Product Leadership Coaching
Practical 1:1 coaching for working product managers making difficult decisions.
You don't need another framework. Sometimes you need someone experienced to help you think through the problem in front of you.
I work with newer PMs building judgment, experienced PMs taking on more strategic work and senior PMs preparing for broader product leadership. Some people call this product management coaching. The label matters less than what changes in your work.
No pitch, no pressure. If I don't think I can help, I'll tell you.
We'll talk about what's happening at work and decide which format, if any, makes sense.
When the answer isn't obvious
Some product problems are about learning the craft. Others depend on judgment, context and how much influence you have.
Should you push back on the CEO?
Is the strategy wrong or are you communicating it badly?
How do you tell the leadership team that the roadmap they've agreed to doesn't add up?
There usually isn't a template for these decisions.
An experienced product leader outside your company can help you see the options more clearly and decide what to do next.
What does product leadership coaching look like?
Bring the real work: a decision you're struggling with, a strategy that isn't landing, a stakeholder problem, a roadmap or an important presentation. We'll pull it apart together.
I'll ask questions, share how I've handled similar situations and give you a point of view when it helps. Sometimes I'll disagree with you.
This isn't a course or a predefined curriculum. The point is to help you make better decisions in your actual environment.
Is this the kind of help you need?
This is for people already working in product. You might be building judgment in your first PM role, taking on more strategic work or preparing for broader leadership.
These are usually messy problems. That's the point.
Experience you can draw on
I've spent 15+ years across product and technology, from software engineering to Product Director roles. I've built and led product teams at THE ICONIC, Brighte, Backpocket and HealthShare.
I've mentored product people through Startmate for more than five years. I also founded SoundingBoard, a peer exchange for experienced product people.
That experience spans startups, scale-ups and larger organisations. It includes the difficult prioritisation calls, stakeholder conflict and strategies that have to survive contact with delivery.
What people I've mentored say
He is so patient and kind. I have learned a lot. Thanks for giving me some valuable and great suggestions when you looked into my portfolio.
Max has a wealth of knowledge and experience and is very good at articulating his thoughts. He was generous with his time and very friendly. Highly recommended, thank you!
I appreciate how generous you were with your time, the actionable advice and being open about your experiences in the startup world. I know I pummelled you a bit with questions but that hour chat was one of the peaks on the rollercoaster of my journey so far, and has helped spur me on.
Thank you Max for your insightful advice and tips bundled with great questions to reflect on and use for my new role! I have found our conversation to be very helpful and useful as I transition into my new role as the Head of Product.
Ways to work with me
Ongoing Product Leadership Coaching
Best suited to senior PMs, Group PMs and Heads of Product who want an experienced second opinion alongside them while they're doing the job. It can be self-funded or paid for by your company.
- Two 60-minute sessions each month
- Questions and context shared by email between sessions
- Feedback on one working document between sessions
- A response within two business days
- Usually a three-month engagement
A$1,500/month + GST
Discuss ongoing coachingProduct Problem Session
Sometimes you don't need ongoing coaching. You have one difficult problem and want to work through it with someone who has been there before. This is also a practical starting point if you're newer to product or paying personally.
Send me the context beforehand and we'll spend 90 minutes pulling the problem apart. You'll leave with a clearer view of your options and the next actions to take.
A$600 + GST
Discuss a problem sessionWhat good coaching should change in your work
Good coaching shouldn't leave you with a notebook full of interesting ideas. It should show up in how you do the job.
Make difficult decisions faster
Get clearer about where to push and where to let go.
Communicate with more confidence
Explain your thinking clearly to executives and stakeholders.
Diagnose the real problem
Separate product problems from organisational ones.
Rely less on outside perspective
Build judgment you can keep using after the coaching ends.
Frequently asked questions
Is this coaching or mentoring?
A bit of both. Traditional coaching often focuses on helping you find the answer yourself. Mentoring tends to involve more direct advice based on experience. I use whichever is useful. Sometimes you need someone to ask the right question. Sometimes you want to know, "You've dealt with this before. What would you do?"
How is this different from fractional product leadership?
With coaching, you still own the job and make the decisions. I'm outside the organisation helping you think. With fractional product leadership, I'm inside the business doing the work with the leadership and product teams. If the problem is that you need more leverage personally, coaching can work well. If the company needs someone to lead product, that's probably a fractional engagement.
Can my company pay for the coaching?
Yes. A lot of product leadership coaching is company-funded. If your employer wants coaching for several people, manager alignment, workshops or broader team support, we can scope that separately.
Can you help with a new role or promotion?
Yes. That could mean a step up to a more senior PM role or growing into Head of Product. We can work through the role itself, what success should look like, your first few months, stakeholder dynamics and the situations you're walking into.
Is this career coaching?
Not primarily. We can absolutely talk about career decisions, interviews and choosing your next role when they're relevant. But the main focus is helping experienced product people become better at doing the job, not teaching people how to land their first PM role.
Do you work remotely?
Yes. I'm based in Sydney and work with people remotely across Australia and internationally.
Let's talk
You don't need to know whether you need ongoing coaching before we speak. Tell me what's going on and we'll work out whether I can help.
If not, I'll tell you.
