Former Google product leader and executive coach Ken Norton reflects on coaching startup founders while working at GV (Google Ventures).
Opinion
Norton: Google would have grown faster some years if employees stayed home
“I feel like there were years at Google where all we were doing was making things worse by showing up and we should just all have gone, sat on a beach somewhere and life would, the company would have grown even faster.”
Insight
Norton: Executive coaches do not need domain experience in a client's role
“The other thing is that you don't need a coach who's done the job before. And that's another, I mean, obviously I've done the job before, so I'm sort of undermining part of my own selling point here, but coaches are trained to coach people on any topic. So whe…”
Insight
Norton: Framing systemic bias as imposter syndrome weaponizes it against marginalized groups
“There is the risk of Dismissing or, you know, even maybe weaponizing imposter phenomenon against a particular population, particularly women people of color of all genders, women of color, especially, right. Who are facing real external feedback and doubt abou…”
Insight
Norton: Modern PM interviews are like SAT prep and test interview preparation
“I actually feel like maybe the pendulum swifted way too far now, where it's like the interview process is so structured. You know, everyone's doing all these mock, they know exactly what questions they're going to get. And it's SAT prep, right? Everyone's like…”
Insight
Norton: Great product leaders explicitly separate managing from coaching
“Great managers, I think, especially the best product leaders understand how to put the coach hat on and when it's appropriate to put the coach hat on. And are explicit about that are sort of like, okay, let me take off my manager hat now and put the coach hat …”
Insight
Norton: Senior executive challenges stem from people, not product mechanics
“The, how much all of the challenges that senior executives are dealing with come down to people. Versus, you know, product, right? So it's like, you know, it's fun to think about designing products, optimizing, doing user discovery and, you know, what testing,…”