Hello! 👋🏻 I’m Ben. I help ambitious leaders navigate complex team dynamics through deep listening and empathetic communication.
Let’s Talk →
Ben’s coaching and 360º review were game-changers. Honestly, I got more out of it than my MBA. Communication used to be my weak spot, but I've come a long way. I started advising startups and joined boards. I also moved up to bigger leadership roles, even jumping from a startup to managing a large team at a mid-sized company.
Effective leadership isn’t about what you say. It’s about what other people hear.
Having gone from iOS engineer at The New York Times to Director of Mobile at Vice Media, and founded a workplace culture firm with clients like Peloton and Atlassian, I’ve seen that expertise alone doesn’t translate to influence. The leaders who thrive are the ones who can make others feel heard before presenting their ideas and solutions.
Whether you’re struggling with internal politics, cross-functional collaboration, or leading diverse teams, we’ll develop the skills and mindset you need to handle tough conversations with empathy and grace.
Who I Coach
I work with leaders who have mastered their domain, but find their expertise isn’t earning the impact or recognition they deserve.
Many are engineering managers, directors, and CTOs who need to translate their technical vision to the wider team. Others are design leaders who need to educate stakeholders and advocate for their craft. I’ve also coached chiefs of staff, program managers, people leaders, and others whose success hinges on soft power.
I love to work with immigrants, introverts, and other underrepresented groups who often feel intimidated by high-stakes discussions.
My latest direct report told me, ‘You’re 1,000x better than managers I’ve worked with before who supposedly have years of management experience.’ I feel like more and more ideas that have stemmed from our coaching calls are being taken onboard by leadership!
I was confident in my ability to facilitate conversations, but in retrospect, I could have done it more efficiently. It’s not just the language, but delivering the content so that it makes sense to the listener. I’m going into conversations better prepared, identifying the audience, and understanding what needs to be delivered.
Ben dug deep into the issues I was struggling with, and customized each session. Thanks to the books he recommended and through our talks, I felt a lot more equipped to handle my position. I highly recommend anyone who needs guidance to reach out to Ben.
Ben’s guidance helped me identify the types of roles that aligned with my skills and increased my chances of success. He pointed me toward valuable resources that improved how I communicated with companies during a career transition. I’m very grateful for his insights and highly recommend him to anyone navigating a career shift.
My Background & Approach
I’m the founder of Hear Me Out, a culture strategy firm with clients like Peloton, Atlassian, and SuperHi.
Before this, I was the Director of Mobile at Vice Media, where I led the team that launched the VICELAND cable channel on iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV. Before that, I was the lead iOS engineer at The New York Times, where I helped launch the paywall that drives over 90% of subscriptions today.
After leaving the Times, I began writing about technology, design, and internet culture. Since then, I’ve written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Verge, BuzzFeed News, and many others.
My style is flexible and intuitive, blending thoughtful questions with deep insight into how people and organizations work.
Ready to take the first step?
Get in touch to set up a first call. It’s no fee, no strings, just a chance to discuss your challenges and see if coaching is a good fit.