Software Engineering Coaches

Here are my qualifications: - CTO at Leland (hiring and leading engineers from top organizations like LinkedIn, Amazon, etc.) - Former Engineering Team Lead at another startup - Former SWE at 2 other startups (Series B and seed/Series A) - SWE Internships at small and large organizations (e.g. AWS, LiveView Technologies) I am a good fit for you if you are interested in (1) breaking into a SWE role, (2) wanting to enhance your software engineering skills, (3) deciding whether to pursue big tech vs. a startup, (4) thinking about entrepreneurship, or (5) looking to land a SWE management position.

Welcome to my profile! With over 15 years of experience leading engineering teams at top Bay Area tech companies like LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Meta, I bring a wealth of real-world knowledge to my coaching practice. I specialize in guiding new managers, engineers navigating career transitions, and small companies building their first layers of technical leadership. My approach is grounded in practical, actionable growth strategies tailored to each individual's needs. I am passionate about helping you achieve your career goals in software engineering. Let's connect and create a plan for your success!

Senior Software Engineer with 8+ years of deep expertise in backend infrastructure and distributed systems, working at top-tier tech companies like Snap, Google and AWS. Proven track record in leading teams, architecting scalable data solutions, and driving impactful innovations in cloud infrastructure and big data platforms. Adept at delivering high-performance, low-cost storage and compute solutions while mentoring and guiding engineering teams. I've successfully coached five individuals, helping them navigate their engineering careers and achieve their professional goals. If you're looking to break into or advance in the tech industry, let's connect and create a tailored plan for your success!

My path from theatre design to MS in Computer Science (Georgia Tech), through Staff Platform Engineer and Software Architecture roles to CTO, taught me that technical excellence and developer happiness are the same goal. As a career switcher who's made the Staff+ transition myself, I understand both the wandering path and what it really takes to level up—it's not just about code, it's about creating environments where engineers thrive. I bring a unique blend of technical depth and human insight: interviewing legends like Kernighan, Beck, and Fowler through Book Overflow while delivering real results—23% cycle time reduction, 2-hour builds to 20 minutes, monthly releases to daily deployments. Whether you're preparing for Staff+, implementing platform engineering, or transforming developer experience, I'll help you stop fighting your tools and start loving your work again. You'll ship faster, stress less, and finally have the influence to fix what's been driving you crazy—because I've been there, fixed it, and know exactly how to get you there too.

During my college, I was able to secure internships at Meta, Amazon, Capital One, Lockheed Martin and be in the interview pipeline for a lot of other big tech companies. I received return offer recommendations wherever I interned and will be joining Amazon as an SDE soon. I use my experience of applying to these big tech companies in order to give tips to other students about their application, resume and interviews.

I have over 25 years of experience coaching technical leaders in both the software and gaming industries. I have worked globally so understand the cultural factors that can be at play as well. I have worked with both individual contributors as well as people leaders at all levels. My focus is also in helping diverse leaders thrive in their roles and in their lives.

I broke into Verily (an Alphabet subsidiary) as a new grad without a single formal SWE internship, recruiting during one of the toughest markets in recent memory, at a moment when AI was fundamentally reshaping how companies screen and hire. I know firsthand how to navigate a process that's moving fast and often feels opaque. Since joining Verily, I've seen it from both sides: the resumes that make it past screening and exactly what strong technical candidates look like in an interview room. I focus on the full pipeline: building a resume that gets past AI screeners, preparing for technical interviews, and leveraging networking in a market where who you know matters more than ever. If you're trying to break in without a perfect background, I'd love to help.

I got a music degree in 2009, switched careers multiple times and landed in IT in 2015, and eventually climbed to Tech Lead in 2025. I am well liked and well respected in all my tech jobs, and have not failed a single job interview since 2021. Like everybody else, it's a mix of hard work and luck, but if I can do it, anyone can! What sets me apart as your coach is first, I generally don't give advices but will ask clarifying questions to guide you through uncertainties so you can forge your own path; second, I look at the big picture, the overall wellbeing. For example, I will help identifying your life goals and use them as your "North Star" and your motivation. I will discuss personal finance and investments to reach financial freedom quicker. I will recommend podcasts and books based on your interests to help you acquire knowledge and forge the right mindset and attitude. Let's chat!

I've managed and lead software engineers at every level, from new grads to principal engineers to engineering managers across Goldman Sachs, Disney and startups. I built an engineering org from 0 to 90+ and established the promotion criteria, technical ladders, and performance frameworks my teams operate on. I work with software engineers who want to get promoted to senior or staff, make the jump into management, or navigate a job search strategically. I know what hiring managers actually care about because I am one. If you want honest, specific feedback from someone who reviews engineering talent for a living, I can help.

Hi, I'm Lauren. I am a former senior software engineer at Google and current Stanford MBA. I'd love to help you grow your software engineering career! At Google I grew from a junior engineer to an engineering manager, touching a wide variety of systems. I led projects that spanned consumer and enterprise, scrappy prototyping to multi-year production scale projects, and from building the cloud to building on the cloud. At Waze, I led teams to launch innovative products like the Waze Parking and Gas Discount experiments, creating entirely new revenue streams that generated millions annually. I love coaching engineers through both technical and leadership growth, and have led several engineers on my team through successful promotions. I'd love to chat with you about how to grow your engineering career!