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Technical Excellence to Leadership Excellence

The transition from being a skilled technical contributor to leading a technical team can be tricky for many engineers.

I made that transition years ago and learned a lot on the way.  I am here to tell you its normal to hit some bumps, but you don’t have to do it alone. 

I know The Challenges

  • Managing former peers is awkward
  • Solving people problems is very different from solving technical problems
  • Others still come to you as the technical expert
  • Balancing hands-on work with leadership work is difficult
  • The team needs more leadership and direction
  • Your technical knowledge needs to be augmented with leadership skills

and I Can help you solve them

  • Build a documented plan to develop your leadership skills
  • Build confidence in your leadership ability
  • Develop a strategic thinking mindset
  • Enhance your communication techniques
  • Balance technical and leadership time
  • Create high performing technical teams

Coach Shawn

From soldering circuit boards to leading transformational change—I’ve lived the journey from hands-on engineer to senior leader. After starting my career deep in hardware and software development, I discovered my true passion: helping other technical experts navigate their path to leadership excellence.

That transition taught me invaluable lessons. Technical decisions have clear right answers, but people leadership? That’s where the real growth happens. Today, I partner with engineering leaders who are facing the same challenges I once did—managing former peers, balancing technical depth with strategic thinking, and building high-performing teams.

As a certified professional coach, I combine real-world leadership experience with proven coaching techniques to help you develop your authentic leadership style. Whether you’re a new team lead feeling the weight of people management or a senior director scaling your organization, I provide the confidential sounding board and structured guidance you need to succeed.

My approach is practical, personalized, and focused on results. I work with you as a whole person—because great leadership isn’t just about what you do, it’s about who you become.

Ready to transform your technical expertise into leadership excellence? Let’s start the conversation.

Why Coach SHawn?

  • 20 + years of technical leadership experience
  • International Team Leader
  • Enterprise transformation expert
  • Certified Agile Leader (SAFe SPC)
  • Certified Professional CoActive Coach
  • Large and Small company experience

Transform from Technical Excellence to Leadership

Prototype Your Leadership

Transform your technical expertise into leadership excellence through an engineering-minded approach to personal growth. This 6-month intensive program helps R&D leaders and technical experts hone the skills needed to build and lead high-performing teams while maintaining their authentic style.

Just as you’d prototype a new product, we’ll:

  • Design your unique leadership architecture
  • Test and refine your management approaches
  • Measure results through concrete metrics
  • Iterate based on real-world feedback

Perfect for technical experts who want to:

  • Successfully transition from peer to leader
  • Build and motivate high-performing technical teams
  • Make confident decisions in ambiguous situations
  • Balance technical depth with strategic leadership

We will work together to choose focus areas and tailor the program to best meet your needs.  As you grow and adapt to the environment around you, we will always make adjustments to ensure you are maximizing your innovation and growth.

Each time we meet you will bring a current topic and we will examine it through the lens of your overall leadership growth plan.  Through the combination of intentional goal setting and interactive coaching conversation, you will leave each session with tangible action and growth opportunities.

Possible focus areas

  • Communication (1-1 or group)
  • Delegation and empowerment
  • Prioritization of multiple requests
  • Collaboration with other leaders
  • Building and Leading Teams
  • Coaching your team members
  • Managing Up and across
  • Learning from failure (yours and your teams)

What My clients are saying

Shawn creates a safe environment for clients to explore new life possibilities. His coaching structure offers a good balance of future thinking and grounding in reality. Most importantly, Shawn listens to and adapts to his client’s style and needs. He’s a solid coach.
Minal K.Brand Strategy Consultant
Minal K.
I started working with Shawn because I wanted to improve my communication skills and allow myself to be more creative in my work. I had struggled with these topics for years and none of the self-help resources I found seemed to work for me. Working with Shawn has made an immense impact. Shawn is a fantastic listener, and the insights I’ve gained from our conversations have helped me identify the root cause of WHY it was so difficult for me to improve in these areas and HOW to address those root causes. Furthermore, Shawn does a great job of leaving me with actionable ways to improve between sessions. I would highly recommend working with Shawn to anyone looking to unlock their professional potential.
D. RodinProject Manager
D. Rodin
I came to Shawn to help me find the best way to manage and organize work for the management team that reported to me. He quickly understood where I was and where I wanted to go. He helped me define actionable steps to make immediate changes with the team. I improved the team’s organization and execution. Shawn listens well and always helped me find practical solutions to roadblocks along the way. Now I have a highly motivated and engaged leadership team that came closer and has a better relationship. We are now a more effective leadership team. I would highly recommend working with Shawn.
T. RitterDirector of Service
T. Ritter
I had the pleasure of working with Shawn as an agile coach as well as being coached by him. He is a wealth of knowledge on all topics related to agile and his Coactive Coach certification and training makes him a wonderful personal coach. Shawn was able to help me identify growth opportunities and then helped me achieve them. He also acted as a mentor while we worked together to build out leadership training. Shawn, thank you for all your help and support!
W. MillerChange Manager
W. Miller

How do you want to Grow?

On My Own

No problem! Grab my free guide to avoiding the Top 6 Pitfalls Technical Leader face. It comes with a self-evaluation tool and an action planning guide. Great for DIY growth!

WIth a little help

Perfect! Check out my $100 online self-guided course. You work through at your own pace. I will review your work and share thoughts and comments to help you along.

With a partner

You are ready to Prototype Your Leadership! I will be your fully active partner, helping you explore and build your leadership, setting goals and holding you accountable for your own growth!

Prototype Your Leadership

Technical Excellence to Leadership Excellence!
$ 500 /month
  • Documented Structured Plan
  • 6 Month Remote Program
  • Tailored to Your Needs
  • App and Website for progress tracking
  • Text and Email Action Reminders
  • 16 1-1 Coaching Sessions
  • 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
  • Free 45 Minute Strategy Session to Explore Further
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Program Overview

This shows a typical program structure and content menu which meets the needs of most leaders. Of course, we will make adjustments based on your unique individual situation. 

Program Structure

Typical Participants

  • Technical experts recently promoted to leadership 
  • R&D team leads managing former peers
  • Technical managers struggling with the transition from individual contributor to leader
  • Seasoned managers in technology fields who want to move up to the next level

Program Delivery

  • 60-minute sessions
  • Online metrics and progress tracking
  • Coaching and mentoring
  • 1-1 in person or virtual
  • Structured agenda with flexibility
  • External resources (e.g. links, articles, podcasts)
  • Homework and action items between sessions

Progress Tracking

  • Web/mobile based tracking and communication
  • Action/habit tracking
  • Nudge reminders (email and text)
  • Metrics over time to measure progress
  • 360 feedback at start and end of program

Expected Outcomes

  • Confident leadership presence
  • Effective team management skills
  • Strategic thinking capability
  • Strong communication abilities
  • Work-life integration
  • Clear career progression path

Program contents

Month 1 – Weekly Coaching to get a strong start

  • Personality Assessment
  • Baseline Metrics Gathering
  • Baseline 360 feedback
  • Personal Leadership Vision
  • Current Challanges Inventory
  • 90 Day Action Plan

 

Months 2-5 – Every other week coaching, possible topics:

  • Time Management
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Communication Fundamentals
  • Team Dynamics
  • People Leadership
  • Coaching & Mentoring
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Talent Development
  • Change Management
  • Leading Innovation
  • Work-Life Integration
  • Future Planning

 

Month 6 – Weekly Coaching Capstone

  • Gather New Metrics
  • Final 360 feedback
  • Reflection on Personal Leadership Vision
  • Go-Forward habits and plan