Spark Coaching

Leadership coaching for founders who are scaling

The move from startup to scale-up is a roller coaster. Peaks, dips, and the strange part where everything is “working” and still feels fragile. I’ve coached 200+ founders globally and I support you in scaling your leadership, your co-founder relationship, and your leadership team as the company grows.

From founder mode to leadership mode without losing yourself

I believe that scaling leadership as a founder is not a generic leadership challenge. It is a transition with its own dynamics: the speed, the uncertainty, the personal stakes, and the constant tension between building the business and holding the system together.The startup-to-scale-up journey is a roller coaster. What looks like momentum from the outside often feels like pressure from the inside: bigger decisions, higher expectations, more complex people dynamics, and very little space to think. Supporting founders through this phase requires more than coaching skills. It requires deep understanding of the business reality and the human reality at the same time.I work exclusively with founders, co-founders, and scale-up leadership teams. The approach combines four perspectives that rarely come together in one place:01. Operator and strategy perspective - experience in leadership roles in fast-growing companies and years at McKinsey working on growth, strategy, and organizational transformation02. Investor perspective - active business angel and LP, with direct exposure to what drives scale, what creates risk, and how investors think03. Academic perspective - professor at a leading business school, working closely with the next generation of founders and leadership teams04. Deep coaching expertise - ICF-certified (PCC, CPCC) with extensive training in systemic, relationship systems, and evidence-based team coachingAnd there is one more lens that matters: the personal one. Being married to and living alongside a founder through multiple growth phases - including the highs, the uncertainty, and the pressure on family life - brings a level of empathy and realism that no framework can replace.The result is coaching that is practical, direct, and grounded in the real context founders operate in. Not theory. Not generic leadership advice. A sparring partnership designed for the realities of building and scaling a company - without losing yourself along the way.

01. Founder 1:1 Leadership Coaching

For founders who are scaling the business and need to scale themselves with it.Every engagement is fully tailored to your context and phase. Depending on your needs, we may start with a structured diagnostic, including 360° stakeholder interviews, leadership assessments, or psychometric tools, to create a clear picture of your strengths, pressure points, and blind spots.
There are no pre-packaged programs: coaching intensity, focus areas, and formats flex with the realities of your role and the stage your company is in.Typical topics for scaling founders- Transition from founder-doer to CEO and leader of leaders- Decision making under uncertainty and increasing complexity- Letting go, delegation, and building a strong leadership layer- Setting direction and priorities when everything feels urgent- Leadership communication and presence as the organization grows- Managing pressure, energy, and sustainability through intense growth phases

02. Co-founder Coaching

For co-founders who want their partnership to stay strong as the company becomes more complex.Growth puts pressure on every co-founder relationship: roles shift, expectations diverge, and decisions carry more weight. I work with co-founders as a system, creating a structured space to address tension early, surface unspoken dynamics, and build clear agreements on how you lead together.
The work can include joint sessions, individual perspectives, stakeholder input, and the creation of a practical co-founder operating model.Typical topics for scaling co-founder teams- Clarifying roles, ownership, and decision rights as the company grows- Navigating recurring conflict patterns and rebuilding trust- Alignment on strategy, priorities, and risk appetite- Balancing different leadership styles, speeds, and personalities- Having difficult conversations early instead of after escalation- Creating a clear co-founder alliance that the organization can rely on

03. Scaleup C-Level Team Coaching

For leadership teams that are growing fast but not yet operating as a true team.As organizations scale, functional leaders often optimize locally while alignment, ownership, and collective decision making lag behind. I work with the leadership team as a system to strengthen trust, clarity, and accountability.
Engagements can include team diagnostics, leadership interviews, observation of leadership routines, and ongoing team coaching integrated into your real business cadence.Typical topics for scaling leadership teams- Building trust and psychological safety in a newly formed or evolving team- Clear strategic priorities and what the team is (and is not) accountable for- Decision making, escalation paths, and reducing founder bottlenecks- Cross-functional friction and “silo vs. company” tensions- Strengthening accountability and ownership at the executive level- Moving from a group of strong individuals to a cohesive leadership team

04. Offsites & Facilitation

For moments when the team needs to step out of daily execution to realign, decide, and move forward.I design and facilitate focused offsites for founders, co-founders, and leadership teams - from 1 person to 200+. Each session is built around your current business reality and desired outcomes, not a standard agenda.Typical offsite objectives- Leadership team alignment on strategy, priorities, and execution focus- Defining or resetting roles, ways of working, and decision principles- Addressing tension or unresolved conflicts in a structured way- Building trust and a shared team alliance- Strengthening accountability and commitment around key initiatives- Creating clarity and momentum for the next growth phase

The person behind

Christina Figiel, PCC, CPCC

I work best with founders who want a thinking partner, not a cheerleader.My style is warm, direct, and pragmatic. I will create a space where you can think openly and speak honestly, and I will also challenge you when needed. Founders often tell me they value the combination of clarity and psychological safety: real conversations, no judgment, and no unnecessary softness around the hard topics.I am deeply motivated by the founder journey. Building a company is one of the most demanding leadership paths there is: high stakes, constant uncertainty, and very little room to step back and think. My role is to give you that space, to bring structure into complexity, and to help you make better leadership choices under pressure.What shapes my work is the combination of business experience, coaching expertise, and close proximity to the founder reality. I have worked in strategy and scale-up environments for many years, I invest in startups as a business angel, and I live alongside a founder who has gone through multiple growth phases. I know how much the journey affects not only the company, but also the person behind it.Clients describe our work as practical, honest, and focused on what actually moves the needle. No generic frameworks. No abstract leadership talk. Just thoughtful sparring, clear perspectives, and concrete experiments you can apply immediately.I work globally with founders and leadership teams in English, German, and Spanish.

You’re likely to get the most value from this work if:

  • You are a founder, co-founder, or CEO in a growth or scale-up phase

  • Your company is growing, and the leadership challenges are becoming more complex

  • You want a sparring partner who understands both the business reality and the human dynamics

  • You are open to honest reflection, direct feedback, and practical experimentation

  • You are willing to invest time and attention, not just attend sessions

  • You are looking for depth and long-term impact rather than quick fixes

Start with a conversation

The first step is a 30-minute introductory call.

We’ll clarify your situation, what you want to work on, and whether there is a strong mutual fit. If it makes sense to continue, I’ll suggest a tailored approach based on your context and goals.

what others have said

"Christina combines sharp business understanding with the ability to address the real leadership dynamics behind our challenges. The work changed how I lead my team and how our co-founder partnership operates."

Building and scaling a company is demanding. You don’t have to carry it alone.

The right sparring partnership gives you space to step back, gain perspective, and lead through the next phase with clarity.

Thank you

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