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 3 diagnostic sessions 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 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
A free 60‑min Leadership Diagnostic
SO YOU CAN FEEL MY COACHING BEFORE COMMITTING
Most “fit calls” are too short to be useful. In this 60-minute session, we’ll work on one real challenge you’re facing right now. You’ll leave with clarity, language you can use immediately, and a concrete next-step plan.
Limited spots each month.
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
Ways to work together after the diagnostic
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.
-
pressure-testing decisions
-
rewriting key messages (feedback, expectations, alignment)
-
role-playing hard conversations
-
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.