“The path of a founder may, at times, be harrowing, but it’s never dull.”

Shane

Hi, I'm

At 20, I set out to build an organic fast-food chain in NYC. It failed, and I found myself pushing paper in a soul-crushing job in finance. I got fired (thank god), went to Burning Man, and joined an experimental co-living warehouse in the Soma district of San Francisco - all in the same week.

For the next three years, I put my career on hold. I hyper-focused on self-development, interpersonal communication, relationships, and community building. While I was having the time of my life collecting new experiences, my professional and financial insecurities were growing by the day.

I questioned what my future held after such a prolonged break.

Would I be stuck in another dead-end job, simply pushing paper for a paycheck?

I had my first taste of entrepreneurial intoxication when I sold breakfast burritos at my school.

I fell in love with coaching.

I met a high-powered executive who recognized my potential, took me under his wing, and trained me in the art of coaching. This was before everyone and their mother was a coach. I agreed because I deeply desired to be mentored, but the way he approached the craft and blended the personal and professional was unlike anything I’d ever seen.

What I couldn’t foresee was the first “chance” encounter that would lead me to my forever career.

Then, at 27, serendipity knocked again.

A chance encounter with a new friend marked the beginning of my journey as a co-founder of 15Five, a People Management software platform. Over the span of 11 years, we raised our series C funding, scaled to thousands of customers, employed hundreds, and won every culture award in the book (Glassdoor #2 best place to work, Inc Best Places, and many more).

Despite these achievements, something still felt incomplete. I stepped back and returned to coaching and advising, but with a different perspective.

The path of a founder may, at times, be harrowing, but it’s never dull.

I spent the next three years training, practicing, and building my coaching business.

WORK WITH SHANE