1:1 coaching for technical leaders
From first-time heads of engineering to seasoned VPEs, CTOs and CTPOs, leading engineering and product teams of 2 to 100+.
Sound familiar?
- “I'm new to the role and not sure what good looks like yet.”
- “I need to dramatically expand my team in the next 6 months.”
- “My CEO thinks engineering is slow.”
- “The board wants an AI strategy and I could use guidance.”
- “I have to reorg, or let a senior leader go.”
- “I need to measure and report on engineering performance.”
Or any other leadership challenge weighing on you? 1:1 coaching can help.
Why work with me?
We'll work on your priorities over months, not just one conversation, and everything stays confidential. Chances are I've sat where you're sitting.
- A sounding board
Someone outside your company to think out loud with, with no agenda but yours.
- Confidence
Make the hard calls knowing your thinking has been pressure-tested by someone who has made them before.
- Growth
Build the skills the next stage of your company, and your career, will ask of you.
- Accountability
Commit to next steps, and we'll review how they went.
How coaching with me works
- We'll meet regularly
Usually, we'll meet an hour together, over Zoom or in person, every other week or once a month, on a rhythm that fits your calendar. Typical engagements are 3–6 months. Many clients expense coaching through their company's learning and development budget.
- Start with what's most pressing
You bring the problems and challenges keeping you up at night. Discussions are completely confidential.
- Understand your context
No two situations are the same, so I start by understanding your company, your team and your constraints, not a playbook.
- Leave with next steps
I offer thoughtful suggestions, candid feedback, and if helpful, relevant resources: books, articles, documents and tools.
- Follow up and keep going
Next time, we look at what you tried and how the situation has evolved, then take on whatever is pressing now.
Get started
Hi, I'm Chris Brookins. Let's start with a no-cost intro call. Tell me what's on your mind, and we'll see if coaching is a fit.
Prefer to write first? Send me a note.
About me
I've spent 30+ years leading engineering and product as a VP of Engineering, CTO and Chief Product Officer, at companies including Acquia, Help Scout and Appcues. I've been the first VPE at several early and growth stage startups. I have grown teams from 5 engineers to more than 100 and worked to grow companies from pre-revenue to over $200M, including one $1B exit.
Along the way I've built products spanning several industries that have delighted thousands of enterprise and SMB customers, performed technical due diligence on acquisitions, rolled out many reorgs, turned around products buried in tech debt, represented engineering/product at board meetings, helped raise funding, and much more.
I'm a forum leader at the VPE Forum and a venture partner at Companyon Ventures. And I still build: I design and engineer my own apps with AI (using loops, harnesses and specs, not vibes), so when we talk about AI, it comes from hands-on experience, including leading the AI transformation at one of my companies.
I coach to pay it forward, and to keep myself sharp. I love helping others, and being a VPE can be a lonely job.