👋 You’re a brilliant engineer.
You’ve mastered the code, earned respect, and now you’ve been promoted.

Suddenly, the job isn’t about solving technical problems.
It’s about leading humans.

That’s where many engineers struggle.

Meetings go quiet.
Decisions bottleneck.
Delegation feels awkward.
Imposter syndrome creeps in.

What made you successful - technical mastery - suddenly isn’t enough.

If you’re a CEO or CTO, you’ve seen this story play out:
Your rockstar IC gets promoted... and flounders.
You risk losing both a great engineer and your leadership pipeline.

👉 That’s why I created coded2lead — coaching for engineers making the IC → leader leap.

With 20+ years scaling teams and shipping software, I’ve lived both sides.

Today I help engineers:

•  Build trust
•  Read the room
•  Run meetings people actually speak in
•  Stop accidentally becoming bottlenecks

In other words:
I help engineers become trusted leaders.

✨ My approach blends systems thinking with emotional intelligence.
Leadership isn’t just what you say — it’s what you train every day.

If you or your engineers are navigating this transition, let’s talk.

📅 Book a coaching intro call: coded2lead.com

Robert Harris

In Your 30s and 40s, the Stakes Get Real. Low-Maintenance Relationships Just Don’t Cut It.

If you're a late-identified autistic adult or someone who’s always felt out of sync in social spaces, you’re not alone.

You’ve probably said things like:
→ “I’m fine being on my own.”
→ “We can go months without talking and pick up where we left off.”

Those words feel safe until something changes. A health scare. A breakup. A big promotion. A loss. You look around and realize no one really knows what you’re going through. That’s when silence stops feeling peaceful and starts feeling scary.

👋 I’m Coach Lee Hopkins (He/Him)
Social Connections and Communication Coach for Autistic Adults | Speaker | Podcast Host
I help late-identified autistic adults create honest, reliable relationships without masking or burning out.

🔍 What I Help With
🔹Communicating clearly without overthinking every word
🔹Building supportive friendships that feel mutual, not one-sided
🔹Letting go of social guilt and finding your own rhythm in connection
🔹Creating boundaries that protect your energy and reflect your values
🔹Learning how to spot unhealthy dynamics before they take root

🛠 Services I Offer
🔹Social Connections Coaching
🔹Workshops on Communication, Boundaries, and Trust
🔹Speaking on Authenticity and Inclusive Relationship Skills
🔹Support for Life Transitions like divorce, diagnosis, or relocation

🎤 Featured In
🔹Social Connections Summit (2023 and 2024) – Host and Organizer
🔹Multicultural Women’s Conference – Coach (2023 and 2024)
🔹Patterns of Possibility Podcast
🔹Live sessions on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook

💡 Why I Do This Work
As an autistic, transgender man, I know what it’s like to build a life that looks fine on the outside but feels empty underneath. I spent years navigating social burnout, masking, and disappointment. Now, I help others find the tools and language to build the kind of relationships that offer real support.

You don’t need to be more social. You just need to find your tribe.

✅ Not sure where to begin?
Register for one of our low commitment and no-cost experiences that support learning, practicing, and connecting in ways that truly fit how we think:

→ Open Coaching – Every Saturday
→ CEOS Business Networking – 1st Thursdays
→ Structured Social Hour – Last Sundays
→ Community Connection – 2nd and 4th Thursdays
→ Lesson with Coach Lee – Every Tuesday

Coach Hopkins

Who am I when no one needs me?

It's a question I only started to ask myself in my late 30s.

Answering that question would threaten my identity.

I believed I was the helper friend.

I was useful.

Want to vent about your no good boyfriend/girlfriend? → Let's talk for hours.
Need a ride to the airport at 4am? → Sure!
You're moving all weekend? → I'll rent the truck.

Their problems gave me something that felt meaningful to focus on.

It gave me permission to ignore my own.

When those relationships disappeared, I scrambled to find more problems to solve.

I wanted to do anything but look into the mirror.

I was afraid that if I looked too closely, I’d have to confront that 30 something who had no idea of what he wants...

For himself.
From others.
In life.

→ Why don't I have stable, reliable and thoughtful connections? 
→ Why don't I have discipline to make goals and reach them? 
→ Why don't I know what really brings me joy?

The answer to all: I haven't prioritized it. I've distracted myself with helping everyone but myself.

I needed to make space for myself in my own life.

📌 Are you distracting yourself from getting to know you?

Notice the pattern, make a new possibility.

=======================
👋🏽 I'm Coach Lee Hopkins, and I help analytical minds to find fun in conversations and enjoy human interaction. 

Visit my PROFILE for a link to my podcast, newsletter and no-cost events.
→ Open Coaching - 2nd + 4th Saturdays
→ Structured Social Hour - Last Sundays
→ CEOS Business Networking - First Thursdays

Coach Lee Hopkins

I help analytical minds to find fun in conversations and enjoy human interaction without burning out. Late Identified Autistic + ADHD | Boundaries, Communication, Energy Mastery | Ex-Data Analyst | Currently Dope AF

No alternative text description for this image

Imagine having a giant piece of food stuck in your teeth.


Your friend notices.
Says nothing.
Smiles politely.

Is that a good friend?

The understanding side of you might say, "Maybe they didn't want me to be embarrassed." 

But later, you find out they told everyone else.

How about now? Is that a good friend?

Still unsure?

Let's recap.

1. They didn't share information that could help you avoid embarrassment.
2. They told everyone else an embarrassing experience about you.

If you're an understanding person, you might STILL look at it from their side.

→ "They don’t want to hurt my feelings."
→ "They were only looking for other's perspective."

Afterall, you've been told that being understanding is the key to healthy relationships.

That's only half true.

Understanding their motives is NOT important here.

Don't try to answer, "Why they didn’t tell you?"

Instead, question yourself. "Do their actions and behaviors align with what I want in a friend?"

If the answer is no, then the next step is talking to them about it.

Notice the pattern, make a new possibility.

=======================
👋🏽 I'm Coach Lee Hopkins, and I help analytical minds to find fun in conversations and enjoy human interaction. 

Visit my PROFILE for ongoing Patterns of Possibility community events:
→ Open Coaching - 2nd + 4th Saturdays
→ Structured Social Hour - Last Sundays
→ CEOS Business Networking - First Thursdays

Life gets easier when you accept that most of the people you meet won't understand you. 

They don't want to, or they just can't fathom.

Not your fault.

You think differently.
You act differently.
You're neurodivergent.

At first, it's hard to enjoy and appreciate when you feel like an outcast.

I get it.

It's especially challenging when you're a neurodivergent business owner.

Maybe you feel exhausted with what to say when networking.
Maybe you struggle with being consistent in taking action in your business.
Maybe you don't even know what the next step is.

The good news → there are others that are the same kind of "different" as you.

→ Imagine not having to endlessly explain who you are and what helps you.
→ Get new information that considers how your brain works.
→ Meet peers who get it and can meet you where you are.

Join us today 10am CST at the CEOS Networking group. [Link in profile]

Notice the pattern, make a new possibility.

=======================
👋🏽 I'm Coach Lee Hopkins, and I help analytical minds to find fun in conversations and enjoy human interaction. 

Visit my PROFILE for a link to my podcast, newsletter and no-cost events.
→ Open Coaching - 2nd + 4th Saturdays
→ Structured Social Hour - Last Sundays
→ CEOS Business Networking - First Thursdays

We're a mix of late-identified autistic and ADHD entrepreneurs and allies committed to personal and professional growth.

We met yesterday at the CEOS Networking business hour.

Did you miss it? 

The bad news is that you missed out on meeting your peers BUT you can still watch Vickie Griffith's presentation on YouTube. 

She shared how sensitive, introverted entrepreneurs can succeed without loud strategies or burnout. [Link in Comments]

📅 Our next meeting is February 5 at 10am CST. 

Don't miss Sharon Ringier speak about how to create consistency in your business. 

📣 Quick shout out to those who joined us.
Faith Maduka,
Justin🧙 Paladino NBC-HWC, 
Marc Mathys
Thomas Cain
Terri Donohue PCC 💎 ✨
Taryn E.
Alexis Camacho, NBC-HWC, FMCHC
Samantha Kelly
Lauri Smith
Jenne (Jen) Brdlik, MSW, LMT, BCTMB, AuDHDer
Danielle M
Sumur Williams
Kevin Bailey
Derrick Espadas, MBA, SSBBP espadas

You don't have to build your business alone.

Notice the pattern, make a new possibility.

=======================
👋🏽 I'm Coach Lee Hopkins, and I help analytical minds to find fun in conversations and enjoy human interaction. 

Visit my PROFILE for links to my podcast, newsletter and no-cost events.
→ Open Coaching - 2nd + 4th Saturdays
→ Structured Social Hour - Last Sundays
→ CEOS Business Networking - First Thursdays

If a friend is annoyed with you, what do you want them to do?

The author can see how you vote. Learn more

New year, new experiment!

Let's track our changes together.

Every week, I'll post a poll asking where you are on your resolutions.

I invite you to follow along and answer weekly to...
→ reflect on your efforts without pressure or shame
→ notice patterns over time instead of judging one bad week
→ have an accountability community

🥳 The 2026 Resolution Poll will be posted EVERY THURSDAY at 2pm CST.

-----
Notice the pattern, make a new possibility.

It's been ONE WEEK into the new year. How are we doing on our resolutions?

Are you a business owner who thinks differently?

Are you looking for your peers who both UNDERSTAND and APPRECIATE the way you process information and communicate?

At the CEOS Networking you'll meet a mix of late-identified autistic and ADHD entrepreneurs and allies who will do just that.

We're committed to personal and professional grow through collaboration, structure, and actionable insights. 

At each event we invite a speaker to share 10 minutes of insight that includes at least one practical step attendees can apply immediately.

We meet tomorrow January 8, 2026 at 10am CST.
Doors open at 9:50am CST.

Our speaker is Vickie Griffith.
Next month is Sharon Ringier.

Don't miss it! 
Register at the link in my FEATURE section of my profile.


PS: There’s been such a demand for speakers that it’s crime not to have them share! So…. starting in February 2026 the CEOS will be meeting twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays.

CEOS Networking for Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs

More than 90% of you want a friend to tell you directly if they're annoyed with you.

Love that for us!

Curious to know who's seeing my posts and when. Play along?

taplio

The Battle

Robert Harris

Coach Hopkins

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taplio

The Battle

Robert Harris

Coach Hopkins

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Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Coach Hopkins's LinkedIn Performance

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