Kim Surko
Executive coach and strategic advisor for startup and tech leaders
| Hourly rate range | $130 to $255 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | CEO and founder coachingLeadership developmentTransitions and new rolesExecutive presence and communicationTech and engineering leadersCareer changeStartups and foundersLeadership and team building |
| Works with | Executives, Founders and business owners and Managers |
| Also coaches | Career coach and Business coach |
| Practice | Surko Coaching |
Kim Surko is an executive coach and strategic advisor who works with leaders and executives. Kim spent 20 years as a marketing and tech executive, including a role as Chief Experience Officer at Flowcode. Kim mixes coaching with direct consulting when a client needs it. Kim's focus is the move from functional leader to business leader. Some former CEOs know Kim as The Velvet Hammer.
What Kim helps with
Kim helps leaders who are stepping from a functional role into running a business. Kim also helps leaders handle hard decisions and complex team dynamics.
- Moving from functional leader to business leader
- Carrying high-stakes decisions without feeling alone
- Navigating complex organizational dynamics
- Building leadership authority and presence
- Balancing people-first values with measurable results
- Leading in startups and big tech
- Working through power and culture at senior levels
Who Kim works with
Kim works with leaders and executives from all backgrounds. Clients include startup founders and people in general management and customer success. Many are moving from a technical or functional role into leading the whole business.
Background and qualifications
Kim has 20 years of experience as a marketing and tech executive across startups and big tech. Kim served as Chief Experience Officer at Flowcode and sat on the executive team reporting to the CEO. There, Kim raised net revenue retention from 90% to 110%. Kim also built cross-functional processes across Product, Engineering and Customer Success. Kim created models to spot at-risk customers early and wrote playbooks so teams owned the next steps. Kim coaches through Surko Coaching.
Kim Surko pricing
Programs and services
- One-on-one executive coaching
- Leadership coaching
- Career coaching
- Message Kim before booking
Kim Surko reviews
Kim Surko has a 5.0 out of 5 rating from 12 reviews on Leland, as of September 2026.
The CoachVouch take
Kim is a former Chief Experience Officer who also acts as a consultant and sounding board, not only a coach.
Best for new business leaders and startup founders who want a coach with real executive experience in tech.
Common questions
How much does Kim Surko charge?
Coaching with Kim runs $130 to $255 an hour. Request an intro for an exact quote.
What does Kim Surko help with?
Kim Surko helps with moving from functional leader to business leader, carrying high-stakes decisions without feeling alone, navigating complex organizational dynamics and building leadership authority and presence.
Does Kim Surko have reviews?
Kim Surko has a 5.0 out of 5 rating from 12 reviews on Leland, as of September 2026.
Does Kim Surko only ask questions, or also give advice?
Kim does both. Kim uses 20 years of startup and big tech experience to act as a consultant and sounding board when a client needs it.
Can I talk with Kim before I book?
Yes. Kim invites clients to send a message before getting started.
How do I contact Kim Surko?
Request an intro on this page. It's free, and we'll connect you with Kim and, if you want, 2 or 3 similar coaches to compare.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.