Danielle Francis

Background

About Danielle Francis

I help CTO founders who “know their stuff” with technology but struggle with the pressures of leading a business. I help them reduce the team friction that blocks delivery and create practical ways to make leadership less lonely and more effective. I coach CTO founders and senior engineering leaders across Europe who are brilliant at building technology, but who sometimes feel alone in the big decisions, strained by pressure, and unsure how to translate technical choices into business outcomes. You might be hiring fast, pivoting, or preparing to raise - all classic inflection points where friction quietly eats time, morale, and sleep. I’m originally from the U.S, and my background as an engineer and operations practitioner means I speak your language and can play devil’s advocate with rigorous, no-nonsense curiosity. I’ve worked with people from diverse backgrounds across companies of different sizes and industries including LinkedIn, Goldman Sachs, Pinterest, Unity, Airbnb, Binance, and more. During coaching engagements (two to three 60-minute sessions per month over four to six months), I focus on practical outcomes: clearer decision-making, improved stakeholder communication, reduced isolation, and the resilience to lead without burning out. If you’re a CTO founder or startup operator who wants to sleep better at night, reduce the team friction that slows delivery, and have a pragmatic partner to think through high-consequence decisions, let’s talk. DM me to schedule a 30-minute call to explore fit: • Individual coaching (ICF-certified) • Team coaching and alignment sessions • Half- and full-day workshops • Organizational and team training programs • ICF Mentor Coaching