Coaching with Matt Yao
Coaching with Matt Yao
You deserve someone in your corner who will both challenge and support you. In my coaching practice, I serve as a mirror, sherpa, and occasionally, a bullshit-caller. I view us as equal partners, walking alongside each other on this journey.
You deserve someone in your corner who will both challenge and support you. In my coaching practice, I serve as a mirror, sherpa, and occasionally, a bullshit-caller. I view us as equal partners, walking alongside each other on this journey.
Who I Serve
My Approach
I partner with high achieving individuals who have followed the script to success but are now seeking something new. Often facing life’s next big decisions, they have a desire to cultivate greater agency in their work, life, and relationships.
I partner with high achieving individuals who have followed the script to success but are now seeking something new. Often facing life’s next big decisions, they have a desire to cultivate greater agency in their work, life, and relationships.
My Approach
Who I Serve
I focus on first order foundations and higher order questions.
Foundations are essential rituals and grounding practices that allow us to move with ease.
Big Questions are deep inquiries to help uncover our core values, purpose, and true desires.
I focus on first order foundations and higher order questions.
Foundations are essential rituals and grounding practices that allow us to move with ease.
Big Questions are deep inquiries to help uncover our core values, purpose, and true desires.
Common symptoms of being a high-achiever in need of a deep reset include a longing for creative expression, restlessness, setting excessively high standards, disengagement from work & hobbies, and ambivalence towards the future.
Common symptoms of being a high-achiever in need of a deep reset include a longing for creative expression, restlessness, setting excessively high standards, disengagement from work & hobbies, and ambivalence towards the future.
You might also find yourself trapped in certain stories that perpetuate these feelings of unsustainable ambition and work-life disconnection.
You might also find yourself trapped in certain stories that perpetuate these feelings of unsustainable ambition and work-life disconnection.
🙌 Testimonials
🙌 Testimonials
"Before working with Matt, I thought I had one problem, and if I could fix that, everything would fall into place. He challenged me to go deeper and analyze the root of my problems. After two months, I already have a set of "tools" that I can use when facing daunting challenges. Matt is a very warm and comforting soul but will ask you the tough questions when he thinks you're not going deep enough into the problem. I think everyone can benefit from having a coach, and if you're looking for one, I can’t recommend Matt enough!"
- Phil M.
"Matt is an incredibly effective coach. Each session with Matt ends up being a deeply meaningful and powerful milestone on my journey. He is very friendly, curious, and kind, so at the start of each session, we begin by catching up, and then without me realizing how exactly we got there, with his facilitation I begin to gain insight into myself, my patterns, how I am showing up in different parts of my life, and where I might want to go. I’ve implemented awareness and learnings from our sessions into my daily life, and am seeing the fruit of those shifts. I feel a deep sense of gratitude towards Matt and getting to work with him as a coach."
- Ruthie N.
"Working with Matt Yao has been incredibly supportive in my transition since my layoff. Matt's insightful coaching has guided me through a career rut and helped me gain clarity on my professional goals. His listening ears and probing questions have encouraged me to approach my job search with an open mind and a refined vision. Matt's encouragement to tackle problems has improved my personal discipline. I highly recommend Matt as a coach for anyone looking to find clarity on their direction."
- Jen V.
My practice is rooted in my experience:
🙍🏻♂️ as a Chinese-American man and the son of immigrants
⛷️ as a skier, surfer, writer, and explorer of both the inner & outer worlds
🌁 at Uber, Afterpay, Block, and Kleiner Perkins Fellows
🔭 of seeking wisdom and discovering how to live a good life
☯ My observation is we often assume seemingly opposing forces are dichotomies, rather than seeking how they can co-exist:
hard work and rest
self-discipline and self-compassion
resilience and flexibility
belonging and solitude
acceptance and advancement
✨ I am guided by the light of mentors & teachers:
In my ongoing development as a coach, whether it’s been through formal training like an apprenticeship or a more self-directed path, I’ve been fortunate to learn from a variety of coaches, teachers, artists, and practitioners.
I’m grateful to be influenced and shaped by people such as:
Steve Schlafman, Joe Hudson, Alice Wells, Parker Palmer, Martha Beck
Julia Cameron, Steven Pressfield, Robert Greene, Joseph Campbell
Paul Millerd, David Whyte, William Finnegan, Yvon Chouinard
Alongside my continuous training across disciplines, I'm supported by my therapist, coach, and meditation teacher.
⛓️ Structure
We begin with a personalized onboarding process to uncover your intentions, collaboration style, and desired transformation. Here is what you can typically expect:
Two 60 minute sessions a month
Pre-session prompts
Post-session notes
Take-home exercises
Essays, books, and podcasts
Unlimited async texting and email
💸 Rates
I operate on a sliding scale monthly retainer.
If we're both excited to work together, money won't be a barrier. I aim for an open and trusting relationship, so I don't require financial commitments or fixed contracts.
However, for our work to be effective, I ask for an energetic three-month commitment upfront. This isn't a formal contract, just a mutual intention to dive in with dedication and sincerity.
👋 Reach Out
If you'd like to explore a coaching relationship, I invite you to schedule a complimentary 60 minute session with me:
🤝 My Approach
My Approach
My coaching practice is rooted in my experience:
🙍🏻♂️ as a Chinese-American man and the son of immigrants
⛷️ as a skier, surfer, writer, and explorer of both the inner & outer worlds
🌁 working at Uber, Afterpay, Block, and Kleiner Perkins Fellows
🔭 of seeking wisdom and discovering how to live a good life
☯ My observation is we assume seemingly opposing forces are dichotomies, rather than seeing how they can co-exist:
hard work and rest
self-discipline and self-compassion
resilience and flexibility
belonging and solitude
acceptance and advancement
✨ I am guided by the light of my mentors and teachers:
In my ongoing development as a coach, whether it’s been through formal training like an apprenticeship or a more self-directed path, I’ve been fortunate to learn from a variety of coaches, teachers, artists, and practitioners:
Steve Schlafman, Joe Hudson, Alice Wells, Parker Palmer, Martha Beck
Julia Cameron, Steven Pressfield, Robert Greene, Joseph Campbell
Paul Millerd, David Whyte, William Finnegan, Yvon Chouinard
Alongside my continuous training across disciplines, I'm supported by my therapist, coach, and meditation teacher.
⛓️ Structure
We begin with a personalized onboarding process to uncover your intentions, collaboration style, and desired transformation. Here is what you can typically expect:
Two 60 minute sessions a month
Pre-session prompts
Post-session notes
Take-home exercises
Recommended essays, books, and podcasts
Unlimited async texting and email
💸 Rates
I operate on a sliding scale monthly retainer.
If we're both excited to work together, money won't be a barrier. I aim for an open and trusting relationship, so I don't require financial commitments or fixed contracts.
However, for our work to be effective, I ask for an energetic three-month commitment upfront. This isn't a formal contract, just a mutual intention to dive in with dedication and sincerity.
👋 Reach Out
If you'd like to explore a coaching relationship, I invite you to schedule a complimentary 60 minute session with me:
My coaching practice is rooted in my experience:
🙍🏻♂️ as a Chinese-American man and the son of immigrants
⛷️ as a skier, surfer, writer, and explorer of both the inner & outer worlds
🌁 at Uber, Afterpay, Block, and Kleiner Perkins Fellows
🔭 of seeking wisdom and discovering how to live a good life
☯ My observation is we assume seemingly opposing forces are dichotomies, rather than seeing how they can co-exist:
hard work and rest
self-discipline and self-compassion
resilience and flexibility
belonging and solitude
acceptance and advancement
✨ I am guided by the light of my mentors and teachers:
In my ongoing development as a coach, whether it’s been through formal training like an apprenticeship or a more self-directed path, I’ve been fortunate to learn from a variety of coaches, teachers, artists, and practitioners.
I’m grateful to be influenced and shaped by people such as:
Steve Schlafman, Joe Hudson, Alice Wells, Parker Palmer, Martha Beck
Julia Cameron, Steven Pressfield, Robert Greene, Joseph Campbell
Paul Millerd, David Whyte, William Finnegan, Yvon Chouinard
Alongside my continuous training across disciplines, I'm supported by my therapist, coach, and meditation teacher.
⛓️ Structure
We begin with a personalized onboarding process to uncover your intentions, collaboration style, and desired transformation. Here is what you can typically expect:
Two 60 minute sessions a month
Pre-session prompts
Post-session notes
Take-home exercises
Recommended essays, books, and podcasts
Unlimited async texting and email
💸 Rates
I operate on a sliding scale monthly retainer.
If we're both excited to work together, money won't be a barrier. I aim for an open and trusting relationship, so I don't require financial commitments or fixed contracts.
However, for our work to be effective, I ask for an energetic three-month commitment upfront. This isn't a formal contract, just a mutual intention to dive in with dedication and sincerity.
👋 Reach Out
If you'd like to explore a coaching relationship, I invite you to schedule a complimentary 60 minute session with me:
"Before working with Matt, I thought I had one problem, and if I could fix that, everything would fall into place. He challenged me to go deeper and analyze the root of my problems. After two months, I already have a set of "tools" that I can use when facing daunting challenges. Matt is a very warm and comforting soul but will ask you the tough questions when he thinks you're not going deep enough into the problem. I think everyone can benefit from having a coach, and if you're looking for one, I can’t recommend Matt enough!"
- Phil M.
"Matt is an incredibly effective coach. Each session with Matt ends up being a deeply meaningful and powerful milestone on my journey. He is very friendly, curious, and kind, so at the start of each session, we begin by catching up, and then without me realizing how exactly we got there, with his facilitation I begin to gain insight into myself, my patterns, how I am showing up in different parts of my life, and where I might want to go. I’ve implemented awareness and learnings from our sessions into my daily life, and am seeing the fruit of those shifts. I feel a deep sense of gratitude towards Matt and getting to work with him as a coach."
- Ruthie N.
"Working with Matt Yao has been incredibly supportive in my transition since my layoff. Matt's insightful coaching has guided me through a career rut and helped me gain clarity on my professional goals. His listening ears and probing questions have encouraged me to approach my job search with an open mind and a refined vision. Matt's encouragement to tackle problems has improved my personal discipline. I highly recommend Matt as a coach for anyone looking to find clarity on their direction."
- Jen V.