Category: Coaching
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The Missing Ask: Why We Negotiate Salary but Wait for Promotions
I’m currently reading Women Don’t Ask by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever. If you haven’t read it yet, put it on your list. It explores a painful truth that many of us know instinctively: women are often much less likely than men to negotiate for what they want, assuming that hard work alone will be…
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How a Personal Board of Directors Transformed My Growth (and How You Can Build Yours)
Walking into Google felt like walking in the dark When I joined Google as a senior engineering manager: new company, new role, new world, I felt a bit like a blind person groping in the dark. I was the first external manager hired into the Israeli development center. Until then, every manager had grown from…
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How I Failed as a Mentee
I once got the opportunity to be mentored by a senior leader I really admired. I was excited, and in my mind: “mission accomplished”. But a few weeks in, our relationship just fizzled out. The calls got shorter, and the conversations became less frequent until they stopped completely. I was disappointed, and I felt like…
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Shut Up and Listen: A Better Way to Start as a New Leader
When I stepped into my first VP role, I thought I had to hit the ground running. I had experience. A strong track record. A big title. So I thought I had to prove something — fast. But what I’ve learned (and what I now help new leaders navigate through coaching) is this: The best…
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“You Know What You Want. But Can You Let Go?”
Letting Go In 2018, I was in California during one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent history.I remember sitting outside one morning, surrounded by smoke and golden light, watching the sun filter through tall grass.That moment would change everything. It was there that the idea for a new wildfire detection product first came to…
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Sometimes Your Plan Needs to Get Out of the Way
Is your plan serving your purpose — or limiting it? Discover the questions that can help you stay open to unexpected opportunities aligned with your true mission.
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Own Your Narrative: The Key to Getting Promoted (and Growing as a Leader)
Many believe hard work alone leads to promotions, but effective storytelling about one’s impact, challenges, and leadership is essential. Individuals often struggle to articulate their narratives, especially in ambiguous environments. Understanding how to own and present their stories can significantly impact career advancement and personal growth.
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When the Work You Love Starts to Hurt
Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse. Sometimes it just looks like you, but with the light dimmed. For me, it started with headaches. The kind you wake up with in the morning and carry with you into every meeting. Then came the cynicism. Which, if you know me, is very unlike me. I used to…
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Designing a Life I Love: A Sabbatical Check-In
Three months ago, I left my director role at Google to take a deliberate pause.I had a plan—a structure built around three pillars that mattered deeply to me: I was excited, a little scared, and mostly curious—what would actually happen when the plan met reality? Now, a quarter into this sabbatical year, I wanted to…
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When Was the Last Time You Started Something Completely New?
This weekend, I assisted in a Co-Active Coaching Fundamentals course. It brought me back to a time—less than two years ago—when I sat in that very same course, not as an assistant, but as a student. I didn’t know then just how much of a turning point it would become. Back then, I was just…
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Empower Your Career: When to Choose a Mentor or Coach
My journey as a mentor began years ago, working primarily with women and young entrepreneurs. There was something deeply fulfilling about sharing my experiences and knowledge, watching these talented individuals navigate challenges I had faced before. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting numerous professionals as they built their businesses and advanced their…
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The Way Out Is In
The Emotion Escape Route “I just can’t deal with this anger. I need it to GO AWAY.” Have you ever found yourself desperately trying to escape uncomfortable emotions? That tightness in your chest during a high-stakes meeting. The knot in your stomach before delivering difficult feedback. The racing thoughts that keep you up at 3…
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The Mentor Within: A Simple Question That Changes Everything
Recently, during a coaching session with a new client facing a significant career challenge, I introduced them to a tool so simple it almost feels like magic. As we explored their struggles and aspirations, I asked, “What would you tell yourself if you were your own mentor?” The impact was immediate. My client paused, leaned…
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Navigating Career Pivots: The Jungle Gym Approach
As career coaches, we often work with clients who are contemplating a major career move. One client, in particular, was considering a shift into a new field she was deeply passionate about. However, she was unsure if this move would necessarily advance her career in the direction she ultimately wanted to go. Through our discussions,…
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The Power of Purpose
I’ll admit it – I was a skeptic. Sitting in my first coaching certification course, I inwardly cringed when the instructor started talking about “life purpose.” As a seasoned tech executive, I wanted concrete tools and measurable outcomes, not what seemed like abstract philosophical concepts. But my journey as a coach has completely transformed my…
Mor Schlesinger 