Pilea - Integrative Coaching for Businesses and Leaders

Core provides personalized coaching support to every team member. This feels like an employee benefit, AND the organizational insights gained from coaching feed your monthly leadership pulse report, allowing you to make informed decisions about your team's development and alignment. But isn't coaching TOO EXPENSIVE?! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, startups typically spend around 30% of their total employee compensation on benefits, most of which are considered discretionary benefits. That breaks down to about $10-15/hour per employee on discretionary benefits. For a company of 30 people working full-time, that's 3,600 hours per month. On the low end, you're spending $36,000/month on discretionary benefits. Maybe you only spend half of that $18,000/mo. You can get a Core program for your entire company starting at $4,500/month. That's only $1.25 per person/hour for a team of 30 people. A powerful and attractive employee benefit with a tangible impact on the functioning and alignment of your team with your company goals at a price that doesn't skyrocket your burn rate. Reach out to learn more!

The holidays are here, and with them, so much complexity. For some, it’s joy and connection. For others, it’s grief, stress, or the quiet tug of exhaustion. And for many of us, it’s all that tangled up together. As a startup leader, you might feel its weight differently. The constant pull to deliver, support your team, and “be on” can make slowing down almost impossible. But winter calls us inward. It asks us to rest, store our energy, and prepare fertile ground for growth and creativity in the new year. At Pilea, we align our team schedule with the rhythm of the seasons. This winter, we take two weeks off—not just as a luxury but as a reflection of our values. Time off together, especially when so many others are offline, gives us space to fully disconnect, unwind, and return with renewed energy, fresh perspectives, and clarity on what truly matters. We acknowledge the privilege in this. Being part of the dominant culture means our time off aligns neatly with widely celebrated holidays, allowing us to step back without disrupting the broader flow. It’s a privilege not everyone has, and we don’t take that for granted. So here’s our invitation to you as a leader: Let this season be a time when rest feels communal, when slowing down isn’t an act of guilt or isolation but one of connection and intention. When we rest well together, we return better—more decisive, precise, and ready to lead meaningfully. And if you find yourself stepping away from work only to be swept into a different set of expectations or “should-dos,” this might be your moment to pause and assess: What do you truly need right now? What feels essential? What can you lay to rest to make space for a future season of action? If you’d like to dive deeper into what energizes and drains you, this is the perfect time to try an energy audit. How to Build Without Burnout -Working Sustainably https://zurl.co/rSDNl Whether this season feels light, heavy, or a mix of both, know this: your rest is valuable. Here’s to honoring the season in your way, on your terms. #Workell #RestWell #ValueInRest

Remote teams have to be more intentional about how they build relationships and trust. I've seen communication gaps tank teams and lead people to quit. My colleague wrote about how to support clear, open communication in our latest blog post. Pilea Blog: https://zurl.co/w5yH #workplaceculture #remotework #intentional #communication

Our 3rd Annual VC Retreat this year was amazing! Thank you to all who made the trek out to Ojai. The Topa Institute provided many incredible spaces for our day. This event invites GPs and platform champions to experience the type of transformation we walk our startup clients through. We built deeper connections, played with culture formation through group activities, and enjoyed some amazing local food at golden hour with a view of Ojai Valley. By far our favorite event of the year! Thanks again to our AMAZING sponsors who made it all possible. John Emery at Emery.com, Ben Kromnick at Mercury, Brandon Joldersma at Arlow, Anthony Azar at Inception Talent Consulting, Ronette (Villanueva) Kite, CPA at Countsy, Kiva Dickinson at Selva Ventures, Howie Diamond at Alpha Bridge Ventures And of course to our hosts Crosscut Ventures and Pure Ventures Hope to see you all again next year! #vcretreat #ojai #startupculture #startupleadership

At Pilea, we're working towards a startup world where human potential and company success go hand in hand. But let's be real—sometimes, being a leader sucks. You hire people with strengths different from your own, and then you're responsible for holding them to a higher standard than you might be able to meet. This is the necessity of hypocrisy in leadership. I put myself where I'm strongest and hire others to fill in where I'm not. When I expect them to perform in their zone of genius—where I can't—sometimes it feels unfair. But that's the point: outstanding leadership means knowing where you need support and empowering others to shine where you can't. It's uncomfortable, and it's the best way. #LeadershipTruths #StartupLife #HumanCenteredLeadership

Want your culture to thrive? Make feedback a part of your company DNA. Great companies are built on feedback loops—constantly listening, learning, and improving. In the same way, you develop your product, you must build your culture and team. But you must have a place for folks to share what they are experiencing in a safe environment, particularly if you already lack trust or safety in parts of your organization. #ThrivingCulture #ThrivingTeam

If you're building a startup, it's not just about strategy. It's about YOU. Your leadership style, habits, and mindset will all shape your company. Know yourself, and lead better. #knowyourself #leadbetter #buildingastartup #leadershipstyles

Managers often find themselves caught in a dilemma: translating the company vision from leadership while advocating for their teams. It's a balancing act that can feel like being pulled in two directions. On one hand, you're responsible for ensuring that the team executes the company's vision. On the other, you need to be your team's voice, bringing their needs, challenges, and insights back to leadership. So how do you solve this? 1️⃣ Empathy and Communication: A great manager builds trust by genuinely listening to both leadership and their team. Make sure both sides feel heard, understood, and valued. 2️⃣ Alignment on Priorities: Translate the big-picture vision into actionable goals for your team. Show them how their work connects to the company's success and advocate for realistic timelines and resources. 3️⃣ Advocate with Solutions: When raising team concerns to leadership, come up with solutions, not just problems. It demonstrates that you're representing your team and pushing toward shared success. The best middle managers are the ones who can bridge the gap, creating a culture where both leadership and their teams feel aligned and supported. #supportyourteam #communication #solutions #alignpriorities

In our fast-paced world, stress is a given—but it doesn’t have to be a foe. Think of stress like a workout: just as adding weight builds muscle, the right amount of stress boosts performance. When you’re engaged in meaningful work, an appropriate amount of stress can help you reach powerful flow states. The key is balance: too little stress, and you might feel disengaged; too much can become overwhelming. Discover your sweet spot and let stress be your ally in thriving. 💪✨ #StressManagement #WorkFlow #PerformanceBoost #Startups

Are new hires in your company feeling lost in the remote work shuffle? Remote environments need the natural osmosis of information that office settings provide, making it harder for new employees to get up to speed. At Pilea, our team coaches are more than just guides—they're the keepers of company culture. They help new hires understand how to live out company values and communicate effectively. If your company doesn't have an embedded coach, consider documenting your values and providing mentorship. It makes a world of difference! Reach out if you're interested in exploring company coaching for your team:https://zurl.co/hrQ5 #corecoaching #cultureeatsstrategy