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C-Suite Advisorship
Achieve Your Goals by
Being Coached by the Best
Some 60% of today's Fortune 500 CEOs have held their jobs for three years or less. One significant contributor to senior leader failure is that CEOs, Presidents and other top officers often have few individuals with whom they can openly discuss organizational concerns. These individuals lament the lack of “agenda-free” confidants available on the Board or within the management team given the inherent nature of boss/subordinate relationships. My program provides a powerful solution to the isolation felt by CEOs and other senior executives.
How does Advisorship work?
The Advisorship differs from what is typically offered as “executive coaching” in that I have had the many years of direct P&L and high-level functional management experience necessary to truly empathize with and advise you as a top executive. I can deliver objective and candid feedback and recommendations on your leadership competencies, mindset, relationships and brand / identity. I function as a sounding board, and a trusted advocate who will provide advice from a unique perspective of having “been there” in a similar role. A mutual teaching/learning dynamic is created. We build a 'sand pit' together of what your reality looks like and can then share problems and the options as you see them.
As a leader moves up in an organization, successful development requires working on what makes that particular leader effective in the context in which they must lead, a process too specific for off-the-shelf curriculum or online content libraries.
The Advisorship is an exceptional, bespoke developmental experience for senior executives for whom cutting corners is not an option. Unlike large scale, virtual “coaching” platforms proliferating the market (comprised of online readings or learning modules, punctuated by short accountability “check ins” by a trainer/coach), my high-touch service is designed for highly motivated leaders who want to invest in understanding their ambitions and mapping how to succeed.
Business Coaching must deliver value not only to you as the leader but also to your team, other stakeholders and the organization at large. I deliver this systemically by:
Actively involving your key stakeholders throughout the engagement (as appropriate CEO, board members, peers and team).
Wherever possible, shadowing you as a leader with your team to observe the system you work in.
Measuring results via positive change as observed by others.
Neuroscience, psychology, and high-performance sports coaching inform my understanding of how we learn, break bad habits, adopt better ones and make positive change last. I utilize a rational and data-driven approach to business coaching that brings state-of-the-art behavior-change principles into actual practice. I deliver results observable not only by the leaders I coach, but also by the organizations that depend on you.
Advisorship solves for your development around blind spots, vital skills, focus and execution. My decades of experience with founders, CEO's, and investors help me dig deep and solve not only the common issues you face but also help you build a sustainable organization that can win long-term.
The Advisorship evolves in four clear methodical steps – Clarity™:
The C-Suite Advisorship can be implemented for six- or twelve-month time frames.
How am I qualified as your Advisor?
- Previous profit center (i.e., P&L) leadership responsibilities
- Held multiple "C" level positions in public and private companies
- 30+ years of broad general management experience
- Proven track record in developing and mentoring other leaders
- Exposure to corporate boards and senior level committees (e.g. strategy, audit etc.)
- Participated in major corporate initiatives such as merger & acquisitions, divestitures, major systems implementations, global expansion, and other cultural change initiatives
In Praise of Julian as an Advisor
Julian is a terrific advisor and business coach. He has worked with me and several members of my senior staff since 2016. I have thoroughly enjoyed our coaching together and found him to be fun and easy to work with. He has taken a people first, relationship focused approach to helping build Gainsight and grow our leadership team and has been committed to supporting the team and me with strategic insights and advice no matter the issue or timeline.
Nick Mehta
President & CEO, Gainsight, Board Director at F5 and Pubmatic (NASDAQ)
I've worked with Julian for two years as my executive coach. He has measurably elevated my leadership, sharpened my communication, and strengthened how I build and lead teams. His thought partnership has also been a huge asset on strategy, helping me clarify priorities and make better decisions faster. I recommend him without hesitation. To many more years of working together!
Sasha Bratyshkin
Founder and CTO Housing Cloud
I had the opportunity to work with Julian, he is incredibly practical, action-oriented, and deeply grounded in real-world leadership challenges. Julian helped me develop clarity and confidence in managing across peers, leading a large team, and engaging effectively with the board. What stands out most is his ability to combine tactical frameworks with thoughtful coaching that leads to tangible progress. On top of that, he's just a great person...easy to trust, enjoyable to work with, and genuinely invested in your success. I'd strongly recommend him to any leader looking to level up.
Ben Pitasky
CFO at Alvys
Julian provided me with invaluable coaching and support as I navigated some fundamental changes in my career. His ability to provide practical, real-world examples to strategic challenges help make his approach incredibly helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about ways to work on my weaknesses and improve my strategic thinking skills. I highly recommend Julian to anyone looking to work with an executive coach who can provide not only theoretical insights but also real support from his years of leadership experience in the corporate world.
Julia Bricker
CPA and CA, Chief Commercial and Product Officer at WTax
I thoroughly enjoyed my coaching with Julian. I found his frameworks intuitive, practical and prescriptive in assessing my current state and the behaviors I should modify to improve. Julian balances being personally approachable while also recognizing when candor and direct truth/feedback is necessary. I'd work with him again any time.
Matthew Puljiz
SVP, Investor Relations and Finance at Procore
Julian is an extraordinary coach who brings a holistic and thoughtful approach to the entire process. He takes great care in understanding the specific needs of the individual and customizes the work accordingly. I very much appreciated Julian's unique, personalized method to coaching and the time he spent in the discovery phase. His career experience has prepared him to fully comprehend the complex challenges of C-level clients. Julian is extremely supportive and responsive, and he effectively assisted me in managing a number of high-stakes scenarios and transitions.
Susie Cohen-Crumpler
Managing Director and President at Cal Alumni Association
It's a wonderful experience to be coached by Julian. He offered a master plan of improvement, and detailed action items tailored based on my specific situations. It allowed me to achieve visible improvements within the 6-months coaching period. More importantly it has been a joyful working with Julian.
Michael Ye
Head of Product at ServiceTitan
I had the privilege of working with Julian during my time as CMO at Gainsight, where he served as an invaluable business coach and mentor. Julian's guidance was instrumental as we scaled from a single-product company to a multi-product platform serving global markets. He helped us sharpen our go-to-market strategy, think more expansively about growth opportunities, and navigate complex challenges with clarity and confidence. Beyond his strategic insight, Julian has a unique ability to blend big-picture vision with practical, actionable advice. I'm deeply grateful for his mentorship and would highly recommend him to any leader or team looking to scale effectively.
Scott Salkin
CMO at Gainsight
I wholeheartedly recommend Julian Lighton for business coaching. Julian is not only incredibly strategic and insightful but also brings a unique blend of humor and self-awareness to his coaching sessions. His ability to understand the intricacies of our business and offer tailored advice has been transformative. Julian's sense of humor makes the process enjoyable, while his self-awareness ensures that his guidance is both empathetic and effective. He has been a pivotal force in driving our growth and success.
Sabra Ballon
Founder, President and CEO at BallonStudio
Contact Me
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