Professional development programme — tailored coaching

Communication & Influence
for Senior Engineers

A focused programme for engineers moving into staff-level scope — where impact is delivered through people, teams, and decisions, not just code.

Format 1-on-1 coaching
Delivery Online, live
Language English
Level B2–C1
4 Total modules
4 Core focus areas
2–3 Sessions per module · 60 min each
~20h Total duration incl. practice

Programme approach

Built around your actual work

All sessions are built around real professional scenarios relevant to the student's current role and upcoming career transition. No generic exercises — each session draws directly from the student's actual work context, team dynamics, and the specific challenges of moving from senior to staff engineer scope. Progress is tracked session-by-session with concrete language and communication goals.

"Real work scenarios used — no generic exercises."

Programme philosophy

Course modules

Four core areas of impact

01

Module 01

Negotiation & stakeholder alignment

Aligning different teams and driving decisions when priorities conflict

+

What we cover

  • The language of disagreement — how to say no without closing the conversation
  • Staying in the conversation when you want to exit
  • Reframing conflict as alignment work
  • Negotiation vocabulary for cross-team priorities
  • Following up after a difficult meeting

Session structure

  • Session 1 — Frameworks: principled negotiation, interest vs. position
  • Session 2 — Roleplay: real stakeholder scenarios from the student's work context
  • Session 3 — Language refinement and written follow-up practice

Learning outcomes

  • Hold your ground professionally
  • Navigate disagreement without damaging relationships
  • Reach decisions faster across teams
  • Use precise English negotiation vocabulary
02

Module 02

Presenting technical work to non-technical audiences

Demos, stakeholder updates, leadership meetings

+

What we cover

  • Translating technical complexity into business impact language
  • Structuring updates for different audience types
  • How to answer hard questions without losing the room
  • Confident delivery under scrutiny
  • Slide decks vs. spoken narrative — when to use which

Session structure

  • Session 1 — Audience mapping: what business stakeholders actually need to hear
  • Session 2 — Live practice: present a real project, receive structured feedback
  • Session 3 — Q&A handling and executive summary language

Learning outcomes

  • Speak to business stakeholders with clarity
  • Frame technical decisions in terms of cost and risk
  • Handle tough questions under pressure
  • Build credibility in leadership meetings
03

Module 03

Influencing without authority

Driving cross-team initiatives when you are not the formal lead

+

What we cover

  • The language of persuasion vs. pressure
  • Building buy-in before the meeting even starts
  • How to bring an idea to a team you don't manage
  • Framing proposals so other people feel ownership
  • Recovering when your initiative stalls

Session structure

  • Session 1 — Influence models: coalition-building, framing, timing
  • Session 2 — Written practice: async Slack and email influence strategies
  • Session 3 — Roleplay: pitching a cross-team initiative live

Learning outcomes

  • Move initiatives forward without formal authority
  • Win support from reluctant teammates
  • Lead cross-functional work with confidence
  • Communicate ideas persuasively in written and spoken English
04

Module 04

Structured communication in high-pressure situations

Incident response, escalations, tight deadlines

+

What we cover

  • Communicating clearly when stress is high and time is short
  • Escalation language — what to say and how to say it
  • Status update structure during an incident or crisis
  • Managing expectations without over-promising
  • Post-incident communication and accountability

Session structure

  • Session 1 — Frameworks: SBAR, structured escalation, the 3-sentence update
  • Session 2 — Simulation: timed incident scenario with live communication practice
  • Session 3 — Review, written templates, personal playbook

Learning outcomes

  • Stay composed and clear under pressure
  • Escalate professionally and efficiently
  • Protect relationships during difficult moments
  • Build trust with leadership through reliable communication
AS

Anna Solovey

Communication Coach
for Senior Engineers
& Tech Professionals

14+ years of experience
NeuroLanguage Coaching® · ICF Certified
Cornell University · Business Communication & Negotiation
MA · Language Teaching & Intercultural Communication

About the instructor

Anna Solovey is a communication coach for senior engineers and tech professionals moving into staff-level roles — where impact depends on influence, alignment, and clear decision-making, not just technical expertise.

With 14+ years of experience, she helps engineers communicate complex ideas to business stakeholders, navigate high-stakes conversations, and lead cross-team initiatives in English. Her work focuses on real scenarios: stakeholder negotiations, leadership updates, incident communication, and influencing without authority.

Anna holds a Master's degree in language teaching and intercultural communication, completed advanced training at Cornell University (eCornell) in Business Communication and Negotiation, and is certified in NeuroLanguage Coaching® (ICF).

She has worked with global tech teams at companies like Evil Martians, Miro, and Semrush, and has prepared professionals and founders for high-pressure communication — from leadership meetings to investor pitches and international accelerators, including Y Combinator.

Her approach is practical and highly personalized: every session is built around the participant's real work context, ensuring immediate application and measurable progress.

Has worked with teams at

Evil Martians Miro Semrush Y Combinator Netflix

Get started

Ready to move into staff-level scope?

Book a free consultation to discuss your goals and find out if this programme is the right fit.

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