Executive Cat Herder Isn’t Going Anywhere. It’s Evolving.
If you’ve been here for a while, you know that Executive Cat Herder has never really been just a website or a clever name. It’s been a way of describing the work I’ve done for years: walking into complicated environments, figuring out what’s actually happening, getting the right people in the room, and turning strategy into something people can execute. And now, it’s evolving. Not disappearing. Not shutting down. And definitely not a goodbye. It’s an embodiment of the next st
3 min read
Unpopular opinion: Free mentorship is quietly killing startups.
After 500+ mentees, I can tell you with certainty — the founders who succeeded, raised the capital they needed, and actually did the work were the ones with financial skin in the game. Every. Single. Time. And I know what you’re thinking. “But mentorship should be accessible. Knowledge should be shared freely. Pay it forward.” I’ve heard it all. I believed it once too. But here’s what 500+ relationships taught me that no business school will: Commitment without cost is just a
4 min read
The Business Case for Conscious Uncoupling
Why how you end things is the truest measure of your leadership When Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin announced their separation in 2014 with the phrase “conscious uncoupling,” the internet had a field day. The term was mocked, parodied, and held up as the ultimate example of celebrity self-absorption dressed up in therapeutic language. I didn’t laugh. I was fascinated. Not because of the celebrity drama — but because underneath the easy mockery was a genuinely radical idea
10 min read
