Valyou Coaching

When Farhan Thawar, VP of Engineering at Shopify, was asked about how he interviews, he offered a beautifully simple lens: People, Process, and Technology . These three areas, he said, are where great candidates truly reveal themselves. As an executive and careers coach, I find this framework a useful one, not just for those hiring, but also for those preparing to be hired at senior levels. Below, I share some of Thawar’s original interview questions and a few more that I’ve come across in my work as an Executive coach supporting clients who are facing CXO or senior level interviews. 1. Process “Describe the development process at your last company. What would you try again and why? What would you not try again and why not?” - Farhan Thawar “Describe a shitty system at your last company. What did you do about it?” - Farhan Thawar -What’s one process you reimagined that saved time,  dollars or improved quality? -Have you ever encountered process resistance? How did you navigate i...

What truly holds more power over us- our past, our present, or our future? This question often sits at the heart of the work I do. In professional interview preparation , especially with senior professionals, much of the focus is on the past. Clients are encouraged to highlight achievements, speak to career milestones, and offer compelling examples of their leadership and problem-solving abilities. The goal is to build a bridge between past experiences and the prospective employer’s current challenges. But in executive coaching , the dynamic shifts. Here, we often aim to soften the hold the past can have over us. Many clients come in burdened by outdated narratives- old feedback, past failures, missed opportunities. The inner critic speaks from a place that’s no longer current. In coaching, we create space to reframe these stories. The emphasis moves toward envisioning a different future, one that’s aligned with values, purpose, and potential. That said, whether we’re exploring the pas...