Something is changing

The world we live in seems to be changing at an incredibly rapid pace. Our cultures, governments, technologies are almost unrecognizable from a decade ago. We can no longer trust that the norms that kept us comfortable and safe will exist tomorrow. And many of us are holding on even tighter to what’s bound to change, not trusting that what comes next will support us.

What a time to be alive.

When we can’t plan for the future, what we are left with is our capacity to sensemake. To notice what is possible in the present moment and make our own meaning from it. I’m not an optimist, but I’m also not a pessimist. Suffering is and always has been part of being a human, but so is joy, creation, connection — and I’m doing my best to be grateful for the later, and accepting of the former.

And with this coach-y introduction to set the tone, I’ll get to my point. After three years of working full-time as a coach, I’ve decided to search for a new in-house role in product management.

Coaching has filled me in so many ways. I’ve worked with so many incredible humans whose growth has inspired me, and built my capacity to show up with more courage and compassion. Supporting others in their creative work also reminded me how much I miss building alongside a team myself.

This summer I’ve been in the process of making this transition, taking on fewer coaching clients and exploring what’s next. I’ve been grappling with the current job market and economy, what I want and what it wants of me; and I’ve been wrestling with AI tools, their creative potential and their problematic implications.

In my best moments, I’ve been having a lot of fun with it. I have a fantastic community that is supporting me, including my peer job-searchers from Never Search Alone. And I’ve been “vibe coding” product prototypes and using ChatGPT to co-author a three-act play about the impact of AI on art (yes, very meta); I’m learning what is possible with these new tools and celebrating the unique ways my humanness is still essential. (This newsletter was drafted by me from scratch with AI helping me edit, and the m-dashes are my own!).

And in challenging moments, it’s been sobering. I’ve been grieving this beautiful chapter where I got to immerse myself in coaching, building a business, and running a podcast. And I’ve been looking out at a working world that seems in despair; as one person put it, “the grass is always browner” — a reminder that burnout is widespread, even for those with jobs.

And in all this, I’m making meaning and purpose for myself, knowing that I must choose what to do next without knowing where it will take me, and I’m okay with that.

So here’s my ask. Below is what I’m looking for in my next role. If you know anyone who works at an organization like this, and is hiring product managers now or in the future, I’d love your introduction.

I’m looking for a Principal or Director-level product role in a mission-driven, tech-enabled company with sustainable growth and strong culture, where I can build great products for humans and utilize my coaching capacities to strengthens teams and outcomes.

Here’s a bit more: I’m seeking a product leadership role (Staff, Principal, Group, or Director) where I can act as a player-coach: driving product craft and strategy, while mentoring others and staying close to the work. The right scope for me is leading small teams and owning a high-impact product area, where I can bring my blend of deep product craft and coaching capacity. I’m most energized by tech-enabled companies with sustainable growth and strong product culture. My sweet spot is building software products that empower people to create, collaborate, and connect in meaningful ways, backed by organizations that invest in people, value coaching, and build trust across teams. And I want somewhere where I can show up authentically as myself, specifically as a queer working parent (the companies I gravitate toward tend to be on “great places to work” lists, are certified B-corporations, and have maintained their DEI work).

Thank you for following my coaching journey; I can’t wait to share with you what’s next. I’ll continue to be sending newsletter emails about my transition and what I’m learning, as well as my continued work in coaching and on Livelihoods. Stay tuned.

To your livelihood,
Nat