I'm Ariel Wilkins and this is Coaching Real Leaders, part of the HBR Podcast Network.

I'm a longtime executive coach who works with highly successful leaders who've hit a bump in the road.

My job is to help them get over that bump by clarifying their goals

and figuring out a way to reach them so that hopefully they can lead with a little more ease.

I typically work with clients over the course of several months, but on this show, we have a one-time

coaching meeting focusing on a specific leadership challenge they're facing.

Today's guest is someone will call Valentino to protect his confidentiality.

He works in the technology space and is looking to advance his career.

But he's taken a bit of an unconventional move to get there. I'm not in the leadership role. I actually took a step back. I felt there's some things I needed to do to enhance

my career. And in order for me to take several steps forward, I have to take a step back,

move back into an individual contributor role. Valentino reached out because he knows where he wants to go,

but feels like there's some gaps he needs to close

and skills he needs to work on to get there.

And work is not something he shies away from.

I grew up with very strict parents,

typical immigrant parents, early rising, following strict disciplines.

When you're doing something, you do it right, you don't do it at all.

So I think my background, it's a very discipline-based background.

And then in terms of my career, I did not grow up in technology industry. I grew up in a different discipline. However, the trajectory of my career, I did not grow up in the technology industry.

I grew up in a different discipline.

However, the trajectory of my career has informed the different roles that I've been in in the technology industry.

And I think it's been very useful and helpful because I tend to see things from a different perspective.

...