Leadership coaching for early-stage founders & small teams
Build a team that executes.
Without you carrying everything.
I'm Sofia. I coach early-stage founders and small teams to strengthen management, create accountability, untangle messy execution, and hire well—so you can get your brain space back and focus on what you do best.
I open 4 spots per month.
About me
I’m Sofia Balderson, the Executive Director of Hive, a global community of farmed animal advocates. Since 2022, I’ve grown it into a team of 7 serving 5000+ advocates globally. We have influenced over 180 people to land impactful opportunities for farmed animals, and we have even spun out a new organisation, Sentient Futures.
Previously, I’ve held management roles at Veganuary and Animal Advocacy Careers, and supported multiple charities with project management and internal communications training.
What a 60-minute coaching session looks like
In a 60-minute session, we focus on one real leadership challenge you are facing right now. The goal is clarity and forward movement, not abstract discussion.
What we’ll do
- Clarify: Define what’s actually happening underneath the noise
- Identify: Pinpoint the real bottleneck stopping your team
- Map: Create 2–3 high-leverage next steps you can take today
- Decide: Determine if ongoing coaching is a strategic fit
Common topics
- Performance issues and hard feedback conversations
- Unclear ownership, priorities, and accountability
- Messy execution and projects slipping
- Hiring decisions and role clarity
- Co‑founder alignment and tension
- Board communication and decision-making pressure
- Getting your time and attention back
I open 4 spots each month.
Ways to work together
Ongoing coaching
Weekly or fortnightly sessions to support you as your leadership challenges evolve.
Focused sprint
A short engagement to solve one specific challenge quickly (team reset, role clarity, performance).
Starter Sprint
A short, focused engagement to help you start a new project or organisation with clarity and momentum.
IS THIS FOR YOU?
I’m a good fit for you if some of this sounds familiar:
you’re a founder or team lead managing a small team
your team depends too much on you to keep things moving
you have smart people, but outcomes still feel inconsistent
you want higher standards and a healthy culture
you’re open to learning and trying small behaviour changes that compound
If you’re leading a larger team (20+), I may still be able to help with a focused challenge, but my sweet spot is early-stage and small teams.
What working together feels like
This is practical coaching built around real situations you’re handling right now.
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pressure-testing decisions
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rewriting key messages (feedback, expectations, alignment)
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role-playing hard conversations
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building simple systems that make execution easier
My goal is simple: you leave each session knowing what to do next.
What I help you with
I focus on the practical, human side of scaling. Here is how I help you move from carrying everything to leading a team that executes:
Management & performance
- Management that improves performance
- Performance management (high standards, high care)
- Culture people want to work in
Clarity, ownership & execution
- Accountability without micromanagement
- Messy execution → simple project management
- Starting something new (idea → pilot)
Teams, hiring & relationships
- Hiring and team design
- Leading international teams
- Co‑founder + board relationships
You as a leader
- Personal brand
- Sustainable leadership
- AI support for leaders
What leaders I’ve supported say
“As someone new to leadership, having Sofia as a manager, mentor and coach supercharged my growth.”
Kevin — Managing Director at Hive
Direct report for 2+ years
"I found my chat with Sofia to be one of the most value-dense conversations I’ve had in my personal development as a leader/manager."
Sam Chapman — Sentient Futures
Single 30-min leadership call
"I gained useful skills like giving feedback and outreach strategy, and also received help to prepare for and handle difficult conversations at work."
Shrilaxmi Patil
After 2 sessions via Magnify Mentoring
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leadership coaching for?
I work with early-stage founders and team leads who feel their team depends too much on them. If you want to move from carrying everything to leading a group that executes independently, we’re likely a good fit.
How do the diagnostic sessions work?
We start with a 60-minute Leadership Diagnostic. We’ll work through one real challenge you’re facing right now so you can experience the coaching style and leave with clarity before we decide on long-term commitment.
What are your rates?
My rate is $225 for a 60-minute session.
If we decide to work together ongoing (weekly or fortnightly), sessions are booked as recurring calendar invites and I invoice monthly based on the sessions that took place that month. You can reschedule any session up to 24 hours in advance.
Do I have to commit to a package?
No. Some people start with a one-off session, others prefer ongoing support. We can decide what makes sense after an initial call, and you can increase/decrease the frequency of the sessions any time you want.
How do I get started?
The best way to start is by applying for a free Leadership Diagnostic. I open three spots per month for these calls. We’ll solve one bottleneck immediately and see if ongoing coaching is a strategic fit for you.
Do you offer a free introductory call?
Yes. I offer a short optional fit call (20–30 minutes) for people who are unsure whether coaching is right for them.
The purpose of this call is to clarify goals and scope and to check fit. It is not a coaching session and does not include in-depth advice.
If we have already spoken informally or you already know you’d like to work together, you can skip this step and book a paid session directly.