Inside the Coaching Room: Case Studies from Investment Professionals
These case studies provide an inside look at the real challenges investment professionals face in coaching sessions, as well as the results that coaching can facilitate. However, no two journeys are alike. That’s why each coaching package is uniquely tailored to meet your specific goals.
Would I have achieved it without her? Yes for sure, but it would have taken me years to get there, with Aleks we achieved it within just fours months. It was an investment in myself and it was a great investment!"
Case Study 1: Breaking Out of Overload & Getting More Done
Client: Partner, Venture Capital Fund
Challenge:
Despite a strong investment track record, the client was overwhelmed by deal execution, portfolio oversight, and internal firm responsibilities. Key blockers included:
- Lack of delegation: Holding onto execution work better suited for associates and VPs.
- Burnout risk: Operating at full capacity with no bandwidth for strategic thinking and seeing the big picture.
- Inefficient task management: Constant context-switching between deals, portfolio companies, and internal meetings, leading to reduced productivity and focus.
Key Coaching Approaches:
- Strategic Delegation: Built a framework to identify tasks to delegate vs. own, empowering the team.
- Energy & Focus Management: Designed a system to prioritize high-value work and reduce low-impact commitments.
- Optimized Workflows: Introduced structured time-blocking and decision-making frameworks to reduce context-switching and improve efficiency.
Results:
✔ Reduced deal execution workload through structured delegation, freeing up 10+ hours each week for high-value activities (mainly sourcing).
✔ Increased focus and efficiency by minimizing context-switching and improving workflow structure.
✔ Shifted from reactive task management to proactive strategic execution, improving overall effectiveness.
Case Study 2: From Principal to Partner – Owning the Room & the Deals
Client: Principal, Growth Equity Fund
Challenge:
A rising star stuck in execution mode—respected but not seen as a Partner. The roadblocks:
- Not seen as a peer: Struggled to build influence with senior partners.
- Deal execution, not leadership: Strong operator but needed to own deals end-to-end.
- Weak IC presence: Struggled to pitch with conviction and win internal buy-in.
Key Coaching Approaches:
- Step up, speak up: Shifted from execution mindset to strategic leadership.
- Own the full deal cycle: Built confidence in sourcing, structuring, and portfolio value creation.
- Command the IC room: Crafted a structured, conviction-driven pitch style.
Results:
✔ Led a full-cycle deal, winning IC approval and firm-wide credibility.
✔ Built stronger senior relationships, securing key mentorship.
✔ Positioned for Partner promotion within 18 months.
Case Study 3: Overwhelmed Partner – No Time to Source, No Patience for It
Client: Partner, Growth Equity Fund
Challenge:
A dealmaker drowning in execution, leaving no time for sourcing—and hating the little time spent on it. The issues:
- Reactive pipeline: Relying on inbound deals with no proactive outreach.
- No bandwidth: Stuck in portfolio work, leaving sourcing on the back burner.
- Sourcing fatigue: Frustrated by low-quality leads and inefficient strategies.
Key Coaching Approaches:
- Make sourcing easy: Built a repeatable, high-impact outbound strategy.
- Reclaim time: Offloaded low-value tasks to focus on market engagement.
- Work smarter, not harder: Used targeted networking and thematic research to streamline deal flow.
Results:
✔ Consistently sourced high-quality deals without adding more hours to the week.
✔ Built a stronger outbound pipeline, reducing reliance on intermediaries.
✔ Reignited enthusiasm for sourcing by making it strategic, not tedious.
tner. The roadblocks:
- Not seen as a peer: Struggled to build influence with senior partners.
- Deal execution, not leadership: Strong operator but needed to own deals end-to-end.
- Weak IC presence: Struggled to pitch with conviction and win internal buy-in.
Key Coaching Approaches:
- Step up, speak up: Shifted from execution mindset to strategic leadership.
- Own the full deal cycle: Built confidence in sourcing, structuring, and portfolio value creation.
- Command the IC room: Crafted a structured, conviction-driven pitch style.
Results:
✔ Led a full-cycle deal, winning IC approval and firm-wide credibility.
✔ Built stronger senior relationships, securing key mentorship.
✔ Positioned for Partner promotion within 18 months.
Case Study 4: Partner Struggling to Convince IC & Skilling Deals Too Early
Client: Partner, Private Equity Fund
Challenge:
A strong investor but struggling to win IC buy-in. Kept killing deals early out of fear of rejection. The core issues:
- Weak conviction: Second-guessing deals instead of pushing them forward.
- IC skepticism: Struggled to frame deals in a way that resonated.
- Over-filtering: Self-rejecting too soon, missing out on solid opportunities.
Key Coaching Approaches:
- Strengthen conviction: Built confidence in deal analysis and storytelling.
- Master IC dynamics: Crafted a structured approach to presenting with authority.
- Stop self-rejecting: Developed a process to pressure-test ideas instead of dismissing them early.
Results:
✔ Pushed high-quality deals through IC with confidence.
✔ Built credibility as a strong deal advocate.
✔ Increased hit rate, reducing the number of missed opportunities.
Case Study 5: From Perfectionist to High-Impact Operator
Client: Senior Associate, First-Fund Venture Capital
Challenge:
A detail-driven Senior Associate who was getting bogged down in perfectionism, polishing models and over-analyzing deals. The key blockers included:
- Perfectionism overload: Spent too much time refining documents and presentations, missing out on timely decisions.
- Busy, not productive: Focused on minor details instead of high-leverage tasks like sourcing or driving deal flow.
- Lack of visibility: Stuck in execution mode, without enough strategic thinking to make an impact at the partner level.
Key Coaching Approaches:
- 80/20 mindset: Helped shift focus from perfecting every detail to working on high-impact tasks that actually move the needle.
- Prioritization system: Built a framework to identify and tackle the most critical, high-return tasks first.
- Strategic impact: Encouraged a mindset shift from “getting it perfect” to “driving deal momentum” and increasing firm visibility.
Results:
✔ Streamlined workload, cutting hours spent on low-value tasks and freeing up time for high-priority activities like sourcing.
✔ Increased deal flow and strategic involvement, moving from execution to adding value in the deal-making process.
✔ Positioned for a promotion to Principal by demonstrating broader firm impact and leadership potential.
I decided to work with Aleks because we immediately connected. From our first conversation, I could tell she was straightforward and didn’t waste time. We quickly got on the same page about my goals—specifically, I wanted to improve my time management and build a more effective morning routine. The biggest challenge was changing my habits, like procrastination and inconsistent sleep patterns.
I had tried to make these changes before, but they never stuck. Aleks and I pinpointed the exact narratives and limiting beliefs that were holding me back and worked on transforming them. For example, she helped me set a strict evening routine, which made a huge difference in improving my sleep quality. At first, I struggled with staying consistent, but Aleks checked in regularly and kept me accountable. I really appreciated her regular check-ins—I’d never experienced anything like that with other coaches, and honestly, it made a huge difference.
She wants the results and at the end of the day, we got the results. Would I have achieved it without her? Yes for sure, but it would have taken me years to get there, with Aleks we achieved it within four months. It was an investment in myself and it was a great investment. I managed to eliminate the habits that were draining my productivity and now have a morning routine that sets me up for success. That kind of transformation would have taken me much longer on my own, and I’m incredibly grateful for the progress I made.
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.
