories, and communication & leadership best practices.

At the individual level, I work with leaders to gain insight into their thought and behavior patterns and build effective internal and external communication frameworks. I partner with clients to identify what needs to be accomplished to get to the next milestone, and building the leadership skills they need to guide their company’s growth.

At the company level, I help clients better understand interpersonal dynamics including 1:1, intra-team, cross-functional, and cascading communication. I work with clients to influence these channels to create healthier organizations that can better withstand the pressure and stress of rapid growth.

Values

  • We can’t improve until we know what’s holding us back. By bringing unconscious dynamics to the surface, we can build the power for change.

  • Emotions are a rich source of data, but are often ignored. By acknowledging and spending time with emotions, they serve as a guide toward growth.

  • Making decisions with incomplete information can be uncomfortable, but staying stuck is worse. Build the habit of action and iteration.

  • Much like in building a company, there is no one ‘right’ way. Every founder and company is unique, and our approach to coaching reflects that.

  • In pursuit of big goals, we often over-index on the many problems to be solved and forget to pay attention to what’s going right. Choose to enjoy the wins. Build on progress, not perfection.

Expertise

  • Leadership growth & development

  • Vision, mission & values

  • Building a healthy culture

  • Interpersonal communication

  • Stress, anxiety & burnout

  • Performance assessment

  • Co-founder relationships

Testimonials

  • Lauren has been a strategic advantage for me as I navigate the complexities of a highly matrixed organization and an 'always on' business. She is able to listen and understand challenges, then help me create frameworks I can use to become smarter and develop further between our sessions. This allows me to grow much more quickly than I would otherwise. If you are struggling with how to increase your effectiveness within yourself, your team and/or cross functionally, I would 100% recommend partnering with Lauren. Working with her has not only been an advantage for me, but has also increased the output of the people around me and the company overall.

    VP Operations @ $25B Public Tech Company

  • I've worked with Lauren for over two years. She is extremely thoughtful and adept at understanding people 'problems' and is a trusted confidant to turn to when facing challenges. When I'm in crisis mode, I know Lauren's calm, measured demeanor will guide me to the right answer. Despite Lauren not having a technical background, I've also found that she is somehow able to help me work through technical challenges and make better decisions, especially related to organizational or structural decisions within the Engineering org. I would highly recommend working with Lauren to both technical and nontechnical leaders.

    Co-founder & CTO @ Series A Company

  • I am incredibly grateful to have Lauren as my executive coach. She has been instrumental in helping me navigate through some of the most challenging decisions and pivotal moments in the company's journey. I've recommended Lauren to many of my founder friends, and I believe that anyone who has the opportunity to work with her will benefit immensely.

    Dani Grant, Founder & CEO @ Jam (jam.dev)

  • Lauren has been an excellent coach. As a first time founder, you are really walking into the unknown. I feel that Lauren has equipped me with both personal and professional skills that have scaled with me from a seed to growth stage founder.

    Neal Sarraf, Founder & COO @ First Resonance (firstresonance.io)

  • I've been working with Lauren for over two years. She understands startups / founder challenges and dynamics extremely well. Lauren provides very tailored and actionable advice, understanding that each startup and situation is unique. I have better clarity and peak-sustainable performance, understanding of my strengths & weaknesses, and how to best deploy my energy, among other things. These areas all lead to me supporting and leading my staff more effectively. I would highly recommend every founder add Lauren to their 'stack'

    Dominik Zane, Founder & CEO @ Around (around.co, acquired by Miro)

  • Lauren has been instrumental across the entire lifespan of our company. We met her during a cofounder dispute that evolved into cofounder split. She helped us navigate that while keeping the company intact. After that she has helped me and most of our executive team scale to keep up with the demands of the company. She is amazing! Strongly recommend!

    Founder & CEO @ Series A Company

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