About Jesse
I have been where you are.
For 15+ years I have led engineering teams in the gaming industry: big problems, high-stakes deadlines, and a lot of learning the hard way. Today I am Vice President of Global Studio Operations, and I still lead every day.
I know what it feels like to do great work and wonder if anyone above you can see it, because I have lived it.
Along the way I noticed the part of the job I cared about most was not shipping. It was helping people grow. People came to me with stalled promotions, messages that kept getting lost, and the pressure of stepping up a level. Those conversations were where I did my best work.
From leader to coach
In 2021 I made it official and trained with the Co-Active Training Institute. I am an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC).
Today I coach tech and systems leaders who are ready to be seen for the work they do, and to grow without burning out.
ICF Associate Certified Coach
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach
Oregon Tech Foundation Board
How I coach
You do not have to choose between doing great work and having a life. You can lead with impact and still get home for dinner. You can make your work visible without feeling like you are selling yourself.
My coaching is practical, direct, and judgment-free. I will not hand you a script. I will help you see the situation differently, so the right next move becomes obvious.
I work with senior engineers, managers, directors, and emerging executives who are:
- Delivering results but not getting noticed
- Second-guessing themselves under pressure
- Getting ready for a promotion or a bigger role
- Leading teams and feeling alone at the top
A bit more about me
I live in Northern Nevada with my wife and daughter. We spend as much time outside as we can: skiing, hiking, camping, and teaching my daughter to drive a tractor.
When I am not coaching, I am probably in my shop building or fixing something. I bring the same approach to coaching: hands-on, grounded, always learning. Leadership is not theory. It is lived.
What clients say
Over the two years Jesse has been my career coach, my career has grown from part-time manager of a small team to managing a team across two continents that supports four product verticals. With a lot of good questions, laughter and a few tears, he has helped me work through difficult situations and consider my career possibilities to get to a place where I'm feeling satisfied and valued in my work
His approach of guiding me via engaging questions allowed me to take ownership of my own direction. Jesse was kind, patient, and my time with him has inspired me to grow as a leader in ways that I had not even considered.
He helped me clarify my thoughts and values and encouraged me to experiment with new perspectives and habits. I loved that he tailored his approach every step of the way, striking a great balance between coaching and occasional mentoring moments that worked wonders for me.
Through his guidance, I was able to focus on my true goals and overcome the excuses that were holding me back. Jesse's coaching style is both insightful and practical, providing clear strategies that are easy to implement.
His guidance not only helped me gain confidence in myself to achieve the goals I had set out to achieve, but also uncovered working styles that maximized my ability to do so. Jesse is a patient mentor, approaching conversations with calm and understanding, whilst maintaining clarity.
Working with Jesse helped me regain the focus and perspective that I had lost postpartum. His coaching was an invaluable part of my support system that empowered me to actively reinvest in myself by asking me the tough questions and challenging me to put in the hard work.
Working with Jesse Stafford ACC, CPCC was an intense, uncomfortable, and eye-opening experience. Over the course of a month, he challenged me to clearly define my goals, sharpen my thinking, and align my actions with what truly mattered. That clarity made a real difference. His guidance played a key role in helping me land my new Senior role [...], and more importantly, in shaping how I show up as an engineering leader. If you're at a crossroads or thinking seriously about your direction in tech, I highly recommend working with Jesse.
Ready to be seen for the work you already do?
A free 60-minute call. We will talk about where you are stuck and what would change if the right people could see your work. No pitch, no pressure.
Book a Free CallYou're great at the work. Let's make you impossible to ignore.