NOAH SHANOK

STARTUP CEO COACH

Hi. I’m Noah. I’ve been in and around startups for a long time. I was the founder and CEO of Stitcher, the podcast platform (recently acquired by Sirius XM for $325M) and was on the founding executive team of StubHub, the ticketing company. I also ran the Early Stage Startup team at AWS, have been an EIR at a venture firm and am an investor in 20+ startups. I have experienced the ups and downs of being a startup founder and CEO so I know first hand how hard it is. My goal is to help you become a more fulfilled and effective leader.

© Noah Shanok. All rights reserved.

Why Me

Experience

- Founder and first CEO of Stitcher, the podcast platform (acquired by SiriusXM: $325M)- On founding exec team at StubHub, the ticketing company (acquired by eBay: $310M)- Worked with hundreds of startup CEOs as an investor, advisor, mentor and coach- Led the Early Stage Startup BD team at AWS (team of ~25 ex-founders)- Wharton MBA, consultant for BCG, fixed income trader for JPMorgan

Understanding

- Did the job (founder/CEO) for 8 years- High EQ and skilled listener- Formal coach training- Failed a lot - which has made me a wiser leader and coach- Everyone in my family was/is either a therapist or entrepreneur

WHO I SERVE

I partner with startup CEOs between Seed and Series C. You have a team of 5+, a product in market and revenue. You either have or are close to having product/market fit. The nature of your work is transitioning from IC to scaling as a leader.

my approach

I am pragmatic: we will set specific, tangible goals and I’ll help make sure we’re tracking towards them. I’m direct but also light-hearted and tend to use humor liberally. I don’t follow a prescribed format but rather pull from my own operating experience and several different coaching frameworks (including Mochary Method, CLG, Co-Active). Before we begin, I'll interview 6-8 people who know you best professionally (e.g. direct reports, board members, spouse) and observe 1-2 of your leadership meetings.Typically, we’ll meet twice a month for 80 minutes but can set a schedule that meets your needs. We will also spend more time together from time to time when you're working through something. I charge a $4k per month retainer. There is no minimum time commitment but I tend to work with clients for a long time (most for years).

RESULTS

The following are results most often achieved through working with me.Personal
- Increased clarity and confidence of direction and focus.
- Better awareness of (and breakthroughs with) hidden emotional blindspots.
- Improved energy and excitement.
- Better physical health.
Interpersonal
- Greater communication impact and influence on others.
- More time to focus on the organization instead of micro-managing subordinates or completing routine tasks.
Organizational
- Strengthened team alignment, communication and accountability.
- Improved culture, morale, motivation and trust.
- Increased employee retention.

TESTIMONIALS

"There is no better investment a startup founder can make. Noah has been transformational in helping me step back and see the bigger picture. As a founder, it’s easy to get lost in the daily grind, but Noah’s ability to ask the right questions has helped me uncover the underlying reasons behind my decisions. He’s pushed me to not just face hard calls, but to act on them decisively. His insight and guidance have profoundly impacted my confidence as a leader, my ability to prioritize effectively, and my approach to tough situations. Working with Noah isn’t just about solving immediate challenges; it’s about building the mindset and tools to lead with clarity and purpose. I can’t recommend him enough to any founder looking to level up their leadership."
- NICK ORNITZ, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO @ TOPLINE PRO

"It has been amazing working with Noah. He has a natural empathy combined with first-hand knowledge of how crazy startups can be, which has been really impactful. It’s helped me get more energy, focus on the right things, stop worrying about things that don’t matter, and he can push me in a way that doesn’t feel like pushing. Our business, my relationship with my co-founder and team, and my sanity are all much stronger because of him. For any founder of a startup, Noah can have a big impact on you and your company."
- MARK GILBERT, FOUNDER AND CEO @ ZOCKS

"Working with Noah has been a game-changer for me as a founder. He acts like a high-performance athletic coach, helping me organize my daily and weekly routines to stay at my peak. We focus on everything from tasks to habits like sleep, exercise, and meditation, with clear accountability systems to keep me on track. He’s also my go-to sounding board for tough decisions, cutting through the noise and asking the right questions. I’m more focused, energized, and effective thanks to his guidance."
- JEREMY HERMANN, CO-FOUNDER @ DELPHINA

"Noah has made me a better leader of my company while improving my quality of life. The role of solo Founder CEO can be punishing at times. As a previous Founder CEO, Noah has been in my seat. His advice comes with the seasoned perspective of what it looks and feels like to navigate the intensity. He solves not just for the company, but also for me -- for how I'm doing personally, how effectively I'm contributing to the company, and how I can improve in both. In navigating a role of unlimited demands, having Noah on my side has materially improved the effectiveness of my leadership, my relationships with my team, and my quality of life. I'm grateful to have him in my corner."
- RYAN HANLEY, FOUNDER AND CEO @ EQUILIBRIUM ENERGY

"Noah is the coach/mentor I never knew I needed. Out of the gates, he centered his coaching around balance and presence, not for some side quest, but to make sure I was in the optimal state of mind to lead my team. He immediately called out serious issues and challenged me with immediate accountability. With his help, I’ve been able to step out of the weeds, focus on what drives results, and make decisions with more clarity and confidence. Noah isn’t just a coach—he’s a partner who deeply understands the journey and knows how to navigate its highs and lows. My leadership has grown, my team is stronger, and our business is moving in the right direction thanks to his guidance. I cannot recommend Noah highly enough."
- VICTOR WANG, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO @ KAIBER.AI

"Noah has been instrumental in helping me grow as a founder and as a leader. His unique ability to combine deep empathy with practical, actionable advice has had a transformative impact on both me and my company. When faced with tough decisions, Noah provides clarity and a sense of calm, helping me see the bigger picture and focus on what truly matters. His guidance has improved my leadership, strengthened my team dynamics, and given me the confidence to tackle the challenges of scaling a business. I am deeply grateful for his support and recommend him without hesitation to any founder looking to level up."
- JOSEPH NDESANDJO, FOUNDER AND CEO @ SITEOWL

"In working for Noah for the last year, he's done an amazing job of helping me with the personal and professional struggles that come with navigating the madness of starting a company. Powered by his natural empathy and his personal experience as a founder, Noah uses gentle questioning and occasionally blunt truths to help me uncover solutions. Noah often tells me that his job is to just force me to look at the obvious. If that's all he's doing, he must be really damn good at that as my mental health, relationship with teammates, and fundamental motivation have all been impacted by our work together."
- MIKE KADIN, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO @ RedCircle

"When I first approached Noah, I had a singular goal: ensuring that I don’t burnout. Noah has been through many cycles of the founder journey, and it shows clearly through his temperament and timely guidance. Startups are incredibly hard, and I feel so much more confident in my ability to deliver a win with Noah in my corner. He’s had an impact on many different areas of the business already, and has shown a willingness to dig even deeper and get even more involved to help us win. I look forward to our sessions and always leave with actionable advice and a strong plan on how to solve the problems I’m facing. He’s not afraid to hold me accountable or say the hard (and sometimes obvious) things out loud. If you’re able to get time with Noah, I highly recommend you take advantage of every second you have with him."
- IBRAHIM AHMED, CO-FOUNDER AND CTO @ Kuzco

"Noah had an immediate impact on us and on our business. He helped us focus more on the right things and eliminate distractions and non-essentials. Further, he helped us improve some personal/health habits which led to more sustained energy and focus. Finally, he encouraged us to restructure the team and make some key hires which have had a significant impact on our business. We highly recommend Noah to any Founder CEO who is scaling their business."
- PHILIP FRANTA, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, & FABIEN RASTOUIL, CO-FOUNDER AND CPO, @ Reebelo

"Being a solo founder can be hard at times. Working with Noah has been the best way I've found to mitigate that. He knows when I'm focused on the wrong things and holds me accountable to follow-through on the plans I make. Easily my most valuable meetings are with Noah."
- AMIT TAYLOR, FOUNDER AND CEO @ TrueUp

“Noah made me a better leader. He’s my first call in good and hard times – he’s an exceptional listener, challenges my thinking, and helps me see different perspectives. His operator experience is invaluable, as he innately understands the inner-workings, challenges, and emotional complexity of the job. He’s wise, funny, patient, and deeply empathetic. I unequivocally recommend Noah to anyone in a leadership position.”
- MATT SANDLER, CO-FOUNDER @ AMP (an Amazon Company), FOUNDER @ Chromatik (acquired by TakeLessons)