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Organizational Savvy for Technical Experts

4 Weeks

·

Cohort-based Course

Creating impact & being effective in large companies is incredibly hard. But you don’t need a $100k MBA. You need Organizational Savvy.

Coaching & Advising clients at

Technip Energies
Google
ExxonMobil
Apple
UTMB Health

Course overview

Play smarter. Get promoted faster. Learn how to operate in large organizations.

**This course is run in an active small-group cohort format and thus capped at 12 students. You won't be lost in a crowded 200 person seminar-style passive consumption class. It includes 3 one-on-one coaching sessions (post course) with me to work directly on your specific challenges. Set up a call to discuss. See FAQ. **


The #1 reason why promising careers get stalled

 

Succeeding in large setups is not just about technical competence (domain mastery) or self-competence (high performance). What derails careers is the third missing piece of organizational savvy. The deciding factor is often your OQ — organizational quotient.


It's the difference between a flourishing vs a floundering career:


▸ Flourishing: designated as a "hi-po", diverse opportunities, higher visibility

▸ Floundering: corporate cog, career-by-default, lost in the crowd, dead-end roles


Have you said any of the following?


⦿ "I hate playing politics"

⦿ "My work should speak for itself"

⦿ "No idea how that guy made VP"


Does the following apply to you?



⦿ Not seen as a "hi-po" (high-potential)

⦿ Being passed over for promotions/key roles

⦿ You've been told that you lack "executive presence".

⦿ Getting outplayed by peers.

⦿ Radio silence or fluffy feedback from manager


If these sound familiar, a lack of organizational savvy is the likely culprit.


Technical experts & "the nerd ceiling":


- What served you well in early career becomes a liability later on

- You’re not considered “leadership material”

- Promotions stop becoming automatic

- Impact and effectiveness have less to do with you directly


Don’t spend $100k on an MBA that teaches you how to run businesses. Succeeding inside large businesses is a different game onto itself.


Aim of the course:


You'll learn to overcome barriers and blindspots, and identify key levers for increasing impact. You'll be equipped with tactics & strategies to go from:


- Functional expert → strategic thought partner 

- Powerless → increased capacity for action

- Another cog in the machine → lynchpin

- Clueless victim → astute pro with high organizational acumen

 

Change your career’s arc and your impact and value to the organization.

Who is this course for

01

Technical & Domain Experts - SMEs, Engineers, Researchers & Specialists who want to increase impact & position themselves better

02

Engineering managers & technical leaders who want strategies to increase effectiveness when operating in organizational complexity.

03

LEADS & STAFF engineers wanting to improve their standing, increase impact, & move into leadership roles.

Learn Strategies for Overcoming Common Stumbling Blocks

Problem: Not seen as a “Hi-Po” (high potential)
  • You will have a clear understanding of what it takes to be considered a “hi-po” (high potential). All companies have some version of this. You will learn how managers gauge your promotability.
Problem: Lack of “executive presence” or “x-factor”
  • Managers often struggle to articulate why you didn’t get promoted or weren’t considered for that plump role. The mistake is to look inward when the solution often lies outward — shaping the environment and your perception.
Problem: Overlooked for promotions despite high ratings
  • Performance & promotability are NOT the same. By learning how power & influence works within the context of organizations, you will position yourself in alignment with not just your wants, but also your stakeholders and the organization.
Problem: Getting outmaneuvered by peers and rivals
  • The reality of organizational life is that you’re always in competition especially if your ambition is to go higher up the ladder. Even the best projects are competing with other equally valid contenders. You’ll learn positioning and how to identify supporters and detractors.
Problem: Inability to "get sh*t done"
  • Standout careers require standout project successes. And invariably this means working through others with competing priorities. A key skill is to overcome organizational dysfunction.
The Solution: Master the 4 pillars of organizational savvy
  • You’ll learn, practice, and implement frameworks for leveraging POWER, building INFLUENCE, managing PERCEPTIONS, and understanding the STRUCTURES & SYSTEMS that influence both yours’ and others’ actions.

This course includes

8 interactive live sessions

Lifetime access to course materials

33 in-depth lessons

Direct access to instructor

8 projects to apply learnings

Guided feedback & reflection

Private community of peers

Course certificate upon completion

Maven Satisfaction Guarantee

This course is backed by Maven’s guarantee. You can receive a full refund within 14 days after the course ends, provided you meet the completion criteria in our refund policy.

Course syllabus

Expand all modules

  • Post-Course

    Modules

    • Additional Resources

  • Bonus

    Modules

    • Individual 60-min coaching call #1

    • Individual 60-min coaching call #2

    • Individual 60-min coaching call #3

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The 3 Pillars of Successful Careers

The 3 Pillars of Successful Careers

Meet your instructor

Sheril Mathews

Sheril Mathews

Executive Coach | Leadership Advisor

Background

  • I’m a founder & operator at Leading Sapiens — a leadership coaching and advisory practice. Before LS, 20 years in various management & technical roles in corporate America gave me a first-row seat to many of the things that work, and even more that don’t. 
  • Now I help high performers, managers, and execs to level up their game to avoid costly mistakes.
  • Given my engineering background, I have zero tolerance for BS or snake oil promises. I bring the same analytical rigor into the more “softer” arts of leadership and organizations.


 Writing and research

  • I've researched leadership and organizations extensively. My in-depth articles have been endorsed by Harvard Business School and NYU professors and have graced the front page of Hacker news.
  • Some are used as references in B-school and executive education classes. 8,000+ folks read my pieces each month.
  • Newsletter: thelsweekly.substack.com
  • Blog: leadingsapiens.com
  • LinkedIn


Why this course?

  • I believe the corporate game is “beautiful” if you know how it’s played and understand the deeper nuances. Otherwise you’re constantly in danger of getting lost in the crowd & feeling like just another cog in a big, heartless machine.
  • We spend several thousand dollars and years getting an education. Yet, most of us don’t know how to navigate the world of work. More importantly, how do you play & win?
  • There are too many talented folks unnecessarily struggling due to lack of a practical playbook. This course aims to fill that void.


Have questions?

Set up a call or email me:

What people are saying

        Sheril represents the best combination of an executive coach & a leadership teacher. His practice and research affords him the ability to deeply consider the best avenues for clients’ realizations and outcomes. I can’t think of a more suitable guide with whom to shore up one’s pillars of career success: a trusted, thoughtful, and practical mentor.
Don Springer

Don Springer

Chairman | The Colton Group
        What makes Sheril unique is his interdisciplinary approach to thinking & problem-solving, that combine the best of leadership research, philosophy, & management. It’s the most compelling way to address the complex nature of today’s workplace challenges. His coaching will not only help you chart difficult waters but also stand the test of time.
Princy George

Princy George

Strategy | Consulting | Warwick MBA
        As a leader, I have seen many otherwise talented people struggle to understand and successfully navigate the political processes within their organizations. Sheril’s class is one of the best examples I’ve seen at closing this knowledge gap and helping people to gain mastery of the frameworks that govern these processes. 
Alex Sourov

Alex Sourov

Ex Engineering Mgr | Microsoft, Facebook, Snap
        I trust Sheril’s counsel because he has walked the walk. I learn from him because he is intentionally in the arena. I admire him because he focuses on serving others. His Leading Sapiens Weekly has been one of the best investments of my attention.
Casey Moninghoff

Casey Moninghoff

Lead Engineer | US Space Force
        Sheril's deep understanding of leadership, and his hands-on approach and commitment to practical outcomes make him an invaluable mentor. He doesn't just teach leadership and management; he guides you through the process of applying these principles directly to your career, ensuring that your growth is both meaningful and measurable.
Alex Nesbitt

Alex Nesbitt

Strategy Advisor | Ex-BCG Director
        Sheril’s support was key in enhancing my ability to think analytically, urging a comprehensive look at every scenario, ensuring a well-thought-out approach to solving problems. His advice, always careful and safe, has been a source of stability in times of turmoil. I wholeheartedly recommend Sheril to anyone feeling lost or stuck. 
Sandra Macele

Sandra Macele

Founder, Markant Media | Ex-CMO
        Sheril has the rare ability to apply enduring wisdom to the realities of modern workplaces. If you want to progress your career that’s aligned with timeless principles of leadership and management but also that’s adapted to modern organizations, this course is the best place to learn from him.
Gaurav Singh

Gaurav Singh

Founder, CEO 321 Foundation
        Throughout my time under Sheril’s guidance, I underwent significant professional growth. His astute coaching and unwavering support propelled my advancement from an engineer to a lead engineer and instilled in me the confidence to mentor, lead teams, and tackle larger challenges. His management style resonated deeply with me on a personal level.
David Wu

David Wu

Offshore Services Manager
        Sheril is literally my insurance policy at work! He’s my guide to navigating tricky workplace politics and avoiding career landmines and has been instrumental in my most recent promotion. Highly recommended!
Linus S

Linus S

Engineering Manager | Fortune 50 Co.

Learning is better with cohorts

Learning is better with cohorts

Active hands-on learning

This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects

Interactive and project-based

You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams

Learn with a cohort of peers

Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you

Small-group format

Active small-group cohort format capped at 12 students

Course format & schedule

3-5 hours per week over 4 weeks

  • Tuesdays & Thursdays

    10:00am -12:00pm CST

    • We meet twice a week for 4 weeks starting April 2nd.
    • Format is live, interactive 90-min WORKSHOPS with frameworks and exercises followed by 30-min open Q&A.

  • Bonus: 3 personal coaching sessions

    1 hr sessions at your chosen time

    • Course includes three 1-on-1 coaching sessions with me to focus specifically on your challenges and implementation plan.
    • You also get a 20% discount on future coaching engagements.
Free resource

Mastering Organizational Savvy - Seeking Feedback

Lack of critical feedback derails more careers than folks realize. The course teaches you how managers assess leadership potential and how to go about influencing that process.


The Johari Window is a great framework for seeking feedback & developing this essential skill. This is just one of the many tools you'll learn in my Mastering Organizational Savvy course.

Get my Johari Window guide

Get employer reimbursement

Get employer reimbursement

No brainer ROI

This course will have a positive impact on not just your career but also your organization.

Download the reimbursement template

Use the attached template to present it to your manager.

Click here for the template.

Frequently Asked Questions

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