TECH LEADERSHIP COACHING

You’ve mastered the tech—now the hardest part is the people.

You know how to solve complex problems, scale systems, and ship great products.
But influencing stakeholders? Navigating politics? Leading humans with all their nuance, emotion, and unpredictability? That’s a different kind of challenge.

As a seasoned tech executive and a Berkeley & ICF Certified Executive Coach, I help technical leaders grow into confident, people-first leaders—without losing their edge. Whether you’re newly promoted or leading at scale, we’ll work together to strengthen your presence, navigate complexity, and lead with clarity, calm, and purpose.

Schedule Discovery Session

Common pain points my Tech Leaders experience:

 

  • Politics, silos, corporate roadblocks – You just want to build great things—but the red tape and hidden agendas keep getting in the way.
  • Struggle to influence and control your domain – You’re leading, but it still feels like you’re asking for permission to do your job.
  • Disconnect from your leadership and mission – Somewhere along the way, the work lost its spark—and so did you.
  • Feeling like an imposter. Even with all your success – Despite everything you’ve achieved, a quiet voice still whispers: “Am I really good enough?”
  • Being out-of-sync with yourself and your purpose – You’re operating on autopilot, but inside, you’re craving something more real and aligned.
  • Lack in confidence of up-skilling yourself – The tech is evolving fast, and even as a leader, you’re wondering if you’re falling behind.
  • Doubting your ability to lead your team well – You care deeply about your people—but you’re not sure you’re the leader they truly need.

How I help Tech Leaders Thrive:

Influence Without Authority – For when you’re technically leading but constantly blocked by politics, silos, and unclear power dynamics. We’ll work on strategic communication, stakeholder mapping, and influence-building—so you can move the needle even without formal authority.

Domain Ownership & Strategic Alignment – When you’re struggling to steer your area of the business, we’ll clarify your role, define your zone of control, and align your efforts to broader org goals—so you stop asking for permission and start owning outcomes

Leadership Presence & People Development – You want to be a better leader for your team—but aren’t sure how. This approach develops your presence, sharpens your feedback and mentoring skills, and builds trust—so your team grows because of you, not despite you.

Mission Reconnection & Leadership Identity – If the spark is fading, we’ll help you rediscover what drives you and how to translate that into a renewed sense of purpose as a leader. This approach reconnects your inner drive with the role you’ve grown into.

Imposter Syndrome Reset – Even experienced leaders wrestle with self-doubt. We’ll unpack the internal narrative, challenge old mental models, and build a grounded sense of confidence—so you can lead from who you are, not who you think you’re supposed to be.

Inner Alignment & Purposeful Growth – If you feel out of sync with your path, this work is about slowing down to speed up. We’ll explore your values, long-term vision, and what meaningful success looks like—so you can lead from a place of wholeness, not just momentum.

 

Book a discovery call

I have helped hundreds…

I have helped hundreds of leaders cross the gaps of uncertainties and chaos. See what some of them have to say about my services:

Vladimir was a major contributor to my successful transition from IC to Manager in a tech startup. I really appreciated how he leveraged his own experience in the tech industry; he had context and insight into the challenges I faced, and our common background helped build a productive coaching relationship. Specific issues that Vladimir helped me with included recognizing growth opportunities, understanding what my team needs from me, and strategizing on team success through turbulent startup times. After three months of coaching, my company asked me to step up into an expanded managerial portfolio; I’m certain I would not have been ready to expand my role like that without the work that Vladimir and I had done.

Andrew

Engineering Manager, Robotics

Vladimir is one of the most exceptional business coaches I have ever had the privilege to work with. His unique ability to blend practical advice with insightful strategies sets him apart in the coaching field. Beyond his skills as a coach, Vladimir brings a wealth of experience from his dual background as an entrepreneur and a CTO.

His approach is always tailored, reflecting a deep understanding of both the technological and market challenges that businesses face today. Working with him has not only driven growth for our projects but has also significantly enhanced our strategic approach. I highly recommend Vladimir to anyone looking to elevate their business with seasoned, effective guidance.

Evaldas

CTO, AdTech

Vladimir was very helpful with his insight around my painpoints. His constructive feedback helped me come up with the plan that I needed to succeed

Amol

Executive Director, Generative AI

I’m immensely thankful for the incredible journey I’ve embarked on with Vladimir as my executive coach. His phenomenal emotional and constructive sessions have truly transformed my life. As a renowned NASA research scientist, I thought I had seen it all, but Vladimir’s guidance and unwavering support have helped me rebuild myself as a person. I couldn’t have asked for a more dedicated and insightful coach.

Scott

Senior Scientist, Geobiology and Astrobiology

I want to thank Vladimir for the alternative views and resources that he shared. I don’t think I would have come up with those on my own in the time given. His prompt replies and detailed insight around executive growth made mentoring interactions very productive.

Himani

Director, ML/AI

Working with Vladimir has been instrumental to my career and personal development. His coaching has played a pivotal role in my growth ad a leader, self assessment and reflection, identifying strategic opportunities, prioritizing, and pivoting when a chance in direction is necessary.

The combination of exploring (coaching) and advising (experience-based) has been invaluable. Highly recommend giving Human Interfaces a try.

Nedko

Head of Platform, BioTech

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Trusted by Founders and Leaders from Top Startups and Tech Companies

Frequently Asked Questions

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What’s my technology leadership coaching methodology?
I offer a mix of directive and non-directive coaching to propel you forward on your leadership journey.

Directive Coaching
In directive coaching, I provide my own advice and recommendations in service of finding the right solution to a technical challenge. This is typically most appropriate when there’s less ambiguity as to what the right answer is. For example, this methodology works well with clients who want to excel in the promotion process or to organize a team for a tech push.

Non-Directive Coaching
Non-directive coaching involves me helping you to problem-solve for yourself, so you’re identifying your own solution to an adaptive problem. An adaptive challenge is an issue in which there’s a variety of ways to reach an effective solution. Defining the next step in your self-improvement process, or finding the best ways to motivate your reports and partners are examples of challenges that are best for non-directive coaching. Either way, my support is outcome driven, actionable, unconventional, realistic, mindful of rules and how to bend them, well-researched, and a frictionless experience.

Why hire me for leadership coaching?
I show up to every session ready to listen to what you’re working on and prepared to help guide you through your own decision-making process, and when it makes sense, provide relevant recommendations.

I bring a diverse mix of experiences to each session. I’ve been in the technology field for 20+ years, and I have worked with a range of technology leaders and companies across a variety of sectors. I have led large and small teams as a technology executive, and have delivered over 200+ coaching hours to clients with a variety of backgrounds from all over the world.

I have been a certified executive coach by the Haas School of Business, Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute at UC Berkeley. I have been a start-up CTO and CIO at fintech and spacetech companies. I have been a regular mentor at various business schools and accelerator programs like TechStars, NSF I-corps, and Cornell eLab. I am also a graduate of Columbia’s Greenhouse and Techstars Space Programs.

What skills do my clients need to develop to transition from an engineering leader to a strong executive?

Moving from a technical role into a tech leadership position requires more than just deep technical expertise—it involves mastering executive presence, strategic thinking, and effective communication with business stakeholders.

🔹 How a coach helps: An executive coach works with you to strengthen executive skills such as stakeholder management, team leadership, decision-making, and roadmap planning. They provide feedback on your leadership style, help you manage internal roadblocks, and guide you toward making a bigger impact in your organization.

How do my clients navigate complex leadership challenges like executive alignment and organizational restructuring?
Many tech leaders struggle with cross-functional collaboration, navigating corporate politics, and scaling their organizations as their company grows. Managing relationships with executives, product teams, and investors can be just as important as making technical decisions.

🔹 How a coach helps: A tech leadership coach helps tech leaders build alignment between technical and business teams, refine their negotiation skills, and develop strategies for managing organizational change. They provide insights on executive communication, decision-making frameworks, and leadership styles that work in high-growth environments.

What topics do my clients typically bring to the sessions?
It all depends on the coachee, but some of the topics included:

✔ Managing Your Psychology

✔ Building and Optimizing Your Support Structure

✔ Engineering KPIs

✔ Managing a Roadmap

✔ Developing your Team Leaders

✔ Running Great Meetings

✔ Setting and Managing to Expectations

✔ Defining what Good Looks Like

✔ Negotiating With Vendors

✔ Defining and Running an Effective Hiring Process

✔ Defining and Evolving Organization Structure as the Company Grows

✔ Assessing Technical Risk

What topics can I expect to have conversations on during the sessions?
✔ Mission/Values Review
✔ Milestone Based Go-to-market Strategy (GTM)
✔ Business Development Strategies
✔ Fundraising Traction
✔ Cleaner and Meaningful Deck
✔ Effective Team Structure and Communication
✔ Improved Conflict Resolution Approaches
✔ Prioritization Strategies
✔ Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plans
✔ Competitive Landscape Analysis
✔ Continuous Learning and Team Development Programs
✔ Efficient Resource Allocation
✔ Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Set-Up
✔ Value Proposition Clarification
✔ Customer Retention Strategies
✔ Internal Processing (Stress and Life Management)
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What does a coaching session look like?

Every session is a mix of self-examination and establishing tangible steps towards progress. I meet with all my clients virtually via Zoom for one-hour sessions where we focus on addressing a particular entrepreneurship topic.

The goal is to move you forward with an opportunity you’re considering or a challenge you’re up against. You set the stage by explaining the circumstances, I ask a series of questions, explore viable options, and finally, we’ll create a plan of action.

What results should I expect from collaborating?
Depending on the goals of the coachee, I’ve helped individuals land more interviews, receive more job offers, get promoted, negotiate a higher salary, identify the next step in their career, stand out in a crowded job market, communicate more effectively with their team, establish their leadership style, better manage workplace conflicts, gain more visibility for themselves, and increase outcomes from their technology investments.
How can my clients improve team performance and optimize engineering operations?
Scaling an engineering team or managing a high-performing technical organization requires strong leadership, clear processes, and the ability to set and manage expectations effectively.

🔹 How a coach helps: A coach helps tech leaders implement best practices for managing roadmaps, defining KPIs, running efficient meetings, and developing technical leaders within their teams. They offer a structured approach to improving engineering processes, hiring strategies, and team communication.

How do my clients plan my long-term career growth as a tech leader?
Many engineering leaders reach a point where they must decide between deepening their technical expertise, moving into general management, or even transitioning into a founder or investor or CTO role. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to stagnate.

🔹 How a coach helps: A coach helps you assess your strengths, clarify your career vision, and build a roadmap for achieving long-term success. They provide structured coaching sessions that focus on personal development, leadership evolution, and positioning yourself for high-impact roles in the future.

How do my clients stay accountable and continue growing as a leaders?
Even the most talented tech leaders can struggle with maintaining momentum in their leadership development. Without external accountability, it’s easy to fall back into day-to-day operations and neglect long-term strategic growth.

🔹 How a coach helps: A coach acts as an accountability partner, ensuring you stay focused on meaningful leadership improvements. Through structured coaching programs, regular check-ins, and ongoing support, they help you stay on track, make measurable progress, and develop into a stronger leader over time.