You’ve optimised every system except for your own ways of working.
Burnout Coaching for CTOs and Tech Leaders
If you’re exhausted, always on and wondering how long you can keep firefighting like this, I can help.
Hi, I’m Cat. I’ve burned out three times while working as an engineer, CTO and CPO, leading teams and shipping products to millions of users. Each time I didn’t realise how bad it was until I hit crisis point.
I’ve built my coaching practice so that other tech leaders don’t have to burn out the same way I did.
Does this sound familiar?
You’re stuck between the board/director’s expectations and what’s realistically feasible for your team to achieve.
You’re the escalation point for every technical problem.
You’re checking your builds, code or slack at 2am, even if you’re not on call.
You’ve stopped building or being hands-on and you miss the craft.
Your sense of worth is tied to being the person who can fix anything.
How I help
We look at what’s draining you, from the obvious (incidents, deadlines etc), to the small daily things that add up. We work together to build a way of leading that you can keep up long term.
Available online or in Edinburgh.
My Story
I studied Computer Science (specialising in AI), and after a brief stint in Investment Banking, I taught myself Flash to secure my first role in games. As Flash died I learned Unity and C# and ended up in Developer Relations at Unity supporting game studios worldwide. After that I ran my own game development consultancy. Over the years I worked my way up to leadership roles and Head of Engineering at an agency.
In 2023 I co-founded a gaming and AI startup as CTO and CPO. I led product and development, line managed a remote team of 12 and helped raise two 7-figure funding rounds. My role became less hands-on and I grew frustrated doing repetitive tasks I couldn’t get headcount to help with. I’d moved from building to constantly firefighting.
This led to my third burnout. The first one came from not taking a break or booking holidays. The second one came from back-to-back meetings, no breaks and juggling small teams with incredibly tight deadlines. By the third burnout I began to notice my own warning signs and that’s when I decided to step away.
I now run my own business in a sustainable way, supporting other people on their burnout journeys.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Most people I work with start before it gets that bad.
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Yes. The focus is your energy and sustainability, not just performance.
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No. I’m a coach, not a therapist or doctor. Read more on the coaching page.
“Cat is a fantastic active listener who really helped me to identify the root cause of my difficulties. She provided clear, empathetic and actionable advice, and I’d highly recommend chatting to her.”
— CTO, Edinburgh