Success Stories

Sidney was instrumental from the very beginning of Poplin - guiding me through the earliest strategic decisions all the way through to exit.

His advice on go-to-market and pricing (yes, he told us to double it and he was right) gave us the confidence to grow with intent.

Beyond the business model, all problems are interpersonal problems, and his ability to sense and advise on people challenges was invaluable.

Working with Sidney is like having a second brain for your company. Sharp, calm, and always focused on what actually matters.

Narbeh Yousefian

Founder & CEO, Poplin Data

Working with Sid over the first 12 months of our startup journey has been like having an experienced co-founder by my side.

His strategic insight has been instrumental in shaping our go-to-market approach, assembling the right team, and navigating critical decisions.

Sid is a trusted adviser whose input has meaningfully influenced nearly every major move we've made.

Michael Chanter

Founder & CEO, Covalent Labs

Sidney has been a huge help in shaping our go-to-market (GTM) strategy.

He challenged us—founders and board included—to think differently, refine our vision, and focus on what truly matters.

With his insights, we’ve sharpened our strategy and rethought our brand positioning to stand out and connect more effectively with our audience.

His clarity, energy, and no-nonsense approach made a real impact, giving us the confidence to make bold moves that are already shaping our future.

Sapna Bhatia

Co-founder & COO, Adactin

Sidney is an exceptionally insightful and experienced mentor.

His experience in starting, funding and exiting businesses is a godsend to the Australian startup ecosystem where we have far too little experienced leaders.

Sidney has helped me get clarity in my leadership role and in dealings with employees and investors.

He has helped me understand what stage my business is at. Without being aware of your stage, you'll waste effort on sales and marketing tasks that are not stage relevant.

Silvia Pfeiffer

Co-Founder & CEO, Coviu

In a past life, I was a theoretical physicist turned quant and finally a software developer.

About two years ago, I unexpectedly found myself at the helm of Veriscape.

I inherited a swathe of problems I wasn’t accustomed to—declining revenues, legacy software, hidden operational gaps, and an incomplete (and at times hostile) workforce.

I still remember my first conversation with Sid. I laid out what I thought I was up against. What followed was a total shift—not just for the company, but for how I approached leadership.

Sid helped me navigate a complete reset: repositioning the company, refreshing the brand, and refocusing our go-to-market strategy. Revenues followed.

But what stood out most was the leadership coaching. That was pivotal. It shaped how I communicated value to our customers, how I approached renewal negotiations, and how I rebuilt a team that could move the company forward.

Now, we’re in a place where we can grow—both our software and our customer base—with confidence.

Pradeep Sriganesh

Chief Executive Officer, Veriscape

I am forever grateful to have had such an influence in my life that can gently guide the way through some of the most tricky times building and growing my business. 

Sidney comes from a place of deep experience. He has the battle scars, he knows the traps founders fall into, and he can see around the corners that are ahead. 

He is incredibly generous with his time (this is not typical for coaching arrangements) and even more generous with his contacts, warm introductions, and referrals. 

He's more than a coach. He's an advocate.

Hiam Sakakini

Founder & CEO, The Culture Equation

Working with Sid has been a game-changer for me as a Managing Director.

Initially, he was a client of ours, but his insights and expertise quickly proved invaluable beyond that role.

As my business advisor, he has helped me refine my leadership mindset, strengthen my decision-making, and develop a more effective leadership style.

His guidance on customer pricing strategies has led to smarter, more sustainable revenue growth, while his expertise in sales operations has helped streamline processes and improve efficiency.

Thanks to his coaching, I’ve gained the clarity and confidence to scale my business with a stronger foundation.

If you’re looking for a CEO coach who truly understands both strategy and execution, I highly recommend Sid.

Luke Trewin

Founder & Managing Director, Modern Visual

Since working with Sidney, my approach to business has completely transformed.

He helped me rationalise, optimise, and confidently shut down ventures that weren’t serving my long-term vision while launching a new business with drastically improved profit margins from day one.

What sets him apart is his blend of practical hands-on strategies and deep leadership mindset coaching.

Sidney is that rare mix of big-picture strategist and tactical genius.

He doesn’t just throw high-level advice at you, he gets into the weeds with real, practical tips on business strategy, GTM execution, and leadership mindset.

He helps me make tough calls, and move fast without second-guessing every decision.

His ability to balance big-picture thinking with actionable steps has made an incredible impact on my business and personal growth.

Angela Langmann

Founder, Investor, Advisor, ex-Amazon GM

I love Sid - he’s one of those people you just can’t help but love.

He leads with heart and moves with mind, always bringing warmth and clarity into the conversation.

He asks the right questions at the right time.

When I’m too deep into something, he helps me zoom out. When I’m too high up, he grounds me.

With Sid, I know I have a friend who truly has my back.

Hambardzum Kaghketsyan

Founder, Chief Investment Officer, Satori Quant Fund 

Sid has an invaluable way of combining empathy with entrepreneurship.

I was fortunate to be one of his employees at Contexti before later being advised by him on my own startup journey.

Sid lives and breathes his philosophy.

He leads with love—and has inspired me to do the same.

His mentorship has shaped me as a founder: learning to say "no," identifying "hair-on-fire" problems and first-hand experiences, and now developing a custom GTM strategy for my own venture.

Sid is the kind of leader who practices what he preaches.

His wisdom comes from both experience and experimentation.

For every lesson and navigation tool he shares, there are many layers to unpack.

Our weekly calls are a driving force and set the cadence for my business.

At the core of his framework is an overarching message of love—what it means to lead with love, the importance of joy, and the true potential of teams with purpose.

Adrian Guerrera

Founder, Opals.io