Career Coaching & Resources

Welcome to my profile! I'm Wayne, the founder of The Career Cantina, where I leverage my extensive experience in talent acquisition and career development to empower job seekers. With a background in managing talent for innovative companies like Shifamed and Nautilus Biotechnology, I have a deep understanding of the hiring landscape. I've developed the RISE Framework to guide job seekers through a structured job search process, and I specialize in using AI tools to enhance resume writing, interview preparation, and networking. As a board member at Phase2Careers, I've also been instrumental in supporting workers over 40 in their career transitions. Let's work together to navigate your career path and achieve your professional goals!

You already have the talent. I help you shape the story, build the strategy, and make your next move count. If you’re navigating a pivot, preparing for promotion, or stepping into leadership, you don’t just need clarity—you need a compelling narrative, a clear strategy, and a coach who can help you position yourself with purpose. As a Director of AI Marketing at SAP, ex-Microsoft leader, and Yale SOM grad, I bring a marketer’s mindset to career growth—grounded in storytelling, strategy, and intentional execution. I help high-performing professionals articulate their value, align their path with their goals, and communicate with confidence—so they can lead, influence, and grow with impact.

Welcome! I’m Mike, a professional career coach here to help you navigate every stage of your professional journey. I know firsthand how overwhelming career decisions can feel, but you don’t have to go it alone. When I launched my own career, I faced intense competition while balancing academic excellence, securing scholarships, and leveraging my network to create meaningful opportunities. Along the way, I not only learned how to craft a compelling cover letter and resume but also how to pivot under pressure—a skill I instill in my clients as they navigate their own career challenges. Through my work in Trinity College admissions and recruiting at Boston Children's Hospital and Mass General Brigham, I gained firsthand insight into what makes candidates stand out—not just on paper, but in the minds of decision-makers. I also saw how non-traditional predictors of success—like adaptability, emotional intelligence, and storytelling—can be just as powerful as credentials in securing the right opportunities. As a seasoned mentor, I know what truly makes a candidate shine—whether in applications, interviews, or on the job. My coaching is structured, results-driven, and deeply personalized. Whether you’re a student exploring career paths, a recent graduate entering the job market, or a professional looking to transition roles, I’ll meet you where you are and help you take the next steps in your journey. By identifying your unique strengths and aspirations, we’ll craft a winning strategy that allows you to advance while maintaining balance and wellness. If you’re ready to take the next step, let’s build your career together—I’d love to help you succeed!

3 years coaching seekers for "more in life" to embark on a self-discovery journey to transform their careers into a vocation of choice. I empower my clients to become aware of and overcome self-limiting narratives to create a meaningful career path that serves their purpose. My clients tend to be people who aim to build a career that fulfils them and creates space for other meaningful things in life (family, hobbies, friends, service, etc.). Whether you are exploring new options, heads-down recruiting, or seeking to set the right boundaries and foundation to thrive in your current role, let's connect and see how we can work together!

Visionary and astute senior product manager, consultant, and coach who’s built, launched, and scaled world-class products at Netflix, Instagram, Apple, and Coinbase. With over 8 years of experience across B2C, SaaS, and marketplace platforms, I’ve helped drive more than $140M+ in ARR, launched AI-powered workflows that cut technical inefficiencies by 56%, and scaled user engagement by double digits across 6 international markets. If you're looking for a coach who’s sat in the trenches with Product Directors at Instagram, collaborated directly with the VP of Product at Apple, and co-built game-changing dashboards recognized by Netflix stakeholders—I'm your guy. But here’s what really sets me apart: I bring storytelling into product strategy. I don’t just ship feature, I help teams craft narratives users care about, growth teams get behind, and execs fund confidently. Whether you're looking to transition into product, or unlock a new growth horizon in your startup, I’ll guide you with sharp insight, battle-tested frameworks, and AI-infused thinking that gets results. At Leland, my mission is simple: elevate product talent to C-suite caliber. You bring the ambition and I’ll bring the playbook.

Are you looking to break into consulting from a non-target or semi-target school? I've been there myself and successfully secured consulting internships at Bain & Company and EY-Parthenon. At Bain, I gained hands-on experience in the private equity and fund strategy practice, working with a PE client managing over $200B in AUM and helping a financial data solutions provider enter private markets. My sophomore and junior summers were spent mastering execution, delivering top-tier work from start to finish. Beyond advancing my own career, I’m committed to mentoring others. I've coached 10+ individuals from non-target schools, helping them land roles at all three MBB firms (McKinsey, Bain, BCG) and top Big 4 firms (Deloitte and EY-Parthenon). As someone who’s successfully navigated multiple recruitment cycles from a non-target background, I’m here to help you break into consulting or elevate your career. Let's connect and build a strategy tailored to your goals!

With 8+ years in consulting and tech, I have a bird's eye view of opportunities and career paths. I have the good fortune of working with really talented folks who have taken very diverse paths to get to where they are at. I work with a wide network of ex-consultants, founders, VCs, strategists and others who have helped me understand how to navigate inflection points in a career, when to take risks and how to reinvent oneself. I am also grateful for the experiences I've had across a wide variety of functions, geographies (US, Europe & South Asia) and different stages (large clients through consulting, early stage startups through angel investing and growth-stage through my tech jobs). This helps me understand how work cultures, networks and pace of work influences career trajectories and professional growth.

• Coached professionals transitioning into tech, consulting, and leadership roles at companies like Tesla and Williams Sonoma. • Experience as a hiring manager at Tesla, providing deep insight into what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for. • Expertise in creating compelling resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and strategic career roadmaps. • Helped clients secure dream jobs with 20%+ salary increases and confidently negotiate offers. • Unique ability to connect personal strengths with market trends, setting clients apart in competitive industries.

With a robust background in finance and strategy, I bring expertise from nearly 10 years of experience from Fortune 100 companies and growth-stage startups. Throughout my own professional and educational pursuits, I have gleaned insights which I leverage to help clients navigate their own career paths and achieve their professional goals. My journey navigating the career recruiting process as an MBA student and my experience through various leadership roles in hiring others has equipped me with the insights needed to guide you in making impactful career decisions. Whether you're looking to break into leadership roles or explore a new career path, I'm here to provide tailored advice and support. Let's connect and chart a course for your career success!

For September only, I’m offering sessions at $99 (normally $275) to make coaching more accessible. Regular rates resume in October! Welcome to my profile! With a Master of Education in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard, an MBA from Vanderbilt, management experience at McKinsey, and 2 years at a meditation center, I bring a very unique blend of business acumen and psychological insight to my coaching practice. As the founder of LT3D, I specialize in helping senior leaders and teams navigate complex challenges, from career transitions to strategic dilemmas. My experience includes building leadership development programs for Fortune 1000 clients and providing executive coaching that accelerates team performance. Having coached hundreds of senior clients, I am dedicated to helping you gain clarity and confidence in your leadership journey. Let's work together to unlock your potential and lead with greater impact. Reach out to start a conversation!