Finally land that role or promotion that you deserve, even in a tough economy
Get unstuck, create massive momentum in your career, and leap to your next level with confidence in just 8 weeks
Enrollment is Open for Cohort 10
Dates: May 31 - July 28
Limited to 10 participants
Are you:
A mid-career woman in Product or a related field who feels stuck or burnt out in her career?
Not seeing a career path beyond your current position?
Not getting the coaching or mentoring you need in your current organization?
Looking for structure, guidance, and support in taming your Career Monster(s)™ that are keeping you from your next level?
If so, this may be for you.
Are proud to present
The Denali Executive Accelerator
Climb Your Next Career Mountain
Applications for the 10th Cohort close in:
Limited to 10 participants
Kick-off is May 31, 2023
Your Coach and Advisor
I’m Lisa Kostova, former VP of Product, coach and advisor to more than 100 women in tech, and your guide on the Denali Executive Accelerator adventure.
I've always worked and trained hard - in mountaineering and in tech. After accomplishing some pretty big professional milestones, like being listed as a thought leader in the Harvard Business Review, and personal ones, like climbing Mt. Denali, I started CareerClimb® and the Denali Executive Accelerator with the vision of guiding women in tech to their highest career potential.
I've been successful negotiating compensation, promotions and opportunties for both myself and my team-members in frugal and difficult tech environments. And I can do the same for you.
As a former hiring manager, I know the tricks that companies use to avoid paying people more than they have to, both with hires and employees. I also know the things they look for in you to use as an excuse to say "no". I'm here to help you navigate these minefileds and confidently go after that next career summit.
Meet Lori Edwards.
Lori had spent years as a Product Manager when she joined her current startup as a Senior PM. That’s when things got complicated.
The head of her product team didn't have a product background, so Lori found herself managing everything and everyone. She was clearly operating in a lower role with lower pay than she deserved.
Frustrated at waiting on a promotion that never came, she struggled to figure out why she was not moving up in the company. She was at a loss as to how to make the case to her Founder that she deserved a higher title. She wanted to get buy-in from the C-suite, but didn't know how.
Just when she had resigned that there wasn't a role above her opening up anytime soon, she discovered the Denali Executive Accelerator.
This is what happened next, in her own words:
"I joined the Executive Accelerator because the VP Challenge completely changed my life in a short period of time. The Executive Accelerator helped me create a repeatable process that I can do over and over again.
I’ve received two promotions since starting my goal sheet. I set my initial goal for a year but already surpassed it 3 months early! Since I took the Program I’ve been the leader at my work. Across my company, people want to know why my team is so strong. I’m now being viewed as an expert because of the Accelerator. I would probably still be stuck in the same place without it and the tight community of women who are willing to support each other and lift each other up."
Lori went from frustrated and under-leveled to managing her former peers in a short time. She got promoted to an Associate Director, and then to a Director of Product.
She paid for the Accelerator herself, tightening the family budget in order to invest in her career. It paid off.
Lori Edwards
Director at Nitch
Who is this Program for?
Club Denali Membership (invaluable)
If you're a mid-career or senior woman with at least 4-5 years of work experience but not yet at the VP or C-level. Everyone from senior ICs to Senior Directors are welcome (worry not, you will be matched to same level peers in your small groups)
Club Denali Membership (invaluable)
If you're in Product or a Product-related field such as Program Management, Product Marketing, Business Analytics, Operations, Marketing, Design, Project Management, Security, AI, Data Science or Product Consulting, Implementation Consulting and related Contract work
Club Denali Membership (invaluable)
If you have your technical / IC skills down
Club Denali Membership (invaluable)
If you are looking for a strong positioning in a competitive job market
Club Denali Membership (invaluable)
If you're committed to your career in tech, whether you're currently employed or looking for a job or looking to break into Product (as long as you have 5 years of work experience in tech)
Club Denali Membership (invaluable)
If you're of any age or stage in your mid-career - we have a wide range of women from ICs to VPs of Product, ranging in age from their late 20's to their 50's, women who have been in the same company for decades, women who are currently looking for a job, as well as women coming back to their careers for a second or third act after detours or breaks
Club Denali Membership (invaluable)
This if for you if you meet the above criteria, even if you feel stuck, worried about being laid off, frustrated, wondering what's wrong with you (spoiler: nothing!), even if you've taken the mommy track, had a career break, spent years on the same level or been passed over for promotion more than once. We've had it all in the Program and we've climbed around it!
In the last 2.5 Years, over 100 Denali Executive Accelerator Graduates Have Broken Through to Their Next Career Level and Created Results Like:
Raises and up to 40% increases in compensation
Senior roles that they had never attempted before at both existing and new companies
Lateral moves to better opportunities in their organization
Accelerated promotions ahead of the promotion cycle
Successful interviews at companies where they thought they didn't stand a chance
Successfully negotiated increases to their initial offers
Strong impressions in their first 90 days on the job
Speaking invitations at large industry events
Increased confidence while presenting, speaking and negotiating
Higher visibility internally and externally, and more!
“I had been in product management for quite a few years but felt really stalled in my career. When I joined the Executive Accelerator program, I wasn't really seeing the path for growth or feeling that passionate about my current role as a Director. I knew I could always go out and get another job. But really, my biggest fear was getting stuck again."
"I really needed a clear, intentional path and strategy. This intensive program and my small group helped me learn a new thing every week that made me self-reflect on what I had done in the past, why I had done it, and then think about how I could break through that in the future.”
Building an intentional career plan and strategy in the Program positioned Nalini for a role that was aligned with her values. She also confidently negotiated a compensation package with one of the toughest tech companies out there!
Nalini Vaidyanathan
Principal Product Manager, Amazon
What's Included In The "Denali Executive Accelerator" Group Coaching Program?
Life-long Access to the 8 Weekly Module Proven System for Propelling Your Career
(available to both DEA Lite and DEA Live)
Get life-long access to 8 pre-recorded modules that walk you step-by-step through the process that has created results for over 100 mid-career and senior women in tech who have pivoted, relaunched, and reignited their careers (both in their current roles and in new ones they've landed while in the Accelerator). Your modules will be available on a dedicated Membership site.
Weekly Group Coaching Calls with Lisa for 8 Weeks
(DEA Live only)
When you enroll in a DEA Live cohort, you will gain access to weekly 1-hr live coaching calls for your cohort with Lisa. You will choose between several weekly call times the one that fits your schedule best. Each call slot will have a cohort of no more than 10 participants, ensuring you get plenty of time and attention.
This is where you can bring your burning questions and urgent issues and get live coached on:
- The elements of the DEA system and action plan that you're working on that week.
- Any situation that may have arisen at work, including something your manager said or did/didn't do, CareerMonster(s) rearing their heads, as well as high-consequence choices and decisions that you need help with right away.
Your Small Circle of Peers (aka "Board of Directors")
(DEA Live only)
You will be matched with 1-3 Product Executives in the DEA Live group coaching program for accountability and support. Lisa will personally match you based on seniority level and role. These small groups have been key to the success of DEA alums and they have led to life-long friendships, job referrals, references, collaborations, investments, and joint speaking opportunities at conferences and events.
Your Own Mentor(s)
(DEA Live only)
Your small group will be assigned at least one mentor who is more senior. This will be a senior graduate of the Denali Executive Accelerator who has created tangible results in her career and is in a leadership role. You will meet with this mentor once a month, so you can get their valuable perspective and advice on your career decisions and immediate burning issues.
Club Denali Membership
(DEA Live only)
Once in a DEA Live cohort, you will gain admission to Club Denali. This is a private group open to alumni of the Denali Executive Accelerator group coaching program only. It comprises over 100 women in Product who have formed life-long friendships and professional relationships, referring each other to opportunities, acting as references, and coaching and supporting each other.
This tight-knit intimate community is yours free for life through a private LinkedIn group, quarterly networking, and other events, so you can build on the momentum from the Accelerator.
MODULE 1
Build Your Career Vision
Week 1: Setting the Foundation
Deepen and develop your 5-year Career Vision with input and guidance from Lisa and your small group
Let Lisa guide you in a powerful visualization
Get inspired and energized for your next career step, even if you're feeling scared, exhausted and burnt out
MODULE 2
Your Decision Criteria & Values
Week 2: Setting the Foundation
Eliminate any agony or indecision by developing these foundational criteria for your career
Program alums credit this module with the power to transform interview conversations to a much deeper level, making you more memorable than any other candidate
This module will elevate your leadership game, earn respect from your executives and make others clamor to work on your team
MODULE 3
Your Action Plan Timeline
Week 3: Planning
Selecting the right timeline for your next career move, whether it's internal or external, will empower you to immediately start moving toward your next career summit
Even if you're looking for a job, going through the timeline exercise will instantly eliminate the anxiety and worry that may be making you come across as desperate to prospective employers
Committing to a specific timeline is incredibly liberating. It will free up energy you didn't know you had to focus 100% on the right next path for your career.
MODULE 4
Your Plan Milestones
Week 4: Planning
Develop the four key milestones that you need to hit on your career plan. This is a tricky balance to get right by yourself - most people either massively overcommit or under-shoot
The coaching, mentoring, and accountability in DEA Live will help you get the timing and sequence of your planned actions just right
Get manager alignment on your plan milestones - they cannot be successful if you're operating in isolation from your manager or organization. The milestones become the trail markers for measuring and adjusting your career progress.
MODULE 5
Your Skills Gap Analysis and Actions Roadmap
Week 5: Planning + Execution
Go through an in-depth evaluation and inventory of the right skills that you need to let go of, outsource, as well as develop and practice, so you find the shortest path to your next career level
Identify the right next steps for developing and practicing the skills that you need on the next level
Avoid the common trap of practicing the wrong skills that make you so good at the lower level that your manager secretly doesn't want to replace you (that's often the real reason why you're not getting promoted)
MODULE 6
Execute Your Career Plan (Part 1)
Week 6: Execution
Here you're transitioning from 80 Planning / 20 Execution to 100% Execution of your career plan. This is critical for overcoming your perfectionism - you'll need a lot of support and encouragement to stay in action and not overthink
Learn and implement the weekly, monthly, and quarterly review and planning process for your career plan, so you get in motion and stay in motion in your career (remember our favorite law of physics?)
By now, you'll have plenty of clarity and tools on HOW to talk to your manager (or prospective manager) and executives, and what to say when. Now, you'll be putting in a habit to practice these actions on a regular basis
MODULE 7
Execute Your Career Plan (Part 2)
Week 7: Execution
You go deeper on the prior module, breaking your planning and execution process into daily chunks and implementing a daily planning and review process
Automate the habit of staying in action and on track with your career plan. This is where the rubber meets the road and you start practicing overcoming overwhelm, and taming your inner perfectionist and saboteur
This module connects any future plans you have to your day-to-day and builds one of the most valuable habits you can have as an executive - vision, clarity, decisiveness and action
MODULE 8
Identity Transformation
Week 8: Sticking with the plan
Here's where you take everything you've done in the prior modules and accelerate (it's called an Accelerator for a reason!) the timeline to achieve your goals
You become the person who's already at that next level of her career
You get the tools and inspiration to keep up with your new habits, so you can stick with your career plan, iterate on it and achieve your career goals on schedule
YOU ALSO GET THESE 13 LIMITED-TIME BONUSES!
Bonus #1: LIMITED TO FIRST 10 REGISTRANTS TO DEA LIVE
1:1 Coaching Call with Lisa Kostova ($997 value)
Launch your career plan powerfully with a 1:1 coaching session with Lisa to quickly eliminate the pieces that are keeping you stuck and identify exactly what you need to focus to kick-start your climb to your next level.
You'll walk with a customized action plan, along with a set of introductions and referrals to relevant people in Club Denali or in Lisa's extensive tech and investor network.
Due to Lisa's limited availability, this bonus will only be available to the first 10 registrants for each DEA LIVE intake.
50 min / Live on Zoom
Bonus #2: 1 month free membership to graduates-only Denali Coaching Circle BETA ($97 value)
This app-based monthly coaching program is unlocked for graduates of the DEA who have established the foundation of a career vision, values and a 6-to-12 month career plan. It's the ongoing support in maintaining your career momentum and taming your favorite Career Monsters™. It comprises of:
1) Monthly 20-30 min audio pocket coaching on timely topics like individual Career Monsters™, how to communicate difficult news (like layoffs), how to operate in a challenging or chaotic environment, etc.
2) One 90 min live monthly group coaching call. You’ll be able to submit questions in advance, which will be answered during the call. You will get hot-seat coached if you attend in person. A recording will be available.
You will be added to the app upon graduation from the DEA.
Bonus #3: YOUR STRATEGIC NETWORKING TRAINING, GUIDE + TEMPLATES ($797 value)
A recording of a training session Lisa did for a DEA cohort on how to network strategically (either to get job leads immediately, or to build a long-term network).
The training accompanies the CareerClimb® Strategic Networking Guide.
This is a 12-page networking guide that has two editions:
For people looking for a job right now, and
For people who don't need to network for a job
The guide is packed with a step-by-step guide and proven "copy and paste" templates that Lisa has used with success, so you stop wasting your time with leads that won't go anywhere and so that you can stop doing cold-outreach
(and get bummed when people don't reply to your messages, yikes!)
In addition, you'll get the accompanying Trello templates for organizing and keeping track of your strategic networking.
Download the recording in your "Bonus" section
Bonus #4: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs in Your Career by Lisa ($497 value)
A recoding of a training session Lisa did for a DEA cohort on how to overcome common limiting beliefs in your career. Includes an accompanying workbook for practice.
The training will enable you to quickly identify and remove common assumptions and beliefs that may be holding you back in your career without you being even aware of them. Warning: strong and sudden transformation may come about as a result!
Download the recording in your "Bonus" section
Bonus #5: DREAM-BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR OVERCOMING LIMITING BELIEFS FOR FEMALE PROFESSIONALS ($497 value)
This 1.5 hr workshop was taught by Nancy Mae, Certified Life Mastery Consultant, and a Hay House award-winning author. Nancy is a former User Experience Researcher for Microsoft, Ebay and WebTV.
In this workshop, Nancy uses the powerful process of Dream Building to help you uncover and start undoing self-sabotaging thoughts and limiting beliefs that may be holding you back in your Career.
Download the recording in your "Bonus" section
Bonus #6: LIVE WORKSHOP - EMPOWERED PRESENTATIONS THROUGH VOICE DEVELOPMENT ($797 value)
(DEA Live Only)
Presenting well is not only a necessary skill to survive in your current role, it can also be the quickest way to advance in your career.
In this 1.5-hour LIVE INTERACTIVE workshop, you will learn to engage your audience with your voice and body language, keep their attention during your time "on stage," and to have fun doing it.
Taught by Michael Schreiber, a NYC actor, director and a voice and performance coach, this workshop will explore practical tools and techniques used by professionals in the worlds of Broadway theatre, professional speaking, and sales. The focus will be less on theory, and more on practice.
1.5 hr / Live on Zoom
Bonus #7: Mindset Training for Women in Tech From The First Woman to Climb Everest Without Oxygen ($497 value)
In this intimate recorded workshop, we have #realtalk with the first woman to climb Everest without oxygen and one of the most respected Everest guides in the world - Lydia Bradey. Lydia is a sought-after corporate speaker, but she's deeply passionate about supporting women. She is also Lisa's mentor and friend.
Lydia will share her lessons and the amazing story of overcoming the worst of challenges in the brutal male-dominated field of high-altitude climbing. You'll learn viscerally from her how to be powerful and effective when the going gets tough, so you can make decisions with confidence and own them, regardless of what any critics or naysayers may say.
Download the recording in your "Bonus" section
Bonus #8: LinkedIn Profile Makeover Session: Watch an executive recruiter give you an in-depth tour of how to optimize your LinkedIn profile ($200 value)
A 2 hr Webinar held in December 2022 with executive recruiter and former Product Manager (and WIP member) Jenny Cu and Lisa Kostova.
Follow along to optimize your LinkedIn Profile and watch 4 profile makeovers for women in tech in real-time.
Download the recording in your "Bonus" session
Bonus #9: PRODUCT SENSE INTERVIEW MASTERCLASS with Danielle Zimmerman ($497 value)
Learn how to interview successfully for the dreaded "Product Sense" by leveraging the hiring manager's perspective from Danielle Zimmerman.
Danielle is Product Lead and UX Strategist at Carvana and a Founding Member of the Denali Executive Accelerator. In the 1.5 hour workshop, Danielle walks you through a step-by-step interview framework for the "Product Sense" interview, so you can ace that intimidating part of the interview process.
The workshop has been extremely popular in our Club Denali community. Danielle has over 10 years of experience as a Product and Customer Experience leader and is a mom of three.
Download the recording in your "Bonus" section
Bonus #10: Camera and Lights Pro Training for Zoom ($297 value)
In this workshop, Lisa will teach you an affordable but essential audio and visual setup for your Zoom calls, along with important strategies for on-camera presence, so you immediately elevate your executive presence and command attention in virtual meetings, even if you don't say anything.
Download the recording in your "Bonus" section
Bonus #11: LIVE WORKSHOP - Protecting Your Equity-Based Compensation in a Recession ($997 value)
(DEA Live Only)
This workshop will teach you the fundamentals of equity-based compensation, the biggest leverage for creating wealth quickly in your tech career and the biggest part of your income that can suffer during an economic downturn.
Being literate with the different forms of equity compensation is a critical skill for securing not only a senior title, but also being financially successful through all economic cycles.
More importantly, you will learn little-known and effective options to maximize the value of your equity compensation, whether you're joining a company or have worked there for years.
Taught by Chris Welton, a Wealth Management Advisor at Northwest Mutual and the husband of one of our Accelerator graduates. He is passionate about empowering women in tech to build wealth.
1.5 hr / Live on Zoom
Bonus #12: Compensation and Role Ascension Workshop for Senior Product Leaders ($497 value)
This deep dive workshop was presented by former executive recruiter and Head of Talent for Europe's largest Venture Capital fund, Kiana Sharifi.
This workshop will help you benchmark your position in the market for senior Product roles and strategize a career plan to put you on the fastest career trajectory to VP. Kiana also covers negotiation strategies and fundamentals for compensation and role ascension, so you can be armed with knowledge and strategies when approaching your next role conversation.
Download the recording in your "Bonus" section
Bonus #13: Recordings and Workbooks of the Product Director+ Challenge ($997 value)
Get lifetime access to all the training recordings, workbooks, and materials from the Product Director+ Challenge, so you can listen to all the training on your run or in the grocery store, or anytime you need a boost or a refresher.
These Product Director+ Challenge recordings are not available anywhere else and the tools and frameworks taught are exclusive to the Product Director+ Challenge.
Download the recording in your "Bonus" section
Bonus #14: Program Brochure Designed for your Manager or HR
If your company offers an educational stipend, we have put together a professional PDF brochure for the Coaching Program and some of the Bonus Trainings.
We have designed this brochure specifically for your manager or HR person to build a case for easy reimbursement. We also have a "talking points" handout for how to ask your manager to approve the DEA program as an educational expense. Just email us after you enroll in the DEA Program and we'll send them to you.
"Before enrolling in the Executive Accelerator, I was trying to figure out what my next move should be. I didn’t want to lose that momentum from the VP challenge, the knowledge and insights from that one week. After the Accelerator, I became the architect of my career and started thinking long-term."
"Creating my vision, identifying the values, having that clarity from the Program, realizing the sources of my frustration, understanding what I want and saying NO to opportunities that didn’t meet my needs. That, and my friends and sisters for life are the takeaways from the Executive Accelerator. Oh, and I landed a role as a VP of Product that I’m really aligned with."
During the Accelerator, Sushma went through an evaluation process that took her from being exhausted and feeling suck to landing her first role as a VP of Product.
Sushma Kittali-Weidner
VP of Product, Rheaply
The Denali Executive Accelerator Group Coaching Program + 13 Bonuses Has A Total Value Of $10,858
Core DEA 8 Module System for Career Acceleration
($2,997 Value)
Private Membership Site with All the Call Recordings, Workbooks and Materials
($197 Value)
Accountability Small Group (Your Board of Advisors) for the Accelerator Program (DEA Live only)
(priceless)
Assigned Mentor(s) (DEA Live only)
(priceless)
Bonus #1 - One-on-one Coaching with Lisa Kostova, (Only for the First 10 Registrants to DEA LIVE)
($997 Value)
Bonus #2- 1 month free membership in the Denali Coaching Circle BETA, unlocked at graduation from DEA Live
($97 Value)
Bonus #3- Your Strategic Networking Training, Guide + Templates
($797 Value)
Bonus #4- Overcoming Limiting Beliefs in Your Career by Lisa
($497 Value)
Bonus #5- Dream-Building Workshop for Overcoming Limiting Beliefs for Female Professionals
($497 Value)
Bonus #6- Live Workshop - Empowered Presentations Through Voice Development (DEA Live Only)
($797 Value)
Bonus #7- Mindset Training for Women in Tech From The First Woman to Climb Everest Without Oxygen
($497 Value)
Bonus #8- LinkedIn Profile Makeover Session
($200 Value)
Bonus #9 - Product Sense Interview Masterclass with Danielle Zimmerman
($497 Value)
Bonus #10- Camera and Lights Pro Training for Zoom
($297 Value)
Bonus #11- Live Workshop - Protecting Your Equity-Based Compensation in a Recession (DEA Live Only)
($997 Value)
Bonus #12- Compensation and Role Ascension Workshop for Senior Product Leader with Kiana Sharifi
($497 Value)
Bonus #13- Recordings and Workbooks of the Product Director Challenge
($997 Value)
Bonus #14- Program Brochure Designed for your Manager or HR
Total Value
$10,858
"When I joined the Executive Accelerator, I was at Walmart.com as a Senior Director and I was feeling a glass ceiling being at a Fortune 100 company with a fairly conservative management style. The Program molded my thinking, helped me understand my values and how I should be thinking about and setting my professional goals."
"It gave me a lot of courage to take a step function change towards what really inspires and fulfills me, which is technology innovation. The Accelerator was the catalyst for me starting and getting investment capital for my own company - a blockchain platform."
Linda went from frustrated at being asked to tweak slides at midnight for her boss to lining up several investment offers for her startup idea. She ended up selling her startup to a strategic investor a year later, creating life-changing generational wealth.
Linda Lee
Wonderblocks.io
CEO and Founder
FAQ
is the dea the same as the challenge?
No, not even close.
Think of the Challenge as a “fire starter”, an inspirational tour of some of the career principles of CareerClimb®. It’s like me giving you a pep talk and outlining a few important tips in the parking lot next to the trailhead to all the career mountains.
The Denali Executive Accelerator LIVE is us climbing the mountain together with you, your mentor, and a select team of peer women in tech, holding your hand and giving you feedback along the way.
There are some tricky spots in producing your own career plan and starting to execute it. I’ll be there to guide you through decisions that would normally paralyze you. Like, what should I do now that my manager did X? My company announced a reorg/layoff/a merger - what should my next step be?
do I need to finish all the homework from the challenge before signing up for dea?
No. You can keep the momentum you've created, even if you've only attended part of the Challenge, and take that with you into the DEA Program. We'll be going deeper and covering a lot more than was possible in the short time of the Challenge.
Do I need to be in product?
Not necessarily. Plenty of women in Product-related roles like Program Management, Biz Ops, Product Ops, Analytics, Product Marketing, Project Management and others have gone through the Program and created results.
am I too senior?
We have had several former and current VPs of Product who have gone through the Denali Executive Accelerator and benefitted from it dramatically (especially to get themselves unstuck from a rut). More commonly, DEA is the perfect Program for Senior PMs, Principals, Lead or Group managers, Directors, Senior Directors, and even some high-achieving PMs.
Having said that, if you've been in an executive role for a long time, are currently in the C-suite, or have a specific need for 1:1 executive coaching (such as developing your thought leadership brand off of a solid base of experience), please contact us. Lisa occasionally takes on select senior clients 1:1 in an advisory and executive coaching capacity.
what if I'm too junior?
The requirement to enroll in DEA Live is 5 years of work experience.
If you've had less than 3 years of work experience, I will strongly encourage you to focus on building your technical skills and put yourself in a position to get the most and the best experience.
Between 3 and 5 years of work experience is a gray area. I have found that some of the people who create the best results in the Program have this level of experience. However, they are extremely ambitious, work hard, and are willing to show up, do the work and contribute to the group.
It's your call - if you're mature enough, and are not going to be asking basic questions, then you may be ready for this.
What People Are Saying about the Denali Executive Accelerator and Lisa Kostova
Hi, I’m Lisa Kostova, Harvard MBA, successful Silicon Valley product VP, contributor to Cracking the PM Interview (the industry’s interview bible), Women in Product speaker, an accomplished mountaineer, founder and CEO of CareerClimb, and host of the CareerClimb podcast. I am also the author of the forthcoming book, “The Girl’s Guide To The Wild Wild Tech”.
After training hard as a mountaineer and accomplishing some pretty big personal milestones, like climbing Mt. Denali, I began to spend a lot of time speaking with women in tech for my podcast. Each woman I was lucky to meet is unique and special to me. I cherish them all. Yet, I have to admit, I noticed some patterns among them along the way.
One day, I would hear from a successful female. She would tell me things like, “...”.
Interesting. This woman was really thriving.
Then I would hear from someone who was struggling.
This made me curious.
All these women were facing similar challenges, but some got stuck at “basecamp”, while others were able to regroup and keep ascending their career mountain.
I started to wonder, what is the difference between those that progress and those that don’t? Why do some build on their level of skill and understanding of the executive path, and others plateau?
I became obsessed with understanding the parallels between successful mountain climbers and successful executives. Soon enough I discovered a personal calling. I wanted to help women in tech ascend their career summits.
Now, I could keep telling you what I was hearing from these women, but let me just show you instead.
"Joining the Executive Accelerator helped me take control of my career situation. I’d been trying to do things myself for so long and wasn’t able to move forward in my career.
With the help of the Program, I was able to leave my senior PM role and start a new role heading a Product team. I’m so proud I was able to get unstuck.
In the past, I assumed I’d move up eventually and was on the path, but it was taking a while. The Program helped me to think through what’s important to me in a role and a company, it opened my eyes to what I wanted and to what was possible. It was really helpful to get myself out of that rut and to start managing my career proactively. "
Nicole Daines
Director of Product, Rosie - acquired by Instacart
" I was lucky to find Lisa right at the moment where I was looking for new coaching and really trying to shape a plan for my career.
What I liked about the Program was the intensity and the structure built on a core set of principles that felt real and relevant to me given my experience as a Product Manager. The experience also challenged me to continue growing in product leadership.
The Executive Accelerator is right for women who want more in their career and from themselves but are not yet sure what it takes to get there."
Rosa Welton
Director of Product Management at Intuit
"I found Lisa to be a fantastic coach. I really liked her energy, her vibe, her personality. She is very generous and definitely leads with generosity. I could relate to a lot of things that were shared during the Challenge and the Program.
Lisa presented a solid framework around how to climb your career ladder. The fact that it was specifically geared towards product managers was very actionable and useful.
The workshop speakers also helped us understand some aspects in the frameworks and included examples on how we can make them actionable in our career."
Debarati Goswami
Product Lead at eBay
"This program taught me how to have a vision in my career. I am able to visualize where I want to go. I am now looking at career opportunities. When recruiters reach out to me, if I don't see what they're envisioning for this role (aligned to my vision), I actually reject their offer the opportunity presented. That was not something I had ever done before!
I learned how to interview a company and make them sit in the hot seat. Now that I’m able to move to the next level, and have proven that I’m a visionary leader, I'm actually starting to ask for more money and without guilt, or a lack of confidence. Lisa gave me the tools to be able to do that!"
Vibhu Mahajan
Senior Product Manager
"My career path is something that sort of happened to me and not something I thought about intentionally before. Every day during the Product VP Challenge I was running around with 3 kids, it was chaos.
The Executive Accelerator shifted my perspective and gave me the framework and the tools to understand what I want for myself and make those decisions. And then, having the community and an accountability partner in it to support me in that process was game changing.
This gave me the strength and audacity to ask for a six figure salary increase and the clarity on what I want. My ability to share that clarity with my team and the people I’m developing and be able to level up has definitely transformed. "
Danielle Zimmerman
Product Lead, Carvana
"The Executive Accelerator is a tight community of women (in product) who are willing to support each other and lift each other up.
The advice and personal mentorship I got from Lisa was hugely helpful - making sure that I spend my time forming strong relationships with my co-workers. I was able to come up to speed much faster.
What a great time to have this resource and this community of women and get guidance and mentorship on how to be successful in my new role."
Christine Rhinehart
Senior Product Manager, Netflix
"Knowing the goal that you are trying to reach makes working towards it easier because you know what steps you need to take towards that goal.
Lisa provided us a safe place to share something personal - it provided a sense of comfort and we built trust in a surprisingly short time frame.
Hearing Lisa and other participants talk about their challenges resonated with me. It sounded so similar to what I was struggling with and I saw that there is a path out of these challenges. I saw that there was a defined path that I could take to grow into the Product space."
Aparna Hargunani
Product and Program Management, Google
"I went in with the expectation of getting a high-level framework of how to approach both my career and my job-hunting. I came away with a collaborative community experience with people who have a lot of expertise in my field, in addition to some very helpful career guidance.
In doing the daily and weekly work that we went through as a group, I was able to really tap into my self-worth, my experiences and my value. I was able present that to my manager in a way that made them open to giving me a higher title."
Yvonne Markgraf Stoehr
Director of Technology, Product Management
“Before I joined the Executive Accelerator, my career was going well, however promises for promotion and opportunities didn’t quite pan out. I started to understand that while I was good enough to drive a lot of value, execution and strategy, for whatever reason there was always another guy that got that VP role and the paycheck that goes with it.
I fell in love with the VP challenge and the other women and when the time came, I was not ready to drop the paddle. I needed more. I enrolled in the Executive Accelerator, I had amazing accountability partners who are now my friends and sisters for life, and at the end of the three months I was starting my new role at Amazon.
I could not be happier with my decision to join this cohort. "
Tanya Bonamico
Senior PM, Amazon
“I did two Product VP Challenges and followed Lisa for a while before deciding to enroll in the Executive Accelerator.
I was stuck getting business analyst roles, I didn’t know what steps to take in knowing who to talk to and how to get to that next level. It’s been an amazing journey.
I really love the Program framework. Without it and the support of the cohort, I wouldn’t have gotten where I am today.
I actually integrated something I learned in the Accelerator in the interview where I got my current role, and it made a big difference.”
Seena Iype
Senior PM, ADP
" I like Lisa and the community of great people that Lisa built. I see myself growing in this community and it inspires me to become better!
Through the Challenge and the Program, I was surprised to hear other participants having similar experiences to mine. (It made me realize) that I am not alone and that there is a community out there.
I would recommend the Executive Accelerator to mid-career professionals who are eager to learn and who feel they are stuck where they are (and want to get unstuck)."
Evelyn Chou
Product Operations at Coursera
"Having someone experienced to lead and to cultivate a unique community among a truly amazing group of female product leaders was an inspiring and empowering journey to be part of.
One piece of advice I got from Lisa that gave me that aha moment to fight off self-doubts is "Don't focus on yourself or what others may think of you, but focus on the problems you are trying to solve or the product you are trying to build. You are the messenger, so focus on the message".
You are not alone in this journey. Invest in yourself and accelerate your growth."
Xunjing Wu
Director at Comcast
And these women are not alone. This is a real problem that almost nobody talks about with any depth. Notice how these thoughts can become destructive to our career goals and our self-esteem. After a while, a bad pattern takes hold and we start to believe our self-limiting scripts.
But deep down we know they aren’t true. In quiet moments with ourselves, when we take a candid look at things, we want to level up and have a transformation, but we are just unable to figure out why we can’t do it ourselves, or why we can’t motivate ourselves. At that moment we knock ourselves down yet another peg while we are already down.
What is going on here?
I see it often. Well educated, intelligent women who…
Try to imagine a typical day this woman might be having. It’s not a leveled-up day, it’s an “Average Jane” day. Not the kind of elite, high integrity, high quality, high performance day they thought they would be having by now.
Deep down they feel like they can be doing so much more.
Deep down they feel like they can be doing so much more.
“Yes, that’s exactly how I’ve been feeling, Lisa. Ugh.”
Average day for a woman not happy at her company.
She is struggling with getting visibility.
She is struggling with getting visibility.
Average day for a woman who is happy at her company, and loves the company’s culture, but is looking for something more. A faster pace, a more strategic role, etc
She is struggling with enough self-awareness.
Try to imagine what someone goes through when they’re stuck like this. They probably go through common stages of self-criticism like this:
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They created a vision board many moons ago, but it’s collecting dust right now.
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A Risk-Free Guarantee: Try the Accelerator Risk-Free for 14 Days
The Denali Executive Accelerator Comes With A 14 Day Money Back Guarantee. If for whatever reason want your money back, email lisa@careerclimb.co within 14 days of purchase (for DEA Lite) or from the time of Program kickoff (for DEA Live) and request a refund and we will get that processed within 2 business days. To be eligible for a refund for DEA Live, we ask that you be present live for the Program kickoff group call and attend at least one live coaching call with Lisa before requesting a refund.
Climb Your Next Career Mountain Today
Which Denali Executive Accelerator is right for you?
- The full Denali Executive Accelerator 8 recorded module system
- Lifetime access to Denali Executive Accelerator LITE recordings and bonuses
- 14-day,
money back guarantee
- The full Denali Executive Accelerator 8 recorded module system
- Lifetime accessto Denali Executive Accelerator LIVE module and coaching call recordings and bonuses
- 14-day,
money back guarantee - 8 weeks of live weekly coaching calls with Lisa Kostova
- Small group of peers - your "board of directors"
- Dedicated mentor
- Free life-time membership in the Club Denali community
- Two live interactive workshops
The Program is not for everyone. It is NOT for you if:
Club Denali Membership (invaluable)
If you have less than 3-5 years of experience or have been at the VP or C-level for a while
Club Denali Membership (invaluable)
If you haven't mastered fundamental IC skills (we don't teach technical skills in this Program)
Club Denali Membership (invaluable)
If you are not committed to your career - it's ok if you want to do something else in life, but this Program is for women who are 100% committed to climbing their next Career summit and building their professional brand
Club Denali Membership (invaluable)
If you want to passively wait for a layoff and you don't want to put in an action plan to not only survive the potential recession but to take advantage of stepping into new opportunities that will open up as companies get lean
The Denali Executive Accelerator
Climb Your Next Career Mountain
Contact Us: lisa@careerclimb.co // 35 SE Laurelhurst Pl, Portland, OR 97214
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