Supporting Investment Professionals in Enabling Peak Performance
As a driven investment professional at a VC/PE/GE firm, your week is filled with 50-80 hours of serving and providing for others. You have a million things coming at you and want someone to help you see the bigger picture and keep your energy focused on what really moves the needle in your deal flow (sourcing + portfolio management). Alternatively, you’re stuck in a cycle of reacting and second-guessing your instincts, instead of trusting yourself and intentionally using your time for maximum impact. That’s where I come in.
If you are seeing this page, then either you know me, or someone has sent you my way. Welcome.
As the ICF coach, I’m not here to tell you what to do (that’s what mentors or IG motivational speakers are for 😉). Instead, I am here to be a practical thought partner, helping you focus on the strategies that will maximise your personal enterprise value while eliminating the noise that is consistently coming at you. I solely work with clients who are referred to me or I’ve been so inspired by.
Which of the following statements are true for you?
To be an investment professional means that you have extremely high standards for yourself…
Deep down, you know you could be doing more, and making more, but you feel like you don’t have a clear game plan. You’re too caught up in the cycle of reacting to everything or second-guessing yourself, instead of intentionally using your time for focused and prioritised work.
Or, you’ve always demonstrated analytical excellence, but now you’re in a more senior role, and you need to make the mindset shift from execution perfectionist, to visionary deal sourcer who can do their job of mastering the details, while also thinking top-down.
Alternatively, you’re receiving plenty of practical advice, but you still struggle as a leader and are searching for ways to demonstrate strong thought leadership so you show conviction in front of the IC, without being derailed by the critical inner voice in your head.
Or, you are becoming increasingly tired of the investment world and are looking to make a change. You are not alone. And I’ve got your back.
JO - PARTNER, SAN FRANCISCO
The ROI of our WORK together
My approach is pragmatic and results-focused. So you’ll get better. How much better? I don’t know; we haven’t worked together before! But based on my experience helping 100+ investment professionals—I think you’ll be pleased.
For me, great coaching is not about cheerleading you into temporary spikes of productivity or “fixing” you, either. Walking together towards a state of calm, unflinching, ruthless effectiveness, one step at a time, one solution at a time, one conversation at a time. So whatever you’re setting out to do, I can help you get there confidentially, collaboratively and with confidence.
TRUSTED BY INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS AT
I'M ALEKS! nice to meet you.
If you’ve come to this section to check out my qualifications (I get it!), here they are: I am accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF) and the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC). I hold a BSc in Economics and Business Management from King’s College in London.
I get what’s at stake and the stress you experience on a daily basis. With my background in the startup ecosystem, I have seen how everyone deals with similar challenges: identifying what truly matters, managing time and delegation, dealing with stress and uncertainty… That is why I have successfully supported more than 100 investment and finance professionals at Antler, 500 Startups, Plug & Play, Speedinvest, Beringea, Seedcamp, Carlyle, City, and Lazard, to name a few.
On a personal note, I was born and raised in Poland, but have worked in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, where I lived for 10 years. As such, I don’t have a strong connection to any specific place or culture. Oh, and I’m an introvert at heart who is secretly relieved when plans for a night out are cancelled!
Here’s what the brilliant individuals in my community have to say about my coaching...
Aleks was instrumental in my development as a Partner. The nice thing is that she is able to mix great soft skills with her result-driven ability. Aleks assisted me in reducing the noise in my life, delegating, recruiting more junior support and managing a lot of tricky relationships at the firm. She is such a wonderful and present coach with in-depth experience in the business world and an excellent practical approach!
I really enjoyed my coaching session with Aleks. Her approach is so encouraging yet direct. She is able to help me align with my true self, and guide me to making the right decisions for myself. I went through a lot of reflection stages during our coaching session. She has the ability to make me see things from different perspectives. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking to move forward to make a change. I am grateful for her encouragement, guidance and wisdom.
Having the best reputation as a sharp, competent and experienced coach, I’ve been wanting to work with Aleks for a long time. Being a CEO, particularly a Startup CEO, is no easy task. The ability to see and understand concepts at both macro and micro levels, move an entire team towards your vision while possessing a deep understanding for each employee, and developing a strategy while technically solving minor issues across a company all require a high level of mental resilience.
Helping embody this resilience is precisely where Aleks brings such incredible value! I’ve had the honor to work with Aleks on these topics in addition to many others. Aleks is a true asset to any founder, whether to a CEO or any other C-suite professional.
Clients I work with want a trusted ally to challenge them, support them, and hold them accountable to a bigger vision they have for themselves.
My approach it is equal parts insight and discovery – figuring out what it is that you really want for yourself, and action, accountability and getting things done. It has six engines that drive you towards your goals:
1
PURPOSE: Making Your Highest Contribution Possible
Having purpose is what makes the difference. It shifts your attention away from yourself (internal focus) and onto other people and the task at hand (external focus).
2
EXECUTION: Close the Gap Between Today and your Future Goals
Without a strategy, your purporse remain a daydream. We will go deep on what’s required, explore different options, and address any potential roadblocks.
3
MINDSET: Your Propensity to Think Clearly
Great coaching reveals the conscious and unconscious mental models you use to make decisions, how you deal with uncertainty etc. Often, a shift in perspective can create exponential results.
4
EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE: Taking Care of Your Inner Peace
As humans, we’re emotional creatures. Our emotions influence our decisions, career paths and opportunities. I will help you make emotions work for you, not against you.
5
ENERGY LEVES: Knowing What Boosts and Drains You
Energy, not time, is the main current of productivity. The better you become at managing your energy, the less time you need to complete tasks that get in the way of your goals.
6
INTEGRITY: Aligning Your Action with Your Core Values
Your core values are your roadmap to success in personal integrity. Our sessions will help you define yourself from within, rather than through other people’s opinions or by comparing yourself.
There are FOUR MAIN ISSUES that ambitious individuals like you often face:
Which of these resonates with you most?
FAQ
Both are powerful, valid modalities designed to challenge your perspective.
Some people consider therapy more past oriented and coaching more future oriented. I personally view therapy as more healing oriented, and coaching as more performance oriented.
Coaching is about listening, asking questions, and guiding you to find the resources within yourself to create a change. It requires expertise in the art and process of coaching, not in the subject at hand, and is more focused on helping you achieve your future goals.
Therapy is about treating challenges and symptoms related to deep mental health and emotional issues, and helping a person to understand their feelings better.
No, you don’t. You do have the capacity to improve the quality of your life on your own, but there is a difference between needing and wanting support.
I love having someone hold me accountable to the vision I have for myself. And I want someone to challenge me to see beyond self-perceived limitations. To make me aware of my blind spots. To help me find my own answer – instead of giving me advice, as all of my friends (whom I love to the moon and back) do 🙂
To push me to the edge. To fully believe in me and my ability to become and achieve what I want for myself. To be in my corner when things don’t go my way.
Not everyone wants that.
The purpose of the preview call is:
1. To get to know each other and determine if we have the right chemistry.
2. For me to fully understand your goals, needs and wants.
3. For you to experience my coaching and ask any questions you might have.
For these three reasons, I never schedule a call for less than 90-minutes. Anything less and we would barely scratch the surface of what is possible for you.
Our sessions are 100% confidential. I will never share any personal ideas, thoughts, or experiences expressed by you with anyone else without your permission.
The confidentiality aspect of our coaching relationship is also addressed in our coaching agreement. My practice fully complies with the Code of Ethics set by the International Coach Federation.
Anything that you want insight on. From developing a new line of work and growing your business, to making more space for yourself in your life.
Coaching isn’t magical, but it does feel that way from time to time. If you’re unsure if this is the right step for you, I invite you to apply for a preview call with me to find out.
Sessions are via Zoom only (in-person sessions are not available).
I am currently based in Europe (Central European Time), and serve clients around the world. Sessions can be scheduled in a way that works for both of us.
