The leadership accelerator for startup managers

Community and group coaching for high-potential leaders

(Your team will thank you later)

What makes us different

No BS

We work in reality, not hypotheticals. We focus on practical tools and apply them to workshopping live challenges.

Curated Community

We vet every single applicant to ensure that you are learning with other awesome leaders and good humans.

Startup Focus

Leadership at startups is just different from big companies. We know the unique challenges of high growth environments, and tailor our program accordingly.

Expert Coaches

All coaches and facilitators are experienced startup operators who bring their own hard-earned leadership lessons.

Trusted by 400+ managers from top startups

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What alumni are saying

  • "This course was a game-changer! I really liked Annie's practical approach to teaching management fundamentals and questioning underlying assumptions. It was all spot-on. Annie has a knack for making complex concepts easy to grasp. Highly recommend this course for anyone looking to elevate their management skills."

    - Jamie Babineaux - Sales Manager | Brightwheel

  • "This is unlike any corporate training I have ever completed, in the best way possible. Annie brilliantly describes why certain situations can feel SO tricky. Understanding the why is tremendously helpful, but she takes it several steps further. She helped me identify my unique hurdles and taught me easy, low stakes techniques to navigating these obstacles successfully. Annie and her team are one of a kind, you don't miss out on this experience!"

    - Emily Bacon, Applied Data Analyst | SecondMeasure

  • "This engaging training helped me build a toolbox of external & internal resources for me to be an effective people manager. "

    - MP Bausch, People Ops | NoRedInk

  • "10/10 would recommend. The fundamental approach of building a menu of ways to tackle various issues opposed to the belief that there is a single method/solution to any given problem deeply resonated with me. I found it incredibly helpful to be in a group setting with managers from all different fields, resulting in both support for shared struggles and better insight into how others approach things, allowing me to see my potential blind spots."

    - Sabrina M, Principal Scientist | Stemson

  • "Fort Light has been an invaluable partner to me and the many managers I've worked with over the years. Their program stands out because they focus specifically on the interpersonal skills that managers need to lead in high-growth, often highly ambiguous startup environments — and they help managers reflect on (and evolve) their own unique mindset. I cannot recommend Fort Light highly enough."

    - Caroline Lau, Head of People | Aptible

  • "Without a doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone aspiring to excel in management, regardless of industry or level of experience. You can expect to gain solid foundation that's relevant to so many management situations. Fort Light is one of those incredibly rare programs where I'm confident what I've learned here will serve me well not only in the immediate short-term, but throughout my entire career."

    Jennifer Y, Marketing

  • "The care & thought that Annie has put into this experience is unlike everything I've ever been through. Fort Light is an invaluable experience for people who have started their management journey but want to learn & grow how to serve their reports, company, and selves in the best way they can. The lessons apply to both professional & personal lives, and changed the way I see the world. The book we can take away with us after is my new favorite book; I'm eager to practice and incorporate these tools and frameworks into all difficult or stressful situations moving forward."

    Shriya Nevatia, Founder & CEO @ Ignite

  • "The program built a really strong foundation and framework for me to think about leadership in a startup setting. I still go back to the material when I face a tricky situation at work, and Annie is also so open and generous with her insights, experience and counsel! There is also a lot of support structures in place, like peer coaching, which I still continue with my Fort Light buddy till this day!"

    Gloria Chua, Design Manager @ Anchorage Digital

  • "Fort Light helped me get out of my head and identify common themes inhibiting my growth as a more senior people manager. It was beneficial to connect with peers at different companies and learn from Annie and Val every week, especially when I was a few months into my current role. I'm grateful for the tactical skills I practiced during our weekly sessions and employ them often as the leader of a growing customer support organization."

    Sophie Heller, Head of Support @ Trust & Will

  • "This is a great fit for folks working in a startup, regardless of company stage / funding OR function within the company. If you are someone who is looking to build and develop teams, this is the training for you!"

    Natalie Cantave, Director of Marketing @ Stackwell

  • "I thought I was just going for training on how to become a better leader and to earn the skills I needed to move towards a management role. What I wasn’t expecting was the overall personal growth experience I would get. Fort Light gives you a toolkit that allows you to be a better communicator all around and will help you in many relationships (not only the work ones!)"

    Scarlette Clayton, Business Analyst

  • "Since participating in Fort Light I've had many opportunities to implement new tactics with my direct reports. The biggest thing that I got out of it, was confidence and reassurance around the actions I take and the words that I use."

    Jon Rushing

Upcoming 2025 Programs

NYC
Jan 22-23

In-person
Two full days of coaching
Kickoff dinner Jan 21
10 weeks of follow-up

SF
Feb 12-13

In-person
Two full days of coaching
Kickoff dinner Feb 11
10 weeks of follow-up

Virtual
Jan 27-Mar 14

Online via Zoom
2-hour weekly meetings
Multiple times available
10 weeks of follow-up

The Experience

  • Group coaching sessions are the heart of our program. You’ll learn new tools, get coaching on real challenges, and practice new skills in a small group of peers from different companies, plus expert operators-turned-coaches who have been in your shoes.

  • You’ll get up to two 1:1 coaching sessions with a Fort Light coach during the program. These sessions are bookable any time starting from admissions, up to ten weeks after the final group coaching session. All Fort Light coaches are experienced operators, who bring coaching as well as advice!

  • Each course meeting includes tons of peer learning! In addition, you’ll have the option to connect with fellow managers from the program in our Slack community, through 1:1 meetings, and community events.

  • We keep the party going for ten weeks following the last cohort meeting. You’ll receive weekly articles, prompts and reflection questions designed to deepen your learning and to help you hold focus around this important work. You also have the opportunity to work 1:1 with a fellow manager from the program as “growth partners”, which supports learning and accountability