Your role just got harder.
Do you have what it takes to keep leading?
“Ken’s never going to get rid of me as a client.
Working with him has been transformational. I’m finally clear about my goals and values, more satisfied in my role, and more present in my life.”
Kirk Miles
Chief Product Officer at PandaDoc
(formerly VP & GM at Dropbox)
Climb this high and it’s easy to get dizzy
Being the most senior product leader is different — and often disorienting. At other stages in your career, you could follow rules set by someone else. Now it’s up to you to. The world is complex, your job is complex, and it's harder to keep up than ever. If your internal operating system doesn’t grow and change to meet these challenges, you’ll stagnate, stall — or even fail.
“I love having Ken in my corner rooting for me. He’s like my professional big brother or uncle.
I reached out to him because my new role as the most senior product leader in the company was pressure-testing me in a way I've never encountered before. It felt lonely and I knew I needed to become a better version of myself. These days, I actually look forward to the emotional ups and downs I experience in my role, because I know I’m going to generate a meaningful insight working through that emotion with Ken.”
Amit Rozeman
VP Product & E-Commerce at Whole Foods Market
You deserve an ally in your corner
It’s not you. This is hard. And as the saying goes, What got you here won’t get you there. To thrive in a new or growing role, you’re going to need support to become a more fully expressed version of yourself.
“Working with Ken has changed the way I approach not only my job, but my personal relationships.
When I was promoted to VP, I experienced a bit of an existential crisis. I questioned my abilities and whether I deserved to be in that role. Ken’s helped me build confidence, recognize my unique strengths, and internalize that I deserve my job. He’s able to push me, and also be in my corner.”
Kate Estep
VP of Product Management at Flatiron Health
I get it. I’ve been there.
Hi, I’m Ken Norton. I spent more than 14 years in product leadership at Google, building products that are now used by more than three billion people worldwide. As I grew in my career, I had my own “Through the Looking Glass” moments, where the rules I’d been playing by stopped working and I needed help to evolve.
I eventually realized that coaching leaders and helping them grow was my favorite part of my job. Multiple coaching certifications and 1000+ hours of training later, helping product-minded executives thrive has become my full-time passion.
I get how hard your job can be at these heights, and I want you to succeed — whatever that means to you.
2× Monthly Sessions
We’ll meet twice a month for an hour, at a regular day and time. All coaching sessions are fully remote. I also make time between our regular sessions for the occasional ad hoc call if needed, and I enjoy providing this extra level of service.
Unlimited Async
I’m always here for you. If you would like to share a win, need a sounding board, or have a challenge between our coaching sessions, please feel free to email or text me as often as you like.
360° Leadership Assessments
Early in our relationship, I’ll likely do a 360° assessment, which solicits feedback from your peers. We will conduct fresh assessments periodically to reflect on your growth and identify new developmental areas. All costs are included in our engagement.
90-Minute Kickoff Session
In our first session, which is longer, we’ll spend time designing how we’ll be working together. We’ll also identify and understand the primary focus areas for our coaching. This is your big vision for transformation.
Minimum 6-Month Commitment
This gives us the time and space to develop a powerful coaching alliance based on authenticity and trust. Most of my clients end up partnering with me for years.
Paid for by Your Company
My monthly retainer fee is usually paid by the companies my clients work for. I can invoice them directly, or charge a credit card.
I work with Chief Product Officers, Founders, CEOs, and other product leaders at companies of all shapes and sizes, from early stage pre-seed startup to publicly-traded household names. I’ve coached hundreds of leaders, including executives from these top companies.
“Ken’s coaching improves the quality of the decisions I make.
He has a deep understanding of how product-minded individuals think, which was crucial for me. It’s like working with an incredible Zen product leader who knows how to ask the right questions to get me to the right answers. He’s helped me gain clarity and confidence in taking action instead of feeling paralyzed by choices.”
Dennis Xu
Co-Founder of Adaptive Computer and Mem Labs
Coaching is different. Executive coaches help you get to the root of the challenges you’re facing. We don’t tell you what to do; we collaborate to help you discover what you should do. The role of a coach is to encourage you to come up with and make your own suggestions and decisions and to support you in removing obstacles to growth and development. Here are some examples of topics we might cover and benefits my clients have seen. (Learn more about coaching.)
Discovering your values, purpose, and authentic leadership voice
Setting powerful long-term product strategy and a vision for success
Identifying, understanding, and appreciating emotions
Overcoming burnout, stress, plateauing, and mid-career crisis
Communicating effectively while navigating drama and conflict
Building enduring relationships with your boss, board, customers, and peers
Evolving from a reactive to a creative leader
Designing your own vision for a fulfilling life and career
Finding confidence and growth in the face of inner critics and impostor syndrome
Hiring, coaching, mentoring, and supporting others to greatness
Becoming more effective at leveraging your time, attention, and energy
Leading through chaos, confusion, uncertainty, and inertia
Nurturing psychological safety and innovative, empowered product cultures
Processing data, making decisions, and identifying self-defeating belief systems
Mindfulness, balance, and conscious leadership
Ken Norton on Lenny’s Podcast
To learn more about my coaching approach and leadership philosophy, check out my conversation with Lenny about helping product leaders break through.
Read more »Top Product Leadership Coach
Ken was named the #1 product leadership coach in the world by Outpace, Reforge, On Deck, and Products By Women.
Best Books for Product Managers [2024]
Essential product management reading
Why and How to Develop the Essential Human Skills
It’s Time to Fight for a Dual Product Management Career Path
Companies should embrace multitrack job ladders for product managers who prefer product leadership to people management
Go deep, move fast, and build multi-decade abstractions
How to Hire a Product Manager: the Classic Essay
The classic essay that defined the product manager role
Product Managers: The Tools Don't Matter
Why are product managers so obsessed with frameworks and tools?
What Makes A Strong Product Culture?
How a company's view of technology, product leadership, and empowerment contribute to product success
Ants & Aliens: Long-Term Product Vision & Strategy
Why you need a thirty-year product vision (yes, thirty)
Please Make Yourself Uncomfortable: Jazz and PMs
What product managers can learn from jazz musicians