You’re not just here to make it pretty
Coaching with care for startup designers
Dear designer,
You’re not just here to make it pretty.
You’re here to ask better questions.
To advocate for humans—your users, but also your team, and yourself.
To become a strategic multiplier, not just a machine checking off to-do list items.
And if no one’s ever shown you how to do that, you’re not alone.
This year, I’m offering a few select coaching engagements for individual contributors in design and product. Read on to learn more about how I work, or get in touch.
Why startup designers?
At many startups, design is expected to be everything—yet is often misunderstood, under-supported, and under-resourced.
You’re asked to be strategic, but left out of strategy.
You’re expected to collaborate, but rarely looped into key decisions.
You’re expected to lead, but given no mentorship or growth path.
If you’re a startup designer, you’re probably navigating:
A vague or non-existent career ladder
Being the only designer (or one of a very few), without many allies
Budget gaps for research, tools, or team growth
User stories with little context
Decisions made without your input
Uncertainty about how to grow, be seen, or make an impact
You might be wondering:
Am I doing this right?
Is it supposed to feel this lonely?
How do I advocate for myself when I’m not even sure what I need?
Am I the problem?
Dear designer, you’re not the problem.
You’re in a system that hasn’t caught up to the value you bring.
Why I coach
I'm a strategic product designer with 10+ years of experience in complex but "unsexy" challenges that others overlook—disaster prevention, end-of-life planning, and healthcare.
I coach because I’ve been there.
Because I know what it’s like to do meaningful work without recognition, without guidance, and without access to the support you need to grow.
Because I believe design deserves a seat at the table—even if that sounds cliché—and designers deserve the scaffolding and support to grow into that seat.
Because I want to help you find your voice, focus your energy, and increase your impact with both clarity and care.
(Yes, I like making memes.)
Who I coach
I work with individual contributors and emerging design and product leaders at early- to mid-stage startups who are:
Tired of just “executing”
Hungry to grow into influence, not just output
Seeking to round out their skills—visual design, research, communication, data fluency, or stakeholder management
Craving feedback, mentorship, and the language to articulate what they know in their gut
In the middle of a career pivot, or unsure how to level up
Done waiting for space to be made for them, and ready to start claiming it
If you're being asked to step up into a strategic role but aren’t given the support, I’m your girl.
If you’re trying to take on a strategic role without waiting for permission, I’m your girl.
How I coach
My approach blends strategic mentorship with thoughtful reflection. Somewhere between mentorship and therapy, but it’s neither.
It’s not about handing you a script or fixing you.
It’s a dedicated space for you to sharpen both your thinking and your craft.
Think of it like having a climbing partner.
You’re the one making the ascent: choosing your footholds, doing the work, learning the route as you go.
I’m on the rope with you: offering perspective, catching blind spots, helping you assess the terrain, and reminding you of your capability when the altitude kicks in.
(And yes, I also like elaborate analogies.)
We work from two angles:
Individual level: sharpening your design craft, research methods, communication, data fluency, clarity, and confidence
System level: aligning your growth with the business goals around you, so your work is not only meaningful but visible, impactful and recognized
Sometimes we talk mindset and mission.
Other times we roll up our sleeves to dig into tactical tools—research plans, design critiques, presentation communications, or business context.
We work on what matters most to you, in the context you're operating in.
Because growth isn’t just about getting better. It’s about learning how to navigate the terrain, on your terms, with clarity, care, and the right support.
I’m not for everyone
If you’re looking for a playbook, framework, or a formula to follow, I’m not your girl.
I won’t hand you a five-step path to design leadership or a script for every conversation.
I will help you clarify what matters to you, and support you in showing up with intention, in the messy, evolving context of your actual job.
If you work in a corporate environment that is highly structured, I’m also not your girl.
My sweet spot is working with startup designers.
Those of you navigating ambiguity, and expected to punch above your weight with limited support.
If you’re ready to define your own direction, I’d love to work with you.
If this resonates
I offer free intro sessions for designers curious about coaching.
We’ll talk about where you are, where you want to go, and how I might support you in getting there.
Bring your full self: you ambitions, your uncertainties, the questions you’re not sure you’re allowed to ask.
Let’s make space for your voice, and give your impact the support it deserves.
Start here, or DM me with any questions.