𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀
It’s not just about scaling your business.
It’s also about scaling you.
From Fortune 500 companies to fast-growing startups, I’ve coached leaders at every stage. Today, my mission is focused: helping first-time founders scale themselves as fast as they scale their companies.
 
𝗠𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀
Your startup can only grow as fast as you do. As a first-time founder, you’re under pressure from investors, your team, and your family—all while learning on the fly skills that others spend decades mastering. Whether you’re raising capital, hiring your first team, or pushing toward product-market fit, I help you close the gap between where you are and where your company needs you to be.
 
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗠𝘆 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
I bring 20+ years of coaching 10,000+ leaders, founder experience, and cutting-edge insights from neuroscience and behavioral psychology. The result: a proven path to accelerate both personal and company growth. My frameworks help you:
• Transform self-doubt into clarity and influence
• Build and inspire high-performing, durable teams
• Raise capital while staying true to your vision
• Create sustainable success without burnout
• Leverage your existing strengths while closing critical skill gaps
• Grow yourself as fast as your company 
 
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗜 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲
My one-on-one clients are founders who:
• Want tailored, responsive coaching that meets them where they are
• Care deeply about building strong teams and cultures
• Aim to create both impact and enterprise value
• Refuse to accept that success means sacrificing their families, health, or lives outside the company
• Are willing to grow personally and professionally to become the leader their company needs 
 
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁
From doubling revenue to unlocking fundraising rounds to transforming team dynamics, my clients consistently achieve breakthrough results—while building lives they actually want to live.
 
𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁?
Visit www.andrewpoles.com/contact or DM me here.

Andrew Poles

We use the word “complete” all the time.
But most people confuse it with “finished.”

They’re not the same.

You can end a relationship and still be carrying it.
You can be in an ongoing partnership and feel fully clear.

Completion is a function of how you relate to reality - not a status update.
In this clip (from my conversation on the Sleep Is A Skill podcast with Mollie), I break down what I mean by being complete - and why it has real implications for how you live, lead, and even sleep.

Coaching first-time founders to grow themselves and their companies | 3x Founder | 22+ years coaching partners like NASA, Dell, Schwab + 10,000 people worldwide

What does insomnia have to do with integrity?
More than most leaders realize.

I once worked with a man who had slept 1–2 hours a night for years. His health was at risk. After doing deep completion work in his relationships and life, he slept 8–10 hours for the first time in decades.

There’s a connection between how complete you are and how well you sleep.
And more than that - your sleep may be a lagging indicator of how powerfully you’re living and leading.

If this resonates, I unpack it further on the Sleep Is A Skill podcast with the amazing Mollie Eastman, episode linked below.  

Sometimes it’s not a sleep issue.
It’s a leadership issue.

#Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #SleepIsASkill #FounderHealth #Integrity

This is the part of leadership most spreadsheets can’t capture. When behavior stops making sense, there’s almost always unseen pressure in the room.
What stands out here is the refusal to confuse kindness with lowering standards. Real leadership is keeping the bar high AND removing shame from the climb.
Culture isn’t what you say you value - it’s how safe it feels for people to be human while doing hard work.

3 Exits | Founder @ Humble | Strategic Partner @ Loud | Follow for Self Improvement, Growth Strategy & Being A Better Human | Entrepreneurship Coach & Mentor

You have no idea what people are dealing with.
Not even close.
And that’s ok.

Because you just have to be kind.

The person who snapped in your meeting might have a kid who’s struggling.

The one who “doesn’t care anymore” might be keeping a marriage together with duct tape.

The quiet one who missed a deadline might be dealing with a parent who’s fading, fast.

Work makes it easy to pretend everyone is a machine.

Metrics. Output. Deadlines. Slack green dots.

👉 But leadership is what you do when the spreadsheet stops explaining the behaviour.

Bad leaders get this part wrong: 

They think kindness is a personality trait.

It isn’t.
It’s a professional skill. 
And it’s different to being NICE.

Kind isn’t soft.
Kind is controlled.

Nice avoids the hard chat.
Kind has it, without making the person feel small.

Nice lowers standards so nobody feels uncomfortable.
Kind keeps standards high and removes the shame from getting there.

I learned this the hard way building companies from nothing.

⚠️ When you’re under pressure yourself, your instincts get ugly, and you start to:
Push harder. Watch closer. Assume the worst.

It feels “productive”.

It’s usually expensive.

Because people don’t leave jobs first.
They leave the feeling of being misunderstood.

So if you want a practical way to lead like a grown up, try this:

Before you judge the performance, check the pressure they are under.

BUT, a simple “You alright?” is not leadership.
Anyone can say that.

📌This is leadership:

1.	Ask a better question
“What’s taking up headspace right now?”
It gives them a door that isn’t dramatic.

2.	Offer a real option
“Do you want time, help, or privacy?”
Most people just need one of the three.

3.	Separate the person from the work
“You’re not your output. Let’s fix the work.”
That one sentence changes everything.

4.	Adjust the load, not the standards
“What do we de-scope for 7 days?”
Pressure without control creates mistakes.

5.	Protect them in public, coach them in private.
If you correct someone publicly, you teach the whole team to hide.

None of this is “being nice”.

It’s how you keep good people good.

Your culture isn’t your values on a Notion page.
It’s how safe it feels to have a bad week around you.

So yes, you seriously have NO idea what people are dealing with.

Lead like you know that.

-
♻️: Repost to inspire.
➕: Follow Charlie Lass.

Most founders don’t get stuck because things are hard.
They get stuck because of the story they tell themselves about why things shouldn’t be this way.

Loss. Missed signals. Bad hires. Broken trust.
The pain is real — but the suffering is optional.

This week I'm sharing about how leaders unknowingly trap themselves after setbacks, and how dropping one word can unlock clarity, resilience, and forward momentum.

If you’ve been carrying something heavy lately, I hope this offers you some needed clarity.

Sadness: Yes. Suffering: No. Over the last few weeks, several founders I coach have been moving through loss. Not just personal loss — though that’s b

Open article: The “Should” Trap in Leadership by Andrew Poles • 4 min read

When Ken Cox and I were talking recently on the Clicks and Bricks podcast, we kept circling back to something that doesn’t get talked about enough in business:

Your company grows at the speed of your own growth.

Not just revenue.

You can still be making money and feel something in the business has stalled.

Energy drops. Culture gets stale. Decisions feel heavier.

I’ve lived that.

In my first business, I thought learning business meant learning tactics. Strategy. Sales. Operations.

And yes — you do have to learn the “game.”

But what I didn’t understand then was that every ceiling I hit in the business was connected to a ceiling in me.

Fear I hadn’t dealt with.
Conversations I didn’t want to have.
Identity I hadn’t owned yet, or hadn't generated the courage to let go. 

Ken asked me about authenticity and about “next right actions.”

For me, performance really comes down to that:

What is the next right action of integrity here?
Not the most comfortable action.
Not the one that protects your ego.
The one that’s actually right.

That’s where growth happens.
And when that shifts, the business shifts.

If you’re a founder, especially early-stage, I think you’ll appreciate how deep this conversation goes. 

I'll put the link to the full episode in the comments.

Most founder tension isn’t about strategy.

It’s about what no one is saying.

When something is clearly impacting performance–but everyone is pretending it’s not–trust erodes, capacity drops, and the team feels it.

This is about how to name the “boulder in the room” without creating drama, shame, or overcorrection.

If you’ve ever:
-Avoided a hard conversation at the top
-Worried about overstepping vs. under-supporting
-Felt silent tension on your leadership team
-Tried to protect the business without adding pressure

This is for you.

A founder asked me this week how to support a co-founder going through a deeply disruptive personal situation. You know the kind. Sleep off. Nervous s

Open article: The Boulder in the Middle of the Room by Andrew Poles • 5 min read

Your calendar is lying to you.
Not because you’re incapable - but because it’s built on optimism, not reality.
If your day assumes you’ll get everything done, with no interruptions, no fatigue, no tradeoffs… that’s a fantasy, not a system.
You don’t need better memory.
You need a structure that maps real work to real time - and forces honest choices.
High performance starts with a calendar that tells the truth.
Where is yours overpromising right now?

Janaya Patton Performance Coaching & Consulting

***Janaya Patton Performance Coaching & Consulting, a subsidiary of Janaya Patton, Global.***

●	DROVE STRATEGIC GROWTH AND ORGANIZATIONAL EVOLUTION as Global Founder & CEO, overseeing core areas including corporate strategy, executive leadership, brand innovation, and market expansion.
●	MAXIMIZED PRODUCTIVITY, SCALABILITY, AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT by delivering visionary leadership and high-level operational oversight across multi-industry ventures.
●	TRANSFORMED CHALLENGES INTO SUSTAINABLE, PROFITABLE OPPORTUNITIES BY applying creative problem-solving and strategic advising across client engagements and internal initiatives.  
●	INCREASED BRAND VISIBILITY AND INDUSTRY INFLUENCE through targeted relationship building, thought leadership, and strategic communications.
●	ADVISED EXECUTIVES, LEADERS, AND ORGANIZATIONS on performance, transformation, and scalable business practices—supporting long-term innovation, equity-driven outcomes, and mission alignment.
●	POSITIONED THE ENTERPRISE FOR LONG-TERM IMPACT AND EXPANSION by aligning infrastructure, programs, and services with emerging market needs and global leadership trends.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Strategic Advising, Board Governance, Corporate Strategy, Organizational Transformation, Leadership Development.

Global Founder & CEO, Speaker

Landmark

***Landmark Worldwide (Global Personal & Professional Development Organization)***

Oversaw day-to-day operations, sales performance, and strategic growth of a high-volume international training center—supporting organizational excellence, program enrollment, and stakeholder engagement. Activities included but were not limited to the following:

●	Partnered with regional leadership to create and implement integrated marketing campaigns, brand assets, and community partnerships—consistently exceeding sales, participation, and revenue targets.
●	Led business development, quality assurance, and participant experience efforts—ensuring alignment with brand values and long-term organizational goals.
●	Recruited, trained, and coached high-performing teams to sustain participant engagement and deliver large-scale transformational leadership programs ranging from immersive weekend trainings to 6-month intensive curriculums.
●	Delivered strategic presentations and trainings to diverse audiences, while managing cross-functional communications, data reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
●	Acted as primary facilitator and instructor for the Introduction Leaders Program—Landmark’s flagship leadership pipeline—designing curriculum, guiding strategy, and directly coaching and developing more than 200 program participants and coaches.

SELECT ACHIEVEMENTS:
●	Directed business operations, sales strategy, and overall participation for a multi-million dollar training center, sustaining peak performance for over a year.
●	Cultivated demand and program momentum, resulting in 13+ consecutive months of exceeded sales and registration targets.
●	Personally influenced more than 5,000 clients and curriculum graduates to enroll or continue participation—anchored in transformational dialogue, trust-building, and brand loyalty.

SPECIALIZED IN: Organizational Leadership, Program Strategy, Stakeholder Engagement, Executive Coaching, Training & Development.

Center Manager, Program Strategy & Operations

Robert Half International

***Finance & Accounting Permanent Placement Division***

Oversaw day-to-day financial operations and administrative functions for the Finance & Accounting Permanent Placement division, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency across high-volume processes.

●	Reviewed and processed fee-related financial transactions—including bonuses, refunds, and payroll adjustments—ensuring alignment with internal controls and regulatory standards.
●	Monitored account activity for compliance, accuracy, and timely resolution, while coordinating across teams to ensure data integrity for candidate and job order records.
●	Prepared documentation for payment issuance and supported internal audit functions by managing transaction backlogs and reconciling account discrepancies.
●	Compiled and delivered daily and weekly reporting to management, tracking workflow efficiency, common errors, and process trends to inform strategic decision-making.
●	Supported continuous improvement by contributing to the refinement of transaction protocols, data verification systems, and reporting workflows.
●	Served as a liaison between executive leadership and operations teams—clearly communicating key financial processes, risks, and compliance protocols.

SELECT ACHIEVEMENTS:
Salaried Professional Services (SPS) Division – Business Operations Lead
Managed internal business operations for the SPS division, including:
●	Full-cycle onboarding and offboarding support, new hire orientations, and weekly payroll and expense processing for 30+ employees.
●	Served as primary point of contact for SPS executives and staff—resolving inquiries, troubleshooting requests, and ensuring timely service delivery.

SPECIALIZED IN: Financial Administration, Compliance & Internal Controls, Reporting & Analysis, Process Optimization, Cross-Functional Coordination

Accounting & Finance Administrator

Apartment Life

Contracted to lead community development and retention initiatives at a high-profile residential property—strategically partnering with on-site leasing staff to enhance resident satisfaction, increase renewal rates, and create long-term value for the property.

●	Cultivated strong resident relationships and community culture by designing and executing engagement initiatives, service projects, and lifestyle programming.
●	Connected residents to on-site amenities and local business resources—boosting satisfaction, service accessibility, and brand loyalty.

SELECT ACHIEVEMENTS:
●	Led strategic planning and execution of 50+ events in collaboration with area businesses—supporting networking, community building, and resident retention.
●	Program contributions generated an estimated $100,000 in added value to the property through increased retention and resident engagement.

Community Development & Resident Retention Specialist

City of Charlotte

***Community & Commerce Division***

Held dual roles supporting small business development, cross-sector collaboration, and citywide program performance. As Small Business Liaison, served as a strategic connector between the City of Charlotte and its local business community—promoting economic empowerment through resource education, program awareness, and grant facilitation. As Principal Assistant, managed daily operations, policy execution, and performance reporting for the Community & Commerce Division.

●	Built partnerships between small businesses and municipal departments, ensuring access to financial tools, grants, and growth programs.
●	Directed awareness campaigns to revitalize underutilized City initiatives and expand community impact.
●	Provided senior-level operational, programmatic, and communication support to the Assistant City Manager’s office—managing cabinet coordination, reporting, and performance tracking.
●	Oversaw development of high-level communications, including City Council briefings and internal messaging strategies.

SELECT ACHIEVEMENTS:
●	Revitalized community awareness and participation in underused City grant and development programs.
●	Provided operational leadership for the $650,000 Neighborhood Energy Challenge (federally funded) and the $400,000+ Brownfield Grant (EPA & City partnership).
●	Facilitated city-sponsored trainings for small business owners and residents, including “Building Strong Communication Skills and Strategies” through the Community University program.
●	Coordinated Assistant City Manager Community Cabinet.

Small Business Liaison & Principal Assistant

City of Norfolk

***Department of Neighborhood Preservation***

Led strategic outreach initiatives and special projects to advance community engagement, interdepartmental collaboration, and neighborhood revitalization. Served as a key liaison between residents, civic leaders, elected officials, and the City—aligning public programs with community needs while elevating the city’s regional profile in neighborhood development and citizen leadership.

●	Advised on citywide community development strategy, supporting neighborhood associations in designing improvement plans and engagement efforts.
●	Directed marketing and media relations for community initiatives, including radio/TV interviews, press releases, and public-facing campaigns.
●	Provided cross-departmental leadership on resident relations and community impact issues, shaping policy through data analysis and collaborative planning.
●     Conducted market research and program evaluation, including data analysis, outcome tracking, and constituent feedback loops.
●	Facilitated public forums, leadership trainings, and stakeholder meetings—ensuring transparency, access, and inclusive civic dialogue.
●	Managed division-wide digital content and community education materials.

SELECT ACHIEVEMENTS:
●	Oversaw Norfolk Neighborhood University, an award-winning, nationally recognized civic leadership development program.
●	Chaired the Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference, representing the City of Norfolk on the state’s steering committee and elevating Norfolk’s reputation for civic innovation.
●	Spearheaded city-wide National Night Out event with 1-mile unity walk, featuring participation from the Mayor, Chief of Police, and Sheriff.
●	Conducted professional development trainings for internal city departments on group facilitation, team building, and conflict resolution.
●	Developed and delivered presentations and workshops across local and statewide conferences, strengthening Norfolk’s visibility and community impact.

Neighborhood Development & Outreach Specialist

EXECUTIVE STRATEGIST | CEO | CONSULTANT | BOARD ADVISOR | LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION EXPERT | FOUNDER 

Dynamic and results-oriented Founder & CEO with a wealth of experience in leadership, business strategy, and team building. Proven track record of empowering leaders and brands to achieve exceptional growth and performance. Committed to driving innovation and fostering a culture of excellence and workplace emotional intelligence to achieve sustainable success. 

I lead with strategic clarity and a transformative mindset — partnering with organizations, executives, and teams to unlock untapped potential, elevate performance, and drive bold results. My approach blends executive leadership, transformational coaching, and brand strategy to build infrastructures that scale and legacies that last.

🔷 Board & Advisory Service
I currently serve as the principal of a leadership and transformation consultancy, with a focus on advising high-performing brands and equity-driven organizations. I am currently prioritizing select board and advisory opportunities (governing or strategic) with organizations aligned in mission, innovation, or leadership excellence.

Core Expertise Includes:
• Strategic Leadership & Organizational Design
• Culture Transformation & Executive Development
• Multi-Industry Innovation & Complex Problem-Solving
• Brand Elevation & Scalable Business Growth

I specialize in building what's required to take bold visions from concept to execution—whether developing transformational programs, scaling ventures, or creating the systems and strategies that power sustainable growth.

Consideration is being given to board placements across private, public, or nonprofit sectors. Let’s connect if you’re seeking a visionary, cross-disciplinary advisor who brings bold visions to life and transforms intention into impact, growth into legacy.

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Janaya Patton, Global🌐

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