Scaling a startup is both exhilarating and daunting. And at some point, most CEOs realize that their biggest growth bottleneck isn’t their business model, their product, or even their market. It’s themselves.
If you want to take your business to the next level, you need to be operating at your absolute peak, both personally and professionally. That’s where a CEO coach comes in.
A great CEO coach will help you:
- Sharpen your leadership skills
- Navigate high-stakes decisions
- Keep your company, and yourself, from burning out
So who are the top CEO coaches in the business?
We’ve rounded up nine of the best CEO coaches for startups and scale-ups, each with a distinct coaching style and specialty so you can find the right fit for your journey.
Let’s jump in.
1. Eric Partaker
If you’re looking for a CEO coach who will help you scale your company, lead at world-class level, and unlock your full potential, Eric Partaker is the one.
An award-winning CEO coach, entrepreneur, and author, Eric blends world-class business experience with behavioral science and high-performance practices rooted in elite sports and the military.
He’s helped scale over 100 companies to date, drawing on his experience as a former McKinsey consultant and helping scale Skype to a multi-billion-dollar exit.
With Eric’s support, you’ll scale your business and unlock your full potential as a leader, without the burnout or chaos. You can see him in action in a live coaching session with Ali Abdaal in the video below.
- Best for: CEOs and founders who want a proven, results-driven approach from someone who’s done it themselves.
- What to expect: A structured approach that combines company-building, leadership development, and peak performance, together with real-world tools and frameworks that you can apply first-hand.
- How Eric works:
- 1:1 coaching inspired by Eric’s time at McKinsey, Skype, and over 100 companies scaled to date.
- Cohort-based coaching through The CEO Accelerator community and program.
- Credentials: Author of The 3 Alarms; named “CEO of the Year” at the 2019 Business Excellence Forum; featured in The Economist and Wall Street Journal.
- Learn more: ericpartaker.com
2. Amy Buechler
Amy Buechler’s psychotherapy-informed coaching is all about scaling your psychology, relationships, and influence so you can grow alongside your company.
Amy is a qualified psychotherapist turned CEO coach who specializes in the inner work of leadership. She believes that your most scalable asset isn’t your product; it’s you.
She’s built her CEO coaching around that philosophy, helping startup founders develop the emotional resilience and self-awareness needed to scale both personally and professionally.
Amy draws on a decade of experience coaching thousands of Y Combinator founders, combining her clinical background with practical leadership tools.
- Best for: Founders at or around Series A who want to develop the emotional and leadership skills required to scale effectively.
- What to expect: A psychotherapy-informed coaching style centered on self-awareness, authentic leadership, and navigating the emotional demands of scaling.
- How Amy works: 1:1 coaching sessions tailored to founder challenges, focusing on three core pillars: psychology, relationships, and process/culture.
- Credentials: Licensed psychotherapist; former in-house coach at Y Combinator; creator of The Founder Coach framework.
- Learn more: scaleyourself.com
3. Yuri Narciss
If you want a CEO coach who’s walked the walk at the highest levels of global business, Yuri Narciss brings that rare mix of operational know-how and executive coaching expertise.
With extensive leadership experience, including serving as COO for Google Greater China, Managing Director at Moonfare, and advising at McKinsey, Yuri will help you grow into the future-ready CEO your startup needs.
Yuri’s global experience enables him to support fast-growing, VC-backed leaders in showing up powerfully and scaling fast. He was recognized as one of Berlin’s top executive coaches in 2021.
- Best for: Founders and C-level executives at VC-backed startups who are scaling rapidly and need operationally savvy coaching to match.
- What to expect: A high-impact, accountability-focused coaching approach that blends elite global business experience with structured, co-creative leadership development.
- How Yuri works: 1:1 executive coaching grounded in powerful frameworks for leadership growth, focusing on decision-making, emotional regulation, delegation, team performance, and self-awareness.
- Credentials: MBA in Finance; accredited coach via ICF and WABC; licensed in Stakeholder Centred Coaching (Marshall Goldsmith’s method); former leader at Google, Moonfare, ResearchGate; named “Top coach in Berlin” in 2021.
- Learn more: narciss.coach
4. Cherry Rose Tan
Cherry Rose Tan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and executive coach. If you’re a bold leader who wants to scale without sacrificing your mental health, she’s the coach to turn to.
With over 18 years of leadership across crypto, edtech, and mental health, Cherry Rose empowers leaders to build and scale their ventures with resilience and authenticity.
Her coaching blends psychological insight, tactical frameworks, and deep startup know-how to support founders and executives in high-pressure environments.
As Entrepreneur in Residence at the Schulich School of Business, she advises hundreds of startups each year. She also founded #REALTALK, North America’s largest platform for entrepreneurial mental health, served as a VC co-founder, and wrote Still Standing: What It Takes to Thrive and Innovate in a Messy World.
- Best for: Visionary founders and C-suite leaders who want to scale with clarity, emotional strength, and sustainable momentum.
- What to expect: A coaching experience that blends psychological safety, tactical execution, and operational insight so you can lead innovation without sacrificing well-being.
- How Cherry Rose works: 1:1 executive coaching in 12-month containers; optional half-day in-person retreat to launch your coaching journey.
- Credentials: Founder of #REALTALK (largest entrepreneurial mental health movement in North America); entrepreneur in Residence at Schulich School of Business; author of Still Standing: What It Takes to Thrive and Innovate in a Messy World.
- Learn more: cherryrosetan.com
6. Adam Dexter
If you want a coach who’s been in the trenches of startup life, Adam Dexter brings founder-to-founder wisdom. He pairs mentorship with coaching to help early-stage CEOs strengthen their leadership and scale with confidence.
From product-market fit and fundraising to cofounder relationships and team culture, he combines tactical guidance with coaching to support leaders in building businesses that are sustainable on every level.
In addition to 1:1 coaching, Adam also facilitates executive team coaching and workshops, peer coaching, community development, collaboration within VC portfolios, and mastermind workshops for corporate clients.
- Best for: Founders and CEOs of early-stage startups (pre-seed to Series B) seeking to enhance self-awareness, leadership skills, and team dynamics.
- What to expect: A dynamic coaching partnership that combines structured sessions with flexible, real-time support, focusing on both personal development and business strategy.
- How Adam works: Hybrid coaching model that includes psychometric assessments, structured frameworks, and personalized mentorship, adapting to each client’s unique needs and goals.
- Credentials: Co-founder of Omni, a tech-enabled logistics startup that raised over $35M and was acquired by Coinbase in 2019; former Head of Product at a fast-growing Series A tech company; Techstars mentor since 2023.
- Learn more: thestartupfoundercoach.com
7. Eleanor Beaton
If you’re a woman entrepreneur ready to claim your seat as CEO, Eleanor Beaton is the guide to have in your corner. She focuses on helping women scale their businesses while building influence, authority, and presence.
Eleanor Beaton is the founder and CEO of Safi Media and a CEO coach dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs and leaders scale their businesses and step confidently into CEO roles.
With years of experience guiding founders through the challenges of leadership, Eleanor combines strategic business insight with personal development to help clients grow revenue, influence, and impact.
As the host of the Power + Presence + Position podcast, she has reached millions of women worldwide, providing actionable strategies for leadership and entrepreneurial success.
- Best for: Women entrepreneurs and leaders seeking to scale their businesses and influence while maintaining authenticity and impact.
- What to expect: A transformative coaching experience that blends strategic business growth with personal empowerment and leadership development.
- How Eleanor works: 1:1 coaching and group programs focused on scaling businesses, enhancing leadership presence, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship as a woman.
- Credentials: Served as Chair of the Visiting Women’s Executive Exchange Program at the Yale School of Management; featured in The Globe & Mail, The Atlantic, CBC, and Chatelaine; host of Power + Presence + Position podcast.
- Learn more: eleanorbeaton.com
8. Jerry Colonna
If you’re ready to do the inner work of leadership, Jerry Colonna’s radical self-inquiry approach will transform how you lead. He helps CEOs grow into more authentic, compassionate, and resilient versions of themselves.
Jerry Colonna is the CEO and co-founder of Reboot.io, an executive coaching firm dedicated to the idea that better humans make better leaders.
With a background in venture capital, including co-founding Flatiron Partners and serving as a partner at J.P. Morgan Partners, Jerry brings a wealth of experience to his coaching practice.
He is renowned for his approach to leadership through radical self-inquiry, helping leaders confront their deepest fears and motivations to lead with authenticity, compassion, and clarity.
- Best for: CEOs and founders in high-growth environments seeking to lead with humanity and resilience.
- What to expect: Deep, introspective coaching that challenges you to examine your unconscious patterns and align your personal values with your professional actions.
- How Jerry works: One-on-one coaching sessions, group workshops, and immersive retreats that integrate principles from Buddhism, Jungian psychology, and entrepreneurial experience.
- Credentials: Co-founder and CEO of Reboot.io; former partner at J.P. Morgan Partners and co-founder of Flatiron Partners; author of Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up; recognized as a leading executive coach in the startup community.
- Learn more: reboot.io
9. Alisa Cohn
If you’re a startup founder looking to transition into an effective CEO, Alisa Cohn’s coaching will guide you through the process with clarity and confidence.
Alisa Cohn is a globally recognized executive coach with over two decades of experience. She has worked with C-suite executives at prominent startups such as Venmo, Etsy, DraftKings, The Wirecutter, Mack Weldon, and Tory Burch, as well as Fortune 500 companies including Dell, IBM, Microsoft, Google, Pfizer, Calvin Klein, and The New York Times.
Her coaching style combines strategic insight, practical tools, and deep thought partnership, guiding leaders through the complex challenges of growing organizations.
Alisa emphasizes clarity, confidence, and actionable solutions, helping CEOs navigate high-pressure decisions while developing as resilient, adaptive leaders.
- Best for: Startup founders and CEOs seeking to scale their leadership and navigate the complexities of growing organizations.
- What to expect: A coaching approach that combines strategic business insights with personal development to help leaders grow into their roles.
- How Alisa works: 1:1 coaching sessions, group workshops, and executive development programs tailored to the unique challenges of startup leadership.
- Credentials: Author of From Start-up to Grown-up; named Top Startup Coach in the World at the Thinkers50/Marshall Goldsmith Global Coaches Awards; executive coach for Cornell’s NYC tech incubator.
- Learn more: alisacohn.com
What Next? Choosing the Best CEO Coach for You
We’ve highlighted nine of the best CEO coaches to help you scale sustainably and reach your full potential as a leader. Now, before you make your choice, take some time to reflect on a few key factors:
- Your current situation versus your future goals. Where do you want to go as a leader, and which coach is best positioned to guide you there? Some coaches excel in helping CEOs at early-stage startups, while others focus on scaleups or later-stage companies.
- The coaching style you’re looking for. Do you want highly personal, 1:1 guidance? A coach who also engages with your leadership team? Or a hybrid approach? Clarifying this will help you find someone whose methods align with your needs.
- Industry knowledge and relevant experience. While many coaching principles are universal, it can be helpful if your coach has worked with CEOs in your sector or understands the specific challenges of your business model.
- Chemistry and trust. Coaching is a deeply personal relationship. Make sure you feel comfortable, challenged, and supported when speaking with your coach. It should be a partnership built on mutual respect.
- Practicalities. Consider logistics like time zones, communication preferences, and budget. The best fit is someone you can consistently work with, without friction.
For more in-depth guidance, check out the following resources:
- How To Choose the Best CEO Coach for You (a 7-Step Process)
- What Does a CEO Coach Actually Do? (And What To Expect From the Experience)
- The Ultimate Guide to CEO Coaching: What Every Leader Needs to Know
You can also learn more about me, Eric Partaker, and explore my CEO coaching services here. I offer both one-on-one coaching and group training courses to help you operate at your full potential, scale your business, and find balance and fulfillment in all areas of life. Book a free consultation and we can talk through your goals, assess mutual fit, and discuss your next steps.
FAQs
Who is the best CEO coach?
The best CEO coach depends on your goals and what stage your company is at. If you’re looking to scale your business and reach peak performance as a leader, some of the best CEO coaches include Eric Partaker, Amy Buechler, Jerry Colonna, and Alisa Cohn.
How to choose the best CEO coach?
Start by clarifying your goals and what you want to achieve through coaching. Research potential coaches carefully, looking at their background, track record, and client results. It also helps to find someone with experience in your industry or with challenges similar to yours. Finally, make sure you feel a strong personal fit. Trust and chemistry are key to a successful coaching relationship.
Should I work with a startup founder coach?
Consider working with a startup founder coach if you want support from someone who understands the fast-paced, high-pressure world of building a business. A coach with founder experience can help you sharpen your leadership skills, navigate tough decisions, and stay focused on long-term growth while managing the day-to-day demands of running a startup.
