Wes Kao

How to get noticed as a high-performing IC

Co-founder at Maven, co-founder of Seth Godin's altMBA

Be prepared to move fast, encourage them to interrupt you, and more.

How to present to your CEO

Most people suck at managing up. We'll cover principles that will serve you now and throughout your career.

Manage up to your manager

How to frame problems, recommendations, and proposals to drive buy-in and action.

The #1 question every business case should address

Update: The February 2025 cohort is sold out! I've opened an April 2025 cohort, which is now open for enrollment. If you've been thinking about joining, I'd love to see you in class.___ If you're a high performer, you likely got to where you are because of your raw talent and ability to execute. Now that your scope has grown, though, your ability to increase impact depends on how well you influence other people--often without formal authority. In other words, you need people to do what you want them to do--enthusiastically and collaboratively. Unfortunately, no one teaches us how to do this beyond a basic level. So your day-to-day involves avoidable back-and-forth, friction, pushback, apathy, random questions, skepticism, or confusion about areas you believe are important. But it doesn't have to be this way. You and your team can move faster. You can quickly understand each other. You can worry less about cajoling skeptics. You can spend less time figuring out how to say what you want to say. You can accomplish more of what you want--and have more fun in the process. To get to the next level, you can't simply "do" more yourself. You must extend your impact beyond your own work. You must get genuine cooperation and true buy-in from those around you. This is what you will learn to do in this course. WHAT TO EXPECT: This is a highly-interactive course with in-depth discussion, Q&amp;A, examples, exercises, and tactics you can apply immediately. There are 9 hours of live instruction, all live on Zoom taught personally by Wes. We will focus on both the "why" and tactical pieces around the "how." The skills you need to become more effective CANNOT be solved through brute force. In these 2 days, you will come away with new tools. Course content• How to be direct (without seeming like a jerk)• How to perform well in high-stakes real-time conversations• How to sharpen your ability to prevent/overcome skepticism• How to frame 90% around your recipient and maximize buy-in• How to work with (not against) human nature• How to get headcount, cross-functional support, and budget by pitching the right way• How to articulate your POV when clarity can make or break the outcome• How to instill a sense of urgency so your ideas are heard and acted on quickly• How to communicate your plans and priorities so you build alignment• How to diagnose the question-behind-the-question so folks are satisfied by your responses The course also includes:• Review and reflection• Verbatim scripts for tricky work scenarios• Real-life examples• Hands-on exercises• Frameworks to help you structure your written and verbal communication• Bonus: 2 Q&amp;A sessions• Plus: Homework to put concepts into practice• All Zoom workshops are live, taught by Wes The goal isn't simply to learn the concepts--it's to internalize them. If you put effort into the course, you will make a major leap ahead. If you follow my writing, the course builds on concepts I’ve written about--we will discuss important nuances, edge cases, and examples, with the opportunity to put these lessons into practice. I've designed this course specifically so you begin to build your intuition and muscle memory. All the sessions will be recorded so you can refer back to the material. WHO WILL BENEFIT MOST FROM THIS COURSE: Folks who will get the most from this course tend to be the following:- You care about quality, rigor, and setting a high bar for yourself and others- You are ambitious and you want to sharpen your ability to execute- You are on a lean team punching above your weight class- You are self-aware, open-minded, and intellectually honest I'm looking forward to bringing together a thoughtful group of operators and leaders. Students are from Uber, TikTok, Grammarly, Workday, CVS, Google, Wealthsimple, Pinterest, Expedia, Sephora, Twilio, Spotify, GitHub, Zillow, PayPal, Netflix, Square, etc. WHO THIS IS NOT FOR: - This is not for you if you are looking for 1:1 coaching for yourself or your team. By nature, a course is 1:many. If you're looking for private coaching, please email me to learn more about rates and availability.- This is not for you if you believe there's nothing more for you to learn about sharpening your communication.- This is not for you if you expect to become excellent in communication overnight. You will likely change your behavior for the better within 2 days, which is huge achievement. But becoming excellent at anything requires ongoing practice.- This is not for you if you want a slower-paced course over several weeks. This is a 2-day intensive designed for busy operators who want to avoid task-switching and who want an immersive experience. Therefore, you will be drinking from the firehose. My goal is to help you drastically improve your competence and confidence in a condensed period of time. Then, you will go back to work and build on this foundation with continued practice.

Strong communication is a force multiplier

Provide a brief description for each module as a way to sell the value of what students will be learning throughout the course.

First Module

Second Module

Third Module

Course syllabus

9:00 - 12:30pm Pacific Time12:00 - 3:30pm Eastern Time5:00 - 8:30pm British Standard Time The workshop includes hands-on exercises and opportunities to put lessons into practice throughout. Afterward, there will be an optional 1 hour Q&amp;A. Recording will be available.

Thursday, April 10

9:00 - 12:30pm Pacific Time12:00 - 3:30pm Eastern Time5:00 - 8:30pm British Standard Time Get ready for an action-packed second day. Afterward, there will be an optional 1 hour Q&amp;A. Recording will be available.

Friday, April 11

This course will be interactive, so get ready to chime into Zoom chat, unmute to share, etc. Live workshop sessions will be video recorded and made available to watch/rewatch at your own pace. If you can't attend the full time or need to hop off, you can catch up later.

Live workshops, Q&A, group discussion, exercises, real-life examples

Do you want feedback on a piece of communication? You'll have the opportunity to submit your homework for a live teardown. (You can redact before submitting.) I'll pick to share the most useful ones with the class.

Submit your homework for live review in class

Course schedule

Senior individual contributors (ICs). Marketing leads, PMs, engineers, program managers, UX designers, etc. Minimum 3+ years of experience.

People managers (team leads, directors, VPs) and leaders. You run a team and have to balance managing up, down, sideways to drive outcomes.

Teams who want shared language so you can move faster, give feedback faster, have shared expectations, and persuade folks outside your team.

Who is this course for

What you’ll get out of this course

You might only have a few minutes of your leadership team's attention. We will review tactics for how to move fast, frame the conversation upfront, handle unexpected questions, prevent "insecure vibes," etc. Get senior leaders to seek (and truly listen to) your input.

Present to your CEO to maximize highly-visible moments

The more senior you become, the more you'll need to manage up. Hint: It's not about sending a weekly recap of your contributions. We will review real examples and practice how to reduce cognitive load for your manager, share your rationale, focus on the punchline, and more.

Managing up in day-to-day interactions

How do you get buy-in with less back and forth? How do you know the right level of detail (and which details) to share? How can you be more concise w/o sacrificing context? We will dissect these nuances and you will have a chance to rewrite examples to put lessons into practice.

Frame your ideas and give the right amount of context in any situation

Real-world scenarios are often messy, with conflicting data points. Some principles are even at odds. How do you decide what to do? I will share a set of foundational principles, show how to apply them, and you will practice balancing trade-offs in mock simulations.

Combine and "stack" techniques to get people to care about what you care about

Writing a useful, compelling strategy doc/Slack message/email/DM always takes longer than you expect. After the course, you will be able to write faster and more easily. You will practice rewriting a before-and-after example, and have the opportunity to edit your own work.

Write more efficiently to achieve your goals 

Some principles (like reducing cognitive load) apply regardless of your audience--while other situations require you to understand power dynamics, leverage, etc. We will practice "reading" situations and subtext with more accuracy so you can make better decisions.

Influence up, down, and sideways to get things done

You may have trust with your team, but how do you advocate for ideas with other teams? We will discuss frameworks to tackle this, so you can get inside the heads of individuals/teams you want to appeal to more quickly.

Get enthusiastic buy-in and collaboration from colleagues outside your team

Sell your ideas, manage up, gain buy-in, and increase your impact. Sharpen your skills via hands-on exercises, deep dives, scripts, and more

Cohort 3 (December)

Cohort 5 (April)

- Transitioning to a New Leadership Role: Sometimes, moving from being a senior manager to a strategic leader can feel like stepping into uncharted territory. This course shows you how to make that transition smoothly and effectively. - Thinking Big Picture: Strategic leaders need to think beyond the day-to-day tasks and see the bigger picture. If you've struggled with this, if you've heard someone say to you: "You need to be more strategic." This masterclass shows you have to be and act strategically! - Setting a Compelling Direction: Crafting an inspiring vision for your team and setting clear goals can be tough. In this course, we'll show you how to create a vision that excites your team and break down those goals into achievable steps. - Mastering Communication: Effective communication is essential, but dealing with tough conversations or getting your message across can be tricky. We'll help you build strong communication skills and handle difficult discussions with confidence. I will share with you the best tips I share with Uber, Cisco, HPE leaders I coach! - Leading Change and Innovation: Leading change and fostering innovation within your organization can be challenging. Our course will equip you with strategies to successfully drive change and create an innovative culture. - Delegation Made Easy: Delegating tasks while maintaining control can be a puzzle. We'll unravel that mystery by teaching you how to identify tasks to delegate, delegate effectively, and empower your team. By addressing these everyday leadership challenges, this masterclass will make your journey from senior manager to strategic leader more manageable and rewarding.

Overcome Strategic Leadership Challenges

<ul><li>Overcome Strategic Leadership Challenges</li><li>Gain clarity on the journey from senior management to strategic leadership.</li><li>Develop self-awareness of your leadership strengths and areas for growth.&nbsp;</li></ul> In this session, we will explore the differences between management and strategic leadership.

Introduction to Strategic Leadership

<ul><li>Develop the ability to think strategically and analyze complex situations.</li><li>&nbsp;Apply strategic thinking skills to practical leadership challenges.</li></ul> In this session, we will explore strategic thinking and its significance and apply techniques for strategic analysis.

Developing a Strategic Mindset

<ul><li>Craft a compelling leadership vision and goals that inspire your team.</li><li>Enhance your ability to align your team with your strategic direction.</li></ul>&nbsp;In this session, we will look at the importance of a clear vision in leadership and develop your leadership vision

Crafting a Compelling Vision

<ul><li>Improve your communication skills for leadership success.</li><li>Gain confidence in addressing challenging situations with your team.</li></ul> In this session, we will explore effective communication strategies for leaders and learn the exponential value moments framework

Effective Communication for Leaders

<ul><li>Become a more effective change agent and innovation catalyst.</li><li>Learn to navigate and lead your organization through periods of change.</li></ul> In this session, we will explore change management strategies and their application and how to fostering a culture of innovation.

Leading Change and Innovation

<ul><li>Strengthen your delegation skills to free up time for strategic thinking.</li><li>Develop a more empowered and capable team.</li></ul> In this session, we will explore how you manage your time, energy, resources and understand the role of delegation in leadership. and how to do it strategically!

Strategic Delegation for Effective Leadership

<ul><li>Enhance your ability to lead and nurture high-performing teams.</li><li>Resolve team challenges effectively to achieve strategic goals.</li></ul> In this session, we will look at the impact of a leader on team dynamics and how to motivating teams and handling conflicts strategically.

Building High-Performance Teams

<ul><li>Gain real-world insights and perspectives from an accomplished leader.</li><li>Apply the lessons learned to your own leadership journey.</li></ul> In this interactive session, we will hear from a successful strategic leader how he/she made the transition to a more strategic leader vs. just operational and we will have an open discussion and Q&amp;A

Strategic Leadership in Action

In this 1/1 session, you will have an opportunity to work with me on your leadership vision and plan, how to activate new learned mindsets and behaviors 'strategically'.

Personalized 1/1 Coaching Session

In this session, you will have an opportunity to explore the value of deeper strategic relationships at work, the value of sponsors vs. mentors vs. an advisory board and how to sustain your strategic leadership brand. Again the best part is how you can adapt learnings I gathered from working and coaching leaders at Fortune 500 companies.

Personalized 1/1 Coaching Session: Relationship Capital

8 sessions are cohort Zoom sessions 90 minutes each to allow you to learn with other leaders, build connections and insights. You'll also have pre- and post session action learning assignments!

Tuesdays

This will be the investment of time you make in action learning and other application opportunities at work.

Weekly projects

Managers who want to learn strategic leadership and how it is different from managing the day-to-day business

Senior Managers who want to understand how to get ready for their next career move and how to lead strategically now!

High potential individual contributors who want to learn strategic leadership skills

Learn the 7 Top Skills of highly effective strategic leaders and how you can use them to anchor your strategic leadership development plan

The 7 Top Skills of Highly Effective Strategic Leaders

You'll meet leaders from several organizations who share the strategic leadership learning journey. You will learn through real life examples and challenges you or your program peers are facing, share insights and develop strategic leadership skills together.

Professional Peer Group and Network

Acquire the skills to think strategically, make informed decisions, and lead with a long-term vision!

Strategic Leadership Skills

Enhance your ability to communicate persuasively, handle tough conversations, and build stronger relationships.

Strategic Communications

Craft a compelling vision and set SMART goals that inspire your team and drive results

Clear Vision and Goals

Learn to lead organizational change and foster innovation, positioning yourself as a change agent!

Change Leadership

Master the art of delegation to free up your time for strategic thinking and develop an empowered team.Look at how to use the strategic leader planner to get ahead of the game and set yourself and your team up for success!

Strategic Delegation

Beat the 'not strategic enough' label. Our masterclass shows you how!

Ash Seddeek

Masterclass Facilitator and Strategic Leadership Communications Coach and Advisor

Strategic Leader Masterclass - 2

Jan25

Early in your career:-- You are rewarded for working harder and independently solving problems.-- You earn more credibility by knowing more and demonstrating domain expertise.-- You get more scope (and promoted!) by taking on more with a “can-do” attitude. But that all changes as an executive:-- You build and lead teams and systems to solve problems rather than do the work yourself.-- You ask questions of the experts to manage trade offs across different domains.-- You decide on the top strategic priorities to address, and deliver results through others by mobilizing and coordinating people across different functions and perspectives. What’s particularly difficult about this transition is that nobody prepares you for it; you are expected to just figure it out. I’ve had many clients come to me in frustration that they are no longer exceeding expectations as they once were, and I’m the first person to tell them that their job has changed. I’ve also had clients who feel stuck and can’t figure out what is keeping them from reaching their next level of leadership. This class is designed to share the secrets of this transition with a wider audience. In this course, you will learn how to:-- Develop the presence to walk into board meetings and command respect.-- Effectively influence a broader range of stakeholders by speaking to their interests.&nbsp;-- Create a roadmap towards your ideal job rather than just climbing a ladder that others define.-- Design an inspirational vision so you can ask for the help you need to create it.-- Increase your trust in your resilient capacity to handle difficult situations and conversations.-- Articulate the values and principles that guide your decision making.-- Design structures and processes to scale your leadership in alignment with your values.-- Focus on what really matters and say no to everything else. The material in this class is based on my personal experience working with the top leaders of Google as the Search Ads Chief of Staff, as well as coaching over a hundred clients to greater scope and promotions. Scroll down for testimonials. How you will get the most value:This is not a sit back and listen course. We will have active discussions in class, and I will expect you to experiment with putting what we discuss into practice between sessions. The more you engage, the more benefit you will get. This course is not for you if you expect me to hand you the answers. The real value of the course will be in your reflection and engagement between our live sessions. As I say to all of my coaching clients, "Nothing changes because we talk. Your life will change when _you_ change your life." Bonus material:-- A free copy of my book, You Have A Choice: Beyond Hard Work to Meaningful Impact-- Video recording of all live sessions via the Maven platform-- A private Slack group to connect with your cohort and share insights between sessions and after the workshop completes.&nbsp;-- Discounted 1:1 coaching sessions with Eric

Being effective as an executive requires embracing new mindsets and skills

The classes will be structured as 1 hour of content and live coaching from Eric and Q&amp;A, and an optional 30 minutes of breakout groups where you can discuss the ideas with your peers and practice coaching each other. Jan. 16, 23, 30Feb. 6, 13

Live class sessions on Thursdays

Between sessions, I expect students to practice the skills we discuss, applying them in their day-to-day professional interactions. I will also challenge them to experiment with changing their default behaviors and responses to certain situations, to help them develop new skills.

Weekly practices and experiments

You're a C-level leader at an early-stage startup, a VP at a later-stage startup, or a director or senior IC at a bigger company.

Your performance feedback no longer celebrates your expertise and effort, and instead focuses more on strategy, influence, and presence.

You are working harder and longer but falling further behind. Doing more isn't sustainable so you need to find a new way to get things done.

This course is for you if: 

Changing your mindset will allow you to generate results from your organization without you being directly involved. By learning how to align your team behind your vision and values, you will understand how to lead hundreds of people with a unified purpose.

How to scale your leadership to create greater team and company impact

Develop the presence to walk into board meetings and command respect.

Increased confidence and executive presence.

Success as an executive depends on working cross-functionally with other leaders to deliver company results. I will help you build the skills to effectively influence a broader range of stakeholders by speaking to their interests.&nbsp;

Greater influence across the leadership team. 

Learn to co-create a collaborative vision of what needs to happen, secure commitments to that vision from relevant stakeholders, then hold them accountable to help you create it.

How to deliver on complex projects through influence and persuasion rather than control.

By understanding your own triggers and limiting beliefs, you will increase your resilient capacity to handle difficult situations. I will help you develop the key skill of accepting people and circumstances as they are, rather than as you wish they were.

How to better handle difficult conversations, including political conflict, while remaining calm. 

Instead of climbing a career ladder defined by others and anchoring on external metrics like title and compensation, you will look inward to understand what motivates and energizes you. Then, you will create a <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/creating-work-you-want-eric-nehrlich-hv2ue/?trackingId=8FGSN37KQ6uJu4EG5HEB7A%3D%3D" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">roadmap towards a more meaningful and satisfying job</a>.

A path for continued career growth without working unsustainable hours.

​Succeeding as an executive requires a completely different mindset than what brought you success early in your career. 

Eric Nehrlich 

September 2024 Cohort

January 2025 Cohort

As an Asian woman professional, have you experienced this? • Not Seen As A Leader. You are competent and have done excellent work. However, you feel that you’re not making a significant impact because you continue to be given the housekeeping work instead of key projects. You are told that you are not visionary enough and you are still not seen as a leader. • Feeling Stuck in Your Career. You have progressed rapidly from the lower levels but your career progression has slowed down or stopped now. You felt capped and you do not see anyone who looks like you in the executive leadership. • Unclear Purpose. You are used to putting your family and community first over your own needs and aspirations. You are unclear what your purpose is and what you should focus on for your career and life. • Taking On Too Much. You feel like you’re stuck between pleasing others and staying true to yourself. You find it hard to say no and end up with a lot on your plate. • Tip Toeing on “Just Right”. You feel that you are caught in two competing stereotypes. You are expected to be quiet and modest, and when you try to speak up, you face a backlash for being too direct or aggressive. You feel the pressure to be “just right”. • Difficulty Getting Visibility. You struggle to get noticed in a male-dominated field or industry, feeling like your voice isn’t being heard or valued. You find it hard to advocate for yourself or assert your opinions. You fear that you are passed over for opportunities due to lack of visibility. • Need To Prove Yourself. You feel pressured to prove yourself more than men and demonstrate your worth before being recognized as a valuable contributor. You feel that you have limited access to resources, networks or connections. You fear that you are not good enough. WHAT TO EXPECT:You will learn the L.I.F.T Framework Traditional programs teach common leadership strategies and skills, but ignore the most important part of transformation: YOUR IDENTITY. In this innovative 2-day program, we keep your identity at the core, while helping you to become a fearless and authentic Asian woman leader with the four pillars in the L.I.F.T. Framework: (1) Lean Into Your Identity:• How to explore your Asian identity and break through cultural and gender influences.• How to OWN your strengths, values, identity and culture. (2) Ignite Your Purpose:• How to gain clarity on your values, purpose and career vision.• How to build an authentic personal leadership brand. (3) Fire Up Your Fearless Self:• How to strengthen your inner game, build your confidence and manage your inner critic.• How to overcome imposter syndrome and self-doubt, and become a fearless leader. (4) Turn Up Your Volume:• How to master the outer game, amplify your influence.• How to build self-advocacy, visibility and speak up with confidence, presence and credibility. WHY TAKE THE COURSE WITH US? Designed for Asian women leaders, by Asian women leaders.As Asian women professionals ourselves, we are immersed in the same challenges and can fully empathize and relate to Asian women professionals' struggles as our own stories. As executive coaches who specialize in coaching Asian women professionals, we know how to help you. During the course, we will share our experiences, hear the experiences from the cohort community, and discuss the strategies that will work best in your circumstances. Our mission is to elevate and advance Asian women leadership - authentically, unapologetically. WHAT SETS THIS COURSE EXPERIENCE APART:• Identity-Driven Leadership: Unlike traditional leadership courses, we focus on empowering Asian women leaders to tap into their unique strengths and passions, leveraging their cultural heritage and experiences. • Personalized Approach: Our approach combines inquiry and sharing of strategies that worked for us, providing a tailored experience that helps you develop a personalized leadership style. • Community Connection: With thoughtful, engaging break-out groups, you’ll have ample opportunities to connect with peers who share your background and perspectives, fostering meaningful discussions and connections. • Real-World Insights from Asian Women Leaders: You’ll learn from our own experiences as Asian women leaders, gaining practical advice and inspiration to navigate the challenges and opportunities of leading in today’s world. • A Safe Space for Authentic Expression: Our course provides a welcoming environment where you can share your thoughts, feelings, and concerns without fear of judgment or bias, allowing you to be your authentic self. WHO WILL BENEFIT MOST FROM THIS COURSE: Asian women professionals who will get the most from this course tend to be the following:• You are interested to learn how you can leverage your culture and identity to level up your leadership.• You have progressed rapidly from the lower levels but your career progression has slowed down or stopped now.• You are competent and have done excellent work but felt that you are still not seen as a leader.• You are ambitious and eager to sharpen your leadership skills to break through the bamboo ceiling.• You are self-aware, open to feedback, and committed to personal and professional growth.• You are engaged and ready to participate actively in discussions and learning.• You are willing to share your unique experiences to enrich the collective knowledge of the group. We are looking forward to bringing together a thoughtful group of Asian women who wants to help one another grow and develop. WHO THIS IS NOT FOR: • This is not for you if you believe your culture and identity does not play a role in your career progression as an Asian woman leader.• This is not for you if you are seeking 1:1 coaching, although there will be plenty of Q&amp;A and opportunities to volunteer your situations/examples for group discussion.• This is not for you if you cannot dedicate the time and prefer a slower-paced course spread over several weeks. This is a 2-day intensive designed for busy Asian women professionals who want a focused, immersive experience without distractions. Be prepared for fast-paced learning and significant growth within a short time. WHAT PAST PARTICIPANTS SAY:﻿“I was really impressed by the level of nuance and integration of traditional coaching and professional development with considerations of challenges that Asian American women face in their career and professional development journey.” “For anyone who has struggled with Imposter Syndrome, who does great work but somehow, oftentimes gets overlooked as a leader, who wants to level up and learn real techniques for facing adversity in the workplace - this is the ultimate workshop for you.” “The fact that the program was led by Denise and Marriot, two Asian American women with deep experience in their respective fields and career coaching was a delight and speaks to the fact that the program was designed with a group in mind that were overlooked and purpose-built program like this.” 100% Would recommend this program to a colleague or friend (Survey Response from Program Participants) ** This course is currently offered at the introductory price of $599. Save your spot!

How To Be A Fearless and Authentic Asian Woman Leader

Jan 17, 2025

Jan 18, 2025

Asian Women Who Are Senior Individual Contributors (ICs). You are a RISING STAR who aspires to be a Manager. Min 3+ years of experience.

Asian Women Who Are Managers. You manage a team and aspire to RISE UP FURTHER as a fearless and authentic Asian women leader.

Asian Women Who Are Directors. You manage a team of managers and aspire to be truly SEEN as a fearless and authentic Asian women executive.

<ul><li>How to Recognize, Acknowledge, and Embrace Your Identity</li><li>How to Embrace Your Authenticity</li><li>How to Own Your Story</li><li>How to Discover Your True North</li><li>How to Find Your Inner Strength</li></ul>

Lean Into Your Identity

<ul><li>How to Unlock Your Potential</li><li>How to Clarify Your Vision</li><li>How to Pursue Your Passion</li><li>How to Define Your Direction</li></ul>

Ignite Your Purpose

<ul><li>How to Reframe Your Mindset</li><li>How to Silence Your Inner Critic</li><li>How to Empower Yourself</li><li>How to Break Free from Limiting Beliefs</li></ul>

Fire Up Your Fearless Self

<ul><li>How to Speak Up with Confidence</li><li>How to Take Up Space</li><li>How to Claim Your Authority</li><li>How to Make Your Voice Heard</li></ul>

Turn Up Your Volume

Learn the L.I.F.T. framework that will help Asian women become fearless and authentic leaders true to their identity.

Lightning Lessons

How to get noticed as a high-performing IC