about Kinkou

Hi, I’m jason.

I’ve been serving as a leader for over two decades and known for my focus on people – learning to understand the whole person with their unique abilities and challenges, helping them identify obstacles, and amplifying their superpowers.

Let’s work together

I began my career in a technology startup, then worked as a consultant for multiple firms with clients across various industries and ranging in size from bootstrapped founders to Fortune 50 companies. As a Director responsible for leading Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) globally for the Starbucks Technology organization, I was sought after for my coaching and leadership development, spending many meaningful hours working with people & teams on transformational change.

I’m a lifelong learner on an unconventional professional path. In 2018 I started planning a shift from a sole leadership focus within Information Security and specializing heavily in Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC), to professional Coaching. After being a leader for many years, and enjoying the coaching aspect of my job more than anything, I decided to develop my professional coaching background with the Hudson Institute of Coaching, certifying as an Executive Coach. Hudson’s well-known and respected coaching methodology set me up well for meeting the extensive requirements of the International Coaching Federation as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). I’ve also had the privilege of studying and working deeply with the Immunity to Change methodology, as a facilitator of the approach for both individuals and teams. I’ve recently completed a deep learning journey with Team Coaching Studio‘s Diploma program.

Aside from Coaching, if we work together on strategy or assessment related to Information Security, GRC, or Privacy – you’ll notice that I lead with questions, and learn through listening. All of my background and experience is available to help you with the change you’re after.

Kinkou (keen-koh) means “balance”, a word with great personal meaning for me and the hope I have for those I work with – to bring balance back, or discover what new balance is possible.

When I’m not coaching or consulting, you might find me riding a bike, golfing, enjoying the outdoors, or at a Crossfit gym. I’m originally from Cleveland but loving Seattle and the Pacific Northwest for the last 12 years with my wife.

testimonials

What clients says about us

“Coaching has completely changed my mindset on how I approach goals. Jason spent months guiding me toward a more self-aware version of myself. We spent weeks breaking down things that I want to achieve into bite-size pieces, helping identify my strengths, wants versus needs, and uncovering aspects about myself that I wouldn’t have otherwise considered useful. The best self-care I have done in some time was working with Jason on myself. He has opened my eyes to coaching as a tool, and there is nobody I trust more to guide me. I am a better version of myself because of him, and the work that he put into me.”

Learn more about Leadership Coaching
Product Manager
Seattle
“I met Jason earlier this year when we were in the same learning group of Seth Godin’s altMBA. I enjoyed his perspective and learned so much with him during those four weeks, that I wanted to continue and start a coaching relationship. I was looking for someone outside my organization to help me explore things from a different perspective and challenge me. Initially, I started working with Jason on a long-term plan to transition to a new career in 2022. Within a month, all of our lives and my industry were shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic. Jason coached me through this stressful time, helping me to identify habits and thought processes to manage this stress.

Learn more about Transition Coaching
Senior Manager
Dallas
“Learning from Jason was a privilege. His sincere approach helped me to better understand my own challenges and strengths. There were obstacles sitting in my way that I hadn’t realized were there, and Jason helped me identify what those were so I could take them on one by one.
Not only have I had the privilege of one-on-one coaching with Jason, but also the great experience of being with a cohort of learners for the Multiplier’s Program. This was one of the best learning experiences I have had. Much of that had to do with the group of professionals that Jason put together. Each member was thoughtful, engaged, and full of lessons that were readily applicable in my own work. Needless to say, I use the techniques I learned from that course in my work every day and have become a more thoughtful and considerate leader because of it.”
Learn more about the “Multipliers” Leadership Coaching Program
Privacy Manager
Toronto
“Jason helped me magnify the attention I placed on some desired changes. Over the course of working together, I was able to let go of a long-standing desire for certainty and embrace the unfolding present in my career. This has had a subtle but important impact: it frees up mental space previously used for worry and self-judgement, allowing me to be more present in my work.”
Sr. Talent Development Manager
Maryland
“Being a working mother and in the cybersecurity profession, times can get quite stressful. Jason helped me to understand how I turn that stress into energy and build out critical plans for my own self-care. Having these new frameworks in my toolbox, it has helped me show up in a way that has been transformational for me as a leader. His empathy, compassion, and grit throughout our journey is something special, I would recommend anyone to work with him.”
SVP & Chief Information Security Officer
Seattle
“Before working with Jason, I had always been sceptical of coaching, viewing it more as a buzzword industry rather than a necessity. After working with Jason, my entire perspective of my leadership, my role, my ability to lead and influence others, and focus on what is truly important has transformed completely for the better. Jason pushed me in ways that I had not been before and often times I ended our sessions with more questions than answers and a desire to apply what we had covered that week. It became almost therapeutic, leaving me wanting to learn and grow more from each session. I entered our coaching agreement expecting to be guided and taught, but through Jason’s guidance and coaching I ended up teaching and guiding myself, a skill that will continue to have many benefits throughout my career. If you truly want to be challenged, grow as a leader, professional, and a person…Jason will help you achieve that. My time with him has fundamentally changed how I approach and view not just my career but also as a person, friend, and spouse and I’m positive it will have a lasting positive impact on me for many years to come. Jason is a highly valuable resource for anyone looking to reinvent or grow themselves in whatever aspect they require.”
Sr. Manager
Denver