Q: What is the difference between Advisory and Coaching for Founders?

- Mentors tell you what they did. - Advisors what you should do. - And Coaches help you figure out the answer for yourself. Choosing the right person for the right model is key for you to get the highest ROI of you investment. Please refer to this blog post to learn more. And if you would prefer Growth Advisory, you can learn more here.

Question 1

What services do you provide as a Founders Coach?

Accepted Answer

Some of my Founders Coaching services include:

Get feedback on business plan, marketing or media strategy
Tips on go-to-market, planning and operations
How to build the right internal and external resources and structure for exponential growth
How to get into tech or marketing and career strategy

I am able to support Founders due to my experience in the following areas:

I have redefined Marketing for: 
- World class brands such as Sony (50M PS5 units sold), Decathlon and RS Components. 
- Major UK retailers River Island, House of Fraser and Currys PC World.  
- High profile startup MasterClass ($2.75B) with increase in subscription revenue by 40% YoY. 
- Startup Onfido ($650M exit) with +110% EQL lift with an impact on 130% increase in revenue ahead of acquisition.

Consistently delivered 20-45% increase in revenue regardless of industry, business model, size or stage drawing on my expertise in digital transformation, revenue generating consumer programs and strategies and elevating brands through compelling storytelling and ROI driven marketing mix. I have successfully steered complex and rapidly evolving businesses through high periods of growth over the last 15+ years.

Consultant results featured in: The Telegraph, BusinessWire, Adweek, Retail Week, eConsultancy & more.

Board Member for America Needs You.

Elements I can advise on:  
✔️ Executive Coaching, Marketing Leadership and Career Development with a Performance Mindset 
✔️ Omni-channel Marketing Strategy (Traditional, Digital & In-Store Marketing) 
✔️ International growth for Consumer & B2B models: E-Commerce, Retail, Subscription. 
✔️ Go-to-Market Strategy, Planning and Operations across 45 Countries and 200+ stakeholders - driving new technology adoption within 6 months and scaling from 2 Business lines to 4. 
✔️ Budget Management up to $100M/year to deliver $20BN in Revenue 
✔️ Multi-cultural Corporate Training, build and scale high functioning Global teams 
✔️ Attract, retain, grow top talent in Global and Local teams 
✔️ Brand, Performance & Product Marketing 
✔️ Demand/Lead Generation, PLG/Account Based Marketing 
✔️ Full funnel Marketing connecting GEO, Paid Search, Paid/Organic Social Media, Content, PR, Community building, Affiliate/Influencer Marketing, CRM/Email, etc 
✔️ New vertical/business line, category, product and market launches 
✔️ Marketing technology, analytics, automation and AI, systematization, personalization. ROAS, ROI, LTC, CAC optimization.  
✔️ Site migrations, Channel restructures, successful relaunches 
✔️ Building structures that enable innovation to scale revenue exponentially via cross-market, cross-channel testing 
✔️ Data Governance and Privacy 
✔️ Board service 
✔️& More

After transforming the careers of 200+ professionals globally (200+ hours specifically on AI), today I coach executives, founders, and cross-functional leaders to accelerate their growth, own their narrative, and operate at scale in high-stakes environments - many now thriving in Fortune 500 or Future 50 companies, scaling startups, or launching their own ventures.

Companies include: Google, Netflix, Nvidia, Walmart, Target, Decathlon, Sony, Spectrum, Paramount, Visa, Starbucks, Salesforce, Crowdstrike, Atlassian, Oracle & more.

Elements I don't support with: 
- Access to her network 
- Fundraising efforts 
- Pitching products & services to her portfolio

I can support calls in English, Spanish, Catalan, French, German and Portuguese.

Excited to explore how my strategic mindset, global leadership acumen, and passion for automation and innovation can contribute to your continued success.

Question 2

Is it possible to begin with a single session or a smaller package to evaluate the Coaching service?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. You can book individual Coaching sessions at your convenience and on demand. Please make sure you book with at least one week in advance as my calendar gets booked quickly. 
If you'd prefer to lock in the time with a package or have any questions about how to book a Coaching session with me, please get in touch: consult@alexiapalau.com.

Question 3

Is this the right time to invest in Coaching?

Accepted Answer

It's important to have a very clear P&L to understand if you have the level of budget that will make Business Coaching a timely investment or not.

Ask yourself:
- Is the potential ROI worth the money paid? 
- What would the alternative be if you didn't hire a Founder Coach (me or someone else)?

The only one who can figure out the right answer is you. It's the same as any other investment decision you make.

If you believe I am the right fit and that it would outweigh the immediate financial strain, after reviewing the numbers and doing the relevant research on your specific circumstances, reach out.

Question 4

How can I prove to my co-founder or investors that this is a smart investment right now?

Accepted Answer

39% to 70% of CEOs have used a Business Coach, with some sources citing that 40% of Fortune 500 CEOs work with a Coach. And this doesn't include Advisory Boards.
The question is not "if", the question for an early stage startup is "when is the right time".

Question 5

What is the difference between Advisory and Coaching for Founders?

Accepted Answer

- Mentors tell you what they did.‍ 
- Advisors what you should do.‍ 
- And Coaches help you figure out the answer for yourself.

Choosing the right person for the right model is key for you to get the highest ROI of you investment. Please refer to this blog post to learn more.

And if you would prefer Growth Advisory, you can learn more here.

Question 6

Do you support Marketing Coaching for Founders?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I provide Coaching across Executives and Mid-Career professionals across multiple industries, business models and sizes. As a Founder Marketing Coach, I support general Business Coaching as well as Marketing Training and AI Training.

Question 7

How specific do you get with your advice as a Founder Coach?

Accepted Answer

One of the common concerns around Founder Coaching is generic advice.

Having worked in Performance Marketing most of my career, one element that makes me different from other Founder Coaches is that I will always ask for data, materials and any other information you can provide.

The advice you will get is as good as the information you provide.

Many times I get approached with a quick question for a quick answer but what is important to note is that answers with minimal information or no information, will almost always be incorrect and send you (and your business) in the wrong direction.

I will be the best partner to your success - if the relevant information is provided for me to be able to produce the guidance that can help you scale at the level you need.

Question 8

Is a Founder Coach worth it?

Accepted Answer

For first-time founders, coaching is transitioning from a luxury to a strategic necessity.

Investing early is justified by the measurable impact on revenue, retention, and decision quality.

Founder Perspective: One founder noted that spending $14k/year on coaching (representing 78% of their 2024 expenses) was considered a necessary investment to "save years in mistakes."

Investor Perspective: Investors increasingly view a founder's investment in Founder Coaching as a signal of maturity, long-term thinking, and commitment to accountability.

Data-Driven Benefits of Founder Coaching

Financial Return (ROI)
Companies utilizing coaching report an average ROI of 5.7 to 7.9 times the cost of the coaching service.

Revenue & Profitability
Strategic business coaching can be a catalyst for revenue growth, with one ICF survey noting that Coaching could lead to an increase in net revenue by up to 46%.

Productivity & Execution
Executives who received both training and coaching improved productivity by 86%, compared to only 22% for those with training alone.

Team & Culture
70% of coached startups report improved team performance, and organizations with strong coaching cultures report higher revenue growth.

Retention
Coaching improves employee retention. One calculation shows that a 10% reduction in turnover among 1,000 employees could result in $1,000,000 saved annually in recruitment and onboarding costs.

Key Outcomes Delivered by a Founder Coach

A Founder Coach helps prevent the common bottlenecks that cause early-stage companies to fail.

Uncover Blind Spots: Provides an independent, objective perspective to challenge survival thinking and surface assumptions that may hinder growth.

Accelerate Strategic Focus: Helps founders move from "daily firefighting" to setting a clear vision, mission, and measurable long-term goals.

Build Leadership Capacity: Structures leadership development (delegation, conflict resolution, executive presence) to ensure the Founder scales themselves before the company.

Investor Confidence: Sharpened investor presentations/pitch decks, clearer articulation of vision, and a demonstrated commitment to self-improvement instill confidence in investors.

Risk Mitigation: Helps founders avoid "expensive errors" and navigate high-stakes decisions (e.g., co-founder conflicts, post-funding operations).

If you think I am the right fit for you as a Founder Coach, reach out.

PORTFOLIO CAREER COACHING

PART-TIME & PORTFOLIO CAREER COACHING SERVICES

INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS & PACKAGES

Sou especialista em Formação Corporativa para Global People Managers com foco em liderança, sistematização e automação. Também apoio Coaching de Carreira e Desenvolvimento 1:1, com ênfase em Estratégia de Carreira, Marketing e IA (mais de 200 horas de formação).

Frequently Asked Questions