Leading Without a Playbook: Why Executive Coaching Matters in Early-Stage Startups

Lupe Prado is an executive coach who works with leaders across startups, private equity, and corporate organizations. For over seven years, she has helped high-performing professionals navigate leadership growth, career transitions, and complex workplace dynamics. Lupe built her career in accounting, and financial reporting. After experiencing burnout early in her career, she sought out coaching herself. Ultimately led her to pursue a master’s degree in leadership, and organizational development with concentration in executive coaching and to launch her own coaching practice.

Lupe explores with Helen what executive coaching is behind the scenes, particularly for leaders operating in a fast paced startup environment. She shares the common themes in startup leaders seeking support, including self-doubt, and the loneliness that often accompanies senior roles. They cover the practical approaches leaders use to seek meaningful feedback, and build support systems as responsibility grows.

Lupe explains how leaders can sustain performance by strengthening foundational habits by developing tools to manage pressure and internal criticism.

For clinicians moving into startup leadership roles, these insights offer a clearer understanding of how coaching can provide perspective, strengthen decision-making, and support leadership development in environments where the structure is still evolving.

About Lupe

Lupe Prado is an executive coach who has worked with leaders across startups, private equity, consulting, and corporate for more than 7 years. Her work focuses on supporting high-performing professionals as they navigate leadership growth, career transitions, and complex environments.

Before becoming a coach, she began her career in accounting and financial reporting. After experiencing burnout early in her career, she sought out coaching herself. It was an experience that led her to pursue a master’s degree in leadership and organizational development with executive coaching.

Lupe now works with leaders across industries, helping build perspective, and navigate the pressures that often accompany senior leadership roles. Her coaching frequently supports startup leaders in a fast-paced environments, where expectations evolve quickly and structures are developing.

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