Engineering leadership mentor.Get promoted, get paid,get unstuck.

3,400+ sessions with 300+ engineering leaders since 2019. Staff Engineer to CTO. Our ELC network runs 2,000+ leaders across Europe. I know which CTOs are hiring right now.

Book a free 30-min intro →Get pinged when a new slot opens
Marian Kamenistak, engineering leadership mentor

"Changed how I view my role and the role of engineering in the org."

— Marek Trunkát
CTO, Apify

"Direct and specific. Never generic. Something to apply right away."

— Filip Masár
Staff Engineer, Kiwi.com

Ondrej Stastny, Chief Digital Officer at Trinity Bank — mentored by Marian
Filip Masár, Staff Engineer at Kiwi.com — mentored by Marian

"Part of helping scale up our technical teams from 35 to 100 people."

— Matthijs Welle
CEO, Mews

Testimonials

80+ leaders. In their words.

"Marian was part of helping scale up our technical teams from 35 to 100 people during his time with Mews. One of his key successes was around creating visibility on engineering output and ensuring we were able to more effectively reach our goals."
Matthijs Welle
Matthijs Welle
CEO, Mews
★★★★★
"In my new role, after just four months, I had to let go of a significant number of people who were also my friends. Marian provided invaluable guidance. I was able to part ways with everyone on good terms."
David Jerabek
David Jerabek
Chapter Lead, Rohlik
★★★★★
"Marian helped me to stabilize and mature our engineering in Apify after a period of growth. … But mainly, he changed how I view my role and the role of the engineering department in the organization."
Marek Trunkát
Marek Trunkát
CTO, Apify
★★★★★
See all testimonials →

Where my clients come from.

Engineering leaders at scale-ups, banks, and global product companies. Czech, Slovak, EU, US.

  • Netflix logo
  • Microsoft logo
  • MongoDB logo
  • GitLab logo
  • Atlassian logo
  • ElevenLabs logo
  • Ataccama logo
  • Pure Storage logo
  • Gen logo
  • NN logo
  • Barclays logo
  • Mews logo
  • Apify logo
  • Rohlik logo
  • Kosik.cz logo
  • Kiwi.com logo
  • Eurowag logo
  • Trezor logo
  • Dr.Max logo
  • FTMO logo
  • Česká spořitelna logo
  • ČSOB logo
  • HOPI HOLDING logo
  • Trinity Bank logo
  • Jablotron logo
  • Innovatrics logo
  • Carvago logo
  • Whalebone logo
  • Keboola logo
  • Deepnote logo
  • CloudTalk logo
  • Calendly logo
  • Fakturoid logo
  • Websupport logo
  • Realpad logo
  • Ematiq logo
  • Cloudfield logo
  • Mediaport logo
  • Quanti logo
  • Confirmo logo
  • Nuomy logo
  • Navigara logo

Live data

Marian's live mentoring data

Pulled live from the mentoring log. Staff engineers to CTOs, 17+ countries, CEE to San Francisco. 9.2/10 average across 300+ reviews.

  • People mentored since 2019
    287+
  • # sessions
    3,317+
  • Last mentoring at
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Role distribution

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Active mentees, last 12 months

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I cap my own 1:1s at 14 in parallel. Hollow dots are open seats. Grab one →

Not another coach.

01 / 04

Been in the seat.

I helped build Mews into a $2bn+ unicorn: 8 to 80 teams, roadmap still shipping. I went through the shit.

02 / 04

CEE-native, US-fluent.

3+ years in the Bay Area as a Principal Software Architect at Databricks. I understand US business drive and European culture.

03 / 04

Financially independent.

I don't need your money. I'm financially retired. Seeing you grow is my payoff.

04 / 04

Direct.

Mentoring first. I boost you fast. No esoteric loops.

Your situation

Stuck or lonely. Pick one.

Your next role is worth €30k more.

Waiting for a 5% raise? The market pays double if you know how to move. I get you promoted where you are, or introduced directly to a CTO who is hiring you into the seat you actually want.

No recruiters. No cold applications. No LinkedIn shotgun. My network runs 2,000+ engineering leaders across CEE, and I know which ones are hiring right now.

"Marian helped me shape my story and sharpen my elevator pitch as I was figuring out my next career step. Feedback was always direct and specific, never generic. He actively opens his network to help you get there."
Filip Masár
Filip Masár
Builder & Problem Solver

Running a 60-person org? The seat is lonely. I get it.

You're 2 to 6 years into a VP, CTO, or Head of Engineering seat. You have nobody above you to call. Right now you're facing one of: AI org rewiring, scale slowdown, headcount freeze, layoff aftermath, founder handoff.

I work with VPEs, CTOs, and Heads of Engineering at Series A to C product orgs. About 30% of my book is exactly you.

"Marian helped me stabilize and mature our engineering after a period of growth. He changed how I view my role and the role of the engineering department in the organization."
Marek Trunkát
Marek Trunkát
CTO, Apify

How it works

Not therapy. A method.

  • 01

    Day 0 · Intro session

    The free 30-min intro.

    You talk, I ask, you get honest feedback on whether I can help, plus initial advice. If we fit, we book Session 1. If not, I refer someone in my network. No prep. Confidential. Same week most weeks.

    Book the free 30-min intro →
    Marian Kamenistak in a 1:1 mentoring session.
  • 02

    Week 1 · Session 1

    Focus on your goals.

    One from your company — a business objective from the roadmap. The other from you — a personal development goal from your PDP. Together they become your North Star for the next 3 to 6 months. Two measurable KPIs. Everything else is noise.

    Browse mentoring by role →
    Marian Kamenistak in a 1:1 mentoring session.
  • 03

    Every session · Scope

    North Star. Or the fire.

    Two tracks. Track 1: we move your two KPIs forward. Track 2: something hit your desk this week — a resignation, a founder blow-up, a botched review, a runway call. We drop the roadmap. We solve that. Between sessions, text me 24/7 for the real fires.

    Marian Kamenistak seated, leaning forward with hands clasped, smiling.
  • 04

    Every session · Wrap-up

    Homework + trust.

    Every session ends with mini-homework. Small. Doable. Moves one thing forward. Everything we agree lives in a shared Notion page we build together. Nothing lost between sessions. And what we say stays between us.

    Marian Kamenistak in a 1:1 mentoring session.
  • 05

    Frame · Mentoring first

    Mentoring first. Not coaching.

    You have a fire to put out tomorrow, not six sessions of "what do YOU think?" I've been in your seat. I tell you what worked. After session 4 or 5, once your table is cleaner, we shift toward coaching. Open questions, you driving the answers.

    Marian Kamenistak in a 1:1 mentoring session.
  • 06

    Month 3 · Outcomes

    You sleep well. Again.

    You got hired, promoted, or you met your objectives. We check your goals, review the progress, and decide on the next mission for you or your team member.

    Marian Kamenistak laughing with both fists raised in celebration.

Mission

Building Silicon Valley-level product tech leaders in the Heart of Europe.

Marian Kamenistak, engineering leadership mentor, portrait in Prague
Full bio on LinkedIn

About

About marian.coach

San Francisco Bay Area badge with the Golden Gate Bridge

You know the feeling. Every 1:1 opens with a new fire. You go home Friday with 40 tabs open in your head. I ran that shift for years. I know what breaks first, and what to touch to make it stop.

I built engineering through Mews Series C, growing R&D from 8 to 80+ dev teams. Engineering leadership at Manta, acquired by IBM. Databricks in the Bay Area before that. In 2023 I walked away from a $350k role to go all-in on mentoring and the Engineering Leaders Community. Full numbers here.

Today: 600+ mentoring sessions a year, 2,000+ ELC members across CEE, fractional CTO when the fit is right. Based in Prague, working across Europe and North America. Most engineering leadership content in your feed is recycled US thinking that ignores where you actually work. I translate.

Marian Kamenistak is an engineering leadership mentor based in Prague. He mentors 1:1 with engineering managers, directors, VPs, and CTOs across Europe and North America. Since 2019 he has run 3,400+ mentoring sessions with 300+ leaders from 17 countries, with an average review score of 9.2 out of 10.

FAQ

Common questions before booking.

What happens on the free intro call?
5 min: you tell me what's going on. 10 min: I ask a few questions to understand the context. 10 min: I give honest feedback on whether I can help, plus initial advice. 5 min: if we fit, we book Session 1. We both decide if there's a win-win. 30 minutes. Free.
What happens at the first paid session?
We define your North Star. We agree the KPIs we'll track. We align with your existing development plan if you have one. By the end, you know what we're moving and how we'll know we moved it.
Mentoring or coaching: which do you do?
Both, in that order. I start with mentoring. I've been in your seat, I'll tell you what worked. Once the urgent stuff is settled, we shift toward coaching: open questions, you driving the answers.
What do you need from me between sessions?
Honesty about what is hard. The mini-homework done. Confidentiality is yours. Everything we say stays between us.
References?
Word-of-mouth is the best one. Someone you know probably worked with me. 40+ named testimonials are on the /testimonials/ page.
Do I get a certificate?
No. If a certificate is your main goal, then we are not compatible. I boost real skills, not paper.
Can I include my manager in the process?
Yes. We can run a 3-way kickoff to sign off your North Star and success metrics. Optional progress updates to your manager. Optional 3-month review together.
Online or in person?
Mostly online. In person available in Prague when it makes sense: intro, kickoff, milestone debrief.
How often do we meet?
One-hour sessions, weekly or bi-weekly. Fast enough to keep momentum, slow enough to digest and action the mini-homework.
Can my company pay?
Yes. 81% of my mentees are company-funded. The €2,580 6-pack invoice goes to your employer with full VAT details ready for procurement. I'll send a one-paragraph template you can forward to your manager. Most CTOs sign off in a day.
How fast can we start?
Free 30-min intro is usually within the same week. First paid session within 2 weeks. ELC members and prior referrals get priority slots. Cold inquiries run 2-3 weeks out.
What languages do you work in?
English first. Czech and Slovak native. I switch by client. Mixed-language sessions are normal.
What if I cancel mid-pack?
Pay-as-you-go cancels anytime. The 6-pack has no refund clause. I've never had a mentee ask for one. If it's not working by session 2, we stop and the rest is on me.

Book the intro

See when I'm free. Pick a slot.

Free 30-min intro. Same week most weeks. Cold inquiries run 2-3 weeks out.

Book the intro. You can sleep well. Again. My job is to fix your situation.

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Embed not loading? Book directly at marian.coach/meet or email marian@marian.coach.

Not ready to talk? Get pinged when a new slot opens.

Mentoring slots free up every few weeks. Leave your email and you get one message from me when the next one opens. Ready to book now? The intro-call button above is faster.

One email from Marian. No newsletter, no sales sequence. See our privacy policy.

Gallery

In the room. With the audience.

3,400+ sessions across 17 countries. Scroll to see the range.

  • Marian Kamenistak on the main stage of the Engineering Leaders Conference, arm raised, co-host in the background.

    ELC Conference, main stage

  • Full auditorium audience at an engineering leadership conference where Marian Kamenistak spoke.

    Conference keynote, full house

  • Marian Kamenistak keynoting at mDevCamp, his name projected large on the stage screen.

    mDevCamp keynote, Prague

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Jun 2026 · ELC meetup #39: 5 levels of AI adoption

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    May 2026 · ELC meetup #37: 12 steps to boost your value

  • Marian Kamenistak at the Engineering Leaders Community conference 2026.

    Apr 2026 · ELC Conference

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Mar 2026 · ELC meetup #36: interviews for AI-native candidates

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Jan 2026 · ELC meetup #33: stop hiring unicorns, grow leaders

  • Marian Kamenistak walking the mDevCamp stage in front of a large pink-lit conference backdrop.

    mDevCamp, Prague

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Nov 2025 · ELC meetup #32: radical ownership

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Nov 2025 · ELC meetup #31: boost your value on the market

  • Wide shot of Marian Kamenistak speaking to a seated audience in a light-strung venue.

    Evening leadership talk

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Oct 2025 · ELC meetup #30: AI dev tools, reality check

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Sep 2025 · ELC meetup #29: leading through big change

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Jun 2025 · ELC meetup #28: performance reviews like a king

  • Marian Kamenistak at the Engineering Leaders Community conference 2026.

    Apr 2026 · ELC Conference

  • Marian Kamenistak on the main stage of the Engineering Leaders Conference, arm raised, co-host in the background.

    ELC Conference, main stage

  • Full auditorium audience at an engineering leadership conference where Marian Kamenistak spoke.

    Conference keynote, full house

  • Marian Kamenistak keynoting at mDevCamp, his name projected large on the stage screen.

    mDevCamp keynote, Prague

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Jun 2026 · ELC meetup #39: 5 levels of AI adoption

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    May 2026 · ELC meetup #37: 12 steps to boost your value

  • Marian Kamenistak at the Engineering Leaders Community conference 2026.

    Apr 2026 · ELC Conference

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Mar 2026 · ELC meetup #36: interviews for AI-native candidates

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Jan 2026 · ELC meetup #33: stop hiring unicorns, grow leaders

  • Marian Kamenistak walking the mDevCamp stage in front of a large pink-lit conference backdrop.

    mDevCamp, Prague

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Nov 2025 · ELC meetup #32: radical ownership

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Nov 2025 · ELC meetup #31: boost your value on the market

  • Wide shot of Marian Kamenistak speaking to a seated audience in a light-strung venue.

    Evening leadership talk

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Oct 2025 · ELC meetup #30: AI dev tools, reality check

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Sep 2025 · ELC meetup #29: leading through big change

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Jun 2025 · ELC meetup #28: performance reviews like a king

  • Marian Kamenistak at the Engineering Leaders Community conference 2026.

    Apr 2026 · ELC Conference

  • Marian Kamenistak leading a workshop in front of a screen reading "Measure your team's productivity" with strategy notes on the whiteboard.

    Workshop: measuring team productivity

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Apr 2025 · ELC meetup #26: platform engineering in the wild

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Apr 2025 · ELC meetup #25: earning a new team's trust

  • Marian Kamenistak at the Engineering Leaders Community conference 2026.

    Apr 2026 · ELC Conference

  • Marian Kamenistak in a leadership workshop, in front of a slide titled "Top 3 dangers — Why we haven't delivered the roadmap this quarter."

    Leadership workshop: why the roadmap slipped

  • Audience at Plato Elevate San Francisco engineering leaders conference.

    Plato Elevate, San Francisco

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Mar 2025 · ELC meetup #24: PM and EM synergies

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Feb 2025 · ELC meetup #23: selling technical ideas

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking with a microphone at an Engineering Leaders Community event, hand raised mid-gesture.

    ELC meetup, audience Q&A

  • Marian Kamenistak at the Engineering Leaders Community conference 2026.

    Apr 2026 · ELC Conference

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Jan 2025 · ELC meetup #20: saving one day a week with AI

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Dec 2024 · ELC meetup #19: the real role of Staff/Principal devs

  • Marian Kamenistak facilitating a workshop, mid-gesture, in front of a slide about roadmap delivery.

    In-house leadership workshop

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Nov 2024 · ELC meetup #17: Agile is dead. Now what?

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking to a full room of engineering leaders at an ELC meetup.

    ELC meetup, Prague

  • Marian Kamenistak leading a workshop in front of a screen reading "Measure your team's productivity" with strategy notes on the whiteboard.

    Workshop: measuring team productivity

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Apr 2025 · ELC meetup #26: platform engineering in the wild

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Apr 2025 · ELC meetup #25: earning a new team's trust

  • Marian Kamenistak at the Engineering Leaders Community conference 2026.

    Apr 2026 · ELC Conference

  • Marian Kamenistak in a leadership workshop, in front of a slide titled "Top 3 dangers — Why we haven't delivered the roadmap this quarter."

    Leadership workshop: why the roadmap slipped

  • Audience at Plato Elevate San Francisco engineering leaders conference.

    Plato Elevate, San Francisco

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Mar 2025 · ELC meetup #24: PM and EM synergies

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Feb 2025 · ELC meetup #23: selling technical ideas

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking with a microphone at an Engineering Leaders Community event, hand raised mid-gesture.

    ELC meetup, audience Q&A

  • Marian Kamenistak at the Engineering Leaders Community conference 2026.

    Apr 2026 · ELC Conference

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Jan 2025 · ELC meetup #20: saving one day a week with AI

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Dec 2024 · ELC meetup #19: the real role of Staff/Principal devs

  • Marian Kamenistak facilitating a workshop, mid-gesture, in front of a slide about roadmap delivery.

    In-house leadership workshop

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking at an engineering leadership event.

    Nov 2024 · ELC meetup #17: Agile is dead. Now what?

  • Marian Kamenistak speaking to a full room of engineering leaders at an ELC meetup.

    ELC meetup, Prague