Lead Up.
Lead Down.
Lead Authentically.

Hi, I'm Karina Przybyłek and I help new and experienced manager navigate the challenge of earning team trust while gaining senior leadership respect - without losing yourself in the process.
How can I help?

Leadership Focus Sessions™

Whether you're a new team lead struggling with the transition, a seasoned manager feeling stuck, or someone ready to advance, you face the core middle management challenge: leading effectively in both directions while staying true to yourself.
‍
Most middle managers get caught in the squeeze - trying to satisfy senior leadership demands while keeping their team motivated, often losing their authentic voice in the process. I'll show you a better way through targeted 60-minute Leadership Focus Sessions™.
‍
Focus areas you might be interested in are:

Build Trust Downward

  • Create psychological safety where your team brings problems and ideas to you first, building the foundation of effective leadership. Learn how to respond to challenges and mistakes in ways that encourage openness rather than defensiveness.
  • Give feedback that improves performance without damaging relationships. Master the balance between being direct about issues while maintaining trust and respect.
  • Motivate without micromanaging while establishing authority when you were recently promoted from within the team. Navigate the delicate transition from colleague to leader without losing relationships or compromising your effectiveness.

Build Influence Upward

  • Present ideas confidently to senior leadership, even when you're the youngest/newest person in the room. Learn how to structure your communication, anticipate questions, and speak with authority that commands attention and respect.
  • Navigate organizational politics without compromising your values. Understand the unwritten rules and stakeholder dynamics while staying true to your authentic leadership style and maintaining your integrity.
  • Build credibility with senior leadership, whether you're establishing yourself as a new manager or positioning for advancement. Develop the executive presence and strategic thinking that makes senior leaders see you as someone worth investing in.

Lead Authentically in Both Directions

  • Develop a communication style that feels natural to you while being effective with both your team and senior stakeholders.
  • Learn to address performance issues, deliver unwelcome news, and navigate conflicts while maintaining relationships and achieving positive outcomes.
  • Build influence even without formal authority by leveraging your expertise, relationships, and communication skills.

Sound familiar?

1

New to the management

  • You were recently promoted (especially from within your team) and managing former peers feels awkward.
  • The transition from "one of the team" to "the boss" is harder than you expected.
  • You want to build credibility and authority without losing relationships or changing who you are.
2

Seasoned but stucked

  • You've been managing for 2+ years with consistently good performance reviews but no clear path forward.
  • You feel caught between your team's needs and senior leadership's demands.
  • You know you're capable of more but aren't sure what you need to do differently to get promoted.
3

Ready for more

  • You want to stop avoiding difficult conversations and start addressing issues head-on.
  • You're ready to get noticed by senior leadership as promotion material, not just reliable.
  • You want to become the leader your team genuinely wants to follow and upper management wants to advance.

Let's get
to know each other

The middle management role comes with unique challenges at every stage. I've seen new managers struggle with the transition from peer to leader, experienced managers feel trapped in their current level, and capable managers miss advancement opportunities - all because they hadn't mastered the art of leading effectively in both directions. The key advantage is understanding what both your team and senior leadership truly need - and then delivering it consistently.

My approach

I bring together three elements that specifically help middle managers break through to senior leadership

1. Proven Path

15+ years of growing from individual contributor to C-suite, with proven strategies for advancing through each management level - I know what works at your stage.

2. Awareness

Mindfulness and self-awareness techniques that help you show up confidently in meetings with senior leadership while staying authentic with your team.

3. Right words

Communication strategies that help you influence upward without seeming pushy, motivate your team without micromanaging, and position yourself as promotion-ready.

What makes me different

I've walked your exact path. Over 15 years, I progressed from IT Project Manager to COO - I know what it takes to break through each management level. I know what it's like to be promoted from within your team, to have former peers now report to you, and to struggle for credibility with both directions. As a graduate of the Leadership Psychology Academy - the most prestigious development program in Poland - I bring both theoretical depth and practical expertise to our sessions. I help new and experienced managers make the leap from managing tasks to leading people – earning trust from your team while gaining respect from senior leadership. My approach is enriched by daily experience with horses, which has taught me essential leadership skills: self-awareness, reading non-verbal communication, mindfulness, humility, and clear, precise communication. I apply these insights directly to working with managers - teaching them how to build authentic authority based on presence and trust, not just job titles. Whether you're six months into your first management role or six years into feeling stuck in middle management, I provide practical tools to become the leader your team wants to follow and upper management wants to promote. I believe that effective team leadership doesn't require changing your personality or sacrificing your values. Instead, it's about amplifying your natural strengths while developing new capabilities that align with your values and goals.
‍

Hear from Managers Like You

Get in touch
Karina has challenged me to step outside my comfort zone in my leadership journey, which I am truly grateful for. She has played a key role in helping me sharpen my decision-making skills and develop a more strategic perspective on leadership. Through her guidance, I’ve learned to step back from day-to-day challenges and see the bigger picture - understanding how my choices impact not just my team but the broader organization. She has encouraged me to take a more proactive approach, engage more deeply in shaping key initiatives, and navigate complex situations with clarity and confidence. Thanks to her mentorship, I now make decisions with greater foresight and alignment with long-term goals, allowing me to contribute more effectively to my organization’s success.
Anna Maślisz
Delivery Team Lead
Karina's support has been instrumental in my growth as a leader. Her mentorship has given me the clarity and confidence to navigate challenging situations while empowering me to stand my ground without losing openness to different perspectives. What stands out most is that she not only talks the talk but also walks the walk, and learning through her example has been truly impactful. As a result, I now approach professional contexts with greater ease, staying true to my authentic voice - an approach that has strengthened both my leadership presence and relationships with others.
Joanna Jabłońska
Delivery Team Lead
When hard work and dedication meet intelligence and skills, true leaders are born. Karina, as a leader and my mentor, helped me step up my game. She taught me to truly hear what others have to say in between the lines, by being a careful listener herself. I've learned how to better convey a message, give constructive feedback with respect and consideration, how to assist the team in a crisis, or how to address tough work situations without feeling smitten. Karina's advice helped me accelerate my career.
Mariia Sapon
Product Owner

Pricing

Adjustable pricing for your different needs

Leadership Focus Session™

69 USD
one targeted advisory session
Includes
  • One targeted 60 minutes advisory session
  • Focused and efficient use of time
  • Practical solutions you can implement immediately
Book a free consultation

Leadership Focus Program™

250 USD
charged monthly
INCLUDES
  • Four 60 minutes advisory sessions per month
  • Bespoke program for developing specific skills
  • Emergency sessions available for urgent situations
Book a free consultation

Leadership Guidance:
Key Details

If you still have some questions, have a look at the FAQ

What is a Leadership Focus Session™?

A Leadership Focus Session™ is a targeted 60-minute session where we tackle your most pressing middle management challenge - whether it's managing a difficult team member, preparing for a crucial conversation with your boss, or positioning yourself for promotion.

What can I expect during a session?

We'll tackle challenges like: finally addressing that underperforming team member, preparing to advocate for your team's needs to senior leadership, or developing your case for promotion. You'll leave with a clear action plan and the confidence to execute it.

What happens before and after the session?

Before: You'll complete a brief pre-session questionnaire and identify your most pressing challenge.
After: You'll receive a summary email with key points, action steps, and relevant resources.

How do I know if Leadership Focus Sessions™ are right for me?

Perfect if you're a middle manager who: feels caught between team needs and senior leadership demands, wants to advance but isn't sure what skills you need to develop, needs practical strategies you can use immediately in your current role.

What's the difference between Leadership Focus Session™ and the Leadership Focus Program™?

Leadership Focus Session™ provides targeted support for specific challenges, while Leadership Focus Program™ offers a dedicated program customized to your needs, strengthening leadership skills through regular meetings over a longer period of time (typically four meetings per month for a period of 3-6 months, with access to emergency sessions).

What's included in each type of service?

Leadership Focus Session™ includes:

  • One 60-minute targeted advisory session
  • Focused and efficient use of time
  • Practical solutions you can implement immediately

Leadership Focus Program™ includes:

  • Four 60-minute advisory sessions per month
  • Bespoke program for developing specific skills
  • Access to emergency sessions for urgent situations

What makes your approach different?

I've been exactly where you are. I know what it feels like to be promoted from within your team, to have former peers suddenly report to you, and to wonder what you need to do differently to reach senior leadership. My approach is based on real experience progressing through each management role, not just theory. Having reached the C-suite as a COO, I can help you understand how senior leadership actually thinks, what they're looking for in promotable managers, and how to position yourself as someone they want to advance.

How do you help achieve meaningful results?

I focus on the specific challenges middle managers face every day. Having progressed through each management level myself and served as a COO, I know what works at your stage and what senior leadership actually notices. We'll work on practical skills like getting your ideas heard in leadership meetings, building team credibility when you're managing former peers, and positioning yourself for promotion. My approach combines real-world experience with proven techniques, so you see immediate improvements in how both your team and senior leadership respond to you

What specific areas can we work on?

Popular focus areas for middle managers include:

  • Managing up effectively (how to get your boss's attention and support)
  • Building team credibility when you're new to leadership
  • Navigating office politics without compromising your values
  • Preparing for promotion conversations
  • Handling peer conflicts and difficult team dynamics

I'm worried about my team seeing me as a 'boss' instead of a colleague. How do you help with this transition?

This is the most common challenge I see with newly promoted managers. We'll work on establishing healthy boundaries while maintaining relationships, and developing authority that feels natural to your personality.

How do you help with career advancement to senior leadership?

Beyond improving your current management skills, we focus on positioning you for promotion - developing executive presence, strategic thinking, and the communication skills that senior leadership notices.

How do you help me understand what senior leadership wants?

Having served as a COO, I know how the C-suite thinks and what they're looking for when they evaluate middle managers for promotion. I'll help you understand their priorities, speak their language, and position yourself as the kind of manager they want to invest in.

What if my company doesn't have clear promotion paths?

We'll work on creating your own advancement opportunities - identifying skill gaps, building visibility with senior leadership, and potentially preparing you for opportunities outside your current organization.

What if I'm worried about the investment?

The cost of staying stuck is higher than the cost of advancement. This investment pays for itself when you get your next promotion, expanded responsibilities, or simply stop feeling frustrated in meetings.

How do we begin working together?

We start with a free confidential 30-minute chat to discuss your needs and determine the best path forward. This allows us to understand your challenges and ensure we're a good fit.

Book a free consultation
Lead with confidence in every direction.
Karina Przybyłek

Let’s have a chat

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
HomeServicesAbout meTestimonialsPricingFAQGet in touchPrivacy Policy