You’re successful.
Now it’s time to be happy.
You’ve achieved success in business. You’re proud of your accomplishments. But you find yourself looking for something more: Alignment between career ambition and personal aspirations. Work that energizes rather than drains. A job that advances your goals instead of overwhelming your life.
I provide experienced partnership to entrepreneurs and executives who recognize it’s time for meaningful change. Together, we clarify what you truly want in work and life, and then navigate the path to achieving it.
About me
I understand the drive to build—and the cost it can carry. I’ve lived it.
I graduated from Harvard Business School and then spent 15 years in venture capital. I founded and led NextGen Venture Partners, which raised hundreds of millions of dollars, helped early-stage tech companies reach billion-dollar valuations, and created a model for mutual support within a community of entrepreneurs.
Even after selling NextGen, I had a compulsion to work that rarely turned off. I saw the same dynamic in the entrepreneurs I supported and believed that’s just how life was if you wanted to be successful. As COVID dragged on, I began to sense that my tunnel-vision focus on professional achievement wasn’t leading to the complete life experience I wanted.
I began asking different questions — about joy and meaning — both for myself and the founders I worked with. Coaching emerged naturally out of those questions. Today, my partnership with business leaders sits at the intersection of career aspirations and personal fulfillment, integrating ambition with a life that actually feels good to live.
Testimonials
“As an entrepreneur and then as a VC, I’ve loved working with and learning from Dan. He’s incredibly thoughtful, curious, intelligent, and kind. He’s a great listener, who tracks salient moments, reflects on them, and integrates them back into his work. Dan can show up as a coach, therapist, strategy advisor, and friend. I’d wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone lucky enough to have the chance to work with him.” —Nick F.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic about the recent transformation in my life, which wouldn’t have been possible without Dan’s coaching. As a senior executive at SAP, I had plenty of professional and financial success. Dan helped me broaden my perspective on what it really means to prosper. With Dan’s guidance, I left my job, reprioritized health and relationships, and decided to pursue a Ph.D in an emerging field that has captivated my imagination. Dan is one part coach, one part advisor, one part cheerleader, and one part friend. He helped me tap into a deeper understanding of who I really am. Dan has been an instrumental partner throughout this pivotal transition in my life.” —Kyle G.
“When my role as CFO of a PE-backed company came to a conclusion, I was getting plenty of calls from headhunters. But nothing felt right. Working with Dan gave me the confidence to follow a path that had long appealed to me—entrepreneurship by acquisition. He helped me manage the challenges that had held me back from pursuing that course—everything from personal finance decisions to family considerations to negotiating term sheets. Dan always brought a unique perspective and challenged me with questions that I often hadn’t taken into consideration. I left each conversation feeling energized and inspired. Through my work with Dan, I have a stronger understanding of myself, more excitement and satisfaction in my work, and a happier life in general. If you have a sweet tooth, check out Crumbl Cookies. You may find yourself in one of the stores I now own.” —Michael D.
Next steps
If you’ve succeeded in business and are ready for a broader kind of success, we should talk. Contact me here. I respond to serious inquiries within 24 hours.