Private coaching for IC design leaders
Catt Small
Staff Product Designer with 15+ YOE at Etsy, Asana, SoundCloud, & more.
You've done the work, now let's get that promotion.
The people closest to you know you're a powerhouse. But between you and where decisions get made, your impact gets lost in translation. Let's figure out why and fix it.
What we can work on
Every engagement is built around your situation, not a generic curriculum. Common topics include:
Getting heard - Your recommendations are good. The problem is getting the right people to act on them. We'll build a concrete plan for closing the gap.
Making your impact visible - You're doing more than folks realize, and that gap is costing you. We'll work on how socialize your work so leadership understands what you actually contribute.
Navigating the jump to staff - Senior and staff are different levels. If you're pushing for a promotion or just landed the title and feel like you're figuring it out as you go, we'll get specific about what the role actually requires and where to focus your energy.
Owning the room - Executive presence and managing up are learnable skills. We'll work on how you show up in high-stakes conversations and make it feel natural.
Career decisions - Stay or go. Freelance or in-house. IC or management. Coaching gives you a structured space to think through decisions you can't fully process in a Slack DM with a friend.
How it works
We'll meet for two sessions per month, over a minimum of three months. Each session is one hour. At the end of each session, you'll have a series of action items to follow up on at the next session.
We'll use the first session to diagnose what's actually going on and set goals for the engagement. Everything after that is focused on your specific situation: your company, your stakeholders, your next move.
Is this for you?
This is a good fit if you're a senior or staff designer who:
Knows something needs to change but isn't sure what, or
Knows exactly what needs to change but can't figure out how to make it happen.
It's a bad fit if you do not have the space to go deep or want someone to tell you exactly what to do. I'll ask a lot of questions, and we will work together to find the best steps forward.