The Next Evolution of Downshift

Announcing Our Fall 2024 Cohort and New Additions to the Team

Eight months after founding Downshift, today marks a significant milestone in our evolution.

I’m thrilled to announce that applications for our Fall 2024 cohort are now open. For those unfamiliar, Downshift is the world’s first decelerator program designed for high performers navigating transitions and moments of lostness.

This cohort will feature a 10-week curriculum, enhanced modules, new guest lecturers, and a 3-day in-person retreat designed to deepen the experience of our Downshifters. It all kicks off on Tuesday, October 8th at the Eldred Preserve in the Catskills of New York.

We’re also excited to welcome two incredible new coaches to our team: Tracy Lawrence and David Spinks. Both are former founders who successfully navigated their own transitions and healing journeys after exiting their companies. Now dedicated to coaching leaders, they bring fresh perspectives, deep insights, and a wealth of experience to our program.

Finally, our new website is now live, marking Downshift’s transition from solely offering our decelerator program to becoming a full-spectrum coaching company. We now offer 1:1 coaching and are planning to introduce more services next year. This is just the beginning of our vision to evolve into a multi-product and services company supported by a community of skilled coaches and practitioners.

If you’re interested in learning more about this evolution and the opportunities in our upcoming cohort, please continue reading or visit Downshift.me. 

Thank you for your continued interest in Where the Road Bends. Your time and attention mean the world to me.

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For more than a decade, I've quietly longed to start a company that could impact others and become a vehicle that transcends myself. ​​Every time I had a big idea, I would eventually find an excuse, get overwhelmed and scared, or my unconscious conditioning would keep me anchored in my old ways.

Then, as a solopreneur and coach, I comfortably settled into the lifestyle and its abundant freedoms—I could truly do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. This autonomy was intoxicating, especially as an Enneagram Type 7, but it came with its own set of challenges. At times, I grew complacent, yet I had a persistent longing to collaborate and build something greater with others.

Despite numerous opportunities to partner with some incredible coaches over the past five years, I resisted. The timing never felt quite right, and I didn’t have the confidence, in both myself and those relationships, to move forward. 

Earlier this year, the vision of Downshift took shape. Initially, I envisioned it as a scalable, virtual cohort-based course run by me. I quickly realized that to achieve the vision and mission, going it alone wasn't feasible—I lacked the necessary skills and experience, and more importantly, I realized I didn’t want to undertake this journey by myself. 

For our first cohort, I received help and support from many people, including friends and advisors like David Spinks, Wes Kao, Andy Johns, Rachel Jepsen, Alice Wells, Matt Yao, and many others. Being part of a team again was incredibly energizing and fulfilling. This experience reaffirmed my love for teamwork and collaboration. I didn’t realize how much I missed the camaraderie and the collective pursuit of something greater. 

Reflecting on our first cohort over the past month, it became clear that my days as a solopreneur were behind me.

Introducing Our New Team

I’m excited to announce that Tracy Lawrence is joining Downshift as a co-facilitator and David Spinks is joining as the first Downshift Coach. Both will play significant roles in our Fall 2024 decelerator cohort and will also be instrumental in shaping the foundation of the company. Matt Yao, my apprentice, will also be returning to support operations and help deliver an exceptional experience. I couldn’t be more ecstatic.

Tracy

Several months ago, I kicked off a search for a female co-facilitator to bring new energy and expertise into our program, particularly someone well-versed in mindfulness and somatics. The goal was to find a partner to help design and co-lead every touchpoint of our program, from retreats to workshops and beyond. After interviewing nearly two dozen impressive and highly qualified candidates, an unexpected yet perfect fit emerged—Tracy Lawrence.

For more than a year, numerous friends had insisted that I meet Tracy. As the former CEO of Chewse, she raised over $40 million from top-tier venture capitalists and led her business for nearly a decade before embarking on a personal and professional transformation. After selling her company in 2020 following a tumultuous journey, she relocated from San Francisco to Hawaii to slow down and heal.

While processing her transition alone on a Hawaiian beach, Tracy grappled with feelings of angst, regret, self-doubt, and shame. Although nature was a comforting partner, she longed for a community that understood her unique challenges. Most of the founder communities she belonged to didn't align with her phase of deconstructing and healing.

One significant pathway to Tracy's healing came through feeling pain in her body, which prompted a shift from decades of intellect-only thinking to incorporating bodily awareness. This transformation led her to study somatics and begin to leverage it in her coaching practice. Her formal training includes earning a Somatic Trauma Certificate from the Embody Lab, studying the work of Peter Levine, the creator of Somatic Experiencing, and extensive training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Aloha Meditation under Shambhala Buddhism.

Through Love Engine, her coaching practice, Tracy assists startup founders in scaling their businesses without sacrificing their mental health and relationships. She infuses more heart and compassion into their work, enriching her coaching approach with a focus on emotional well-being.

Over the last seven years, Tracy has gone deep into various philosophies, techniques, and modalities that emphasize slowness as a core state for fostering change. Her studies have encompassed meditation, somatics, psychedelics, and coaching, both as a practitioner and a recipient. Her move to Hawaii was an integral part of embracing a slower, more grounded lifestyle.

The more time I spent with Tracy, the clearer our alignment became. We both aim to serve high performers, but from different angles, sharing a deep desire to help them slow down and connect more deeply with their minds, bodies, and hearts. Tracy has also gone through her own significant transitions, which gives her a unique empathy and understanding for those we help at Downshift. Moreover, her decade as a startup CEO brings invaluable experience and perspective. These qualities perfectly complement my own background as a coach and former investor and operator.

David

David Spinks was among the first people I shared the concept of Downshift with during a hike on a frigid afternoon in January. Without any hesitation, he told me how much the idea resonated and offered to be involved in any capacity. At first, he advised me informally, gradually transitioning to a consulting role, and eventually, he became deeply integrated into every aspect of Downshift.

From the early days, David has been a core member of our team. As my co-facilitator in our Spring 2024 cohort, he did an incredible job, earning the respect and admiration of everyone involved. Downshift wouldn’t be what it is today without his contributions.

David is not only a seasoned entrepreneur but also one of the top community builders in the startup ecosystem. Despite his achievements, he has battled with self-doubt, anxiety, and depression throughout his entrepreneurial career. Following his tenure as CEO, he took an open-ended sabbatical to embark on what he refers to as 'the abyss,' a period of deep personal healing and transition. He emerged on the other side with a longing to help leaders navigate their transitions and redefine their relationships with work and life.

I’m thrilled to announce that David is joining Downshift as our first official Downshift Coach. He will be coaching high performers in transition as part of the Downshift platform and play a facilitator role in our upcoming Fall cohort. His approach to coaching is heavily influenced by the guidance he has received and his personal experiences, utilizing tools like Internal Family Systems (IFS), presence, mindfulness, meditation, and somatic experiencing. 

Our Downshifters will greatly benefit from his expertise as a community builder, coach, and facilitator. Most importantly, he’s a great human being and friend.

Matt

Last winter, Matt Yao and I met for breakfast in New York City, where he expressed his interest in becoming my apprentice. Initially, I was uncertain, but as I got to know him better, I became increasingly impressed by his thoughtfulness and deep commitment to learning the craft of coaching. The more time I spent with him, the more I knew he was a special person.

At just 25, Matt had already embarked on a journey of deep introspection that led him to leave his position as a Senior Product Manager at Cash App and take a transformative multi-year sabbatical. Despite having tremendous career momentum, something felt off; the typical Silicon Valley path didn't seem to suit him. He realized he needed a change that went beyond the conventional success metrics, seeking a path that aligned more closely with his values and aspirations.

When his apprenticeship kicked off and I shared the concept of Downshift with him, Matt dove head first into the opportunity. Throughout the program, Matt was involved in everything from last minute website edits to printing materials for the retreat and sharing his insights with the group. He quickly became an indispensable member of the team as well as a participant in our Spring cohort. Recently, he launched his coaching practice, specializing in guiding ambitious humans through chapters of transition, uncertainty, and lostness. 

I’m thrilled that Matt will be supporting our Fall cohort. He will play a crucial role by managing operations, providing product and user experience feedback, offering support wherever needed, and participating as a coach. Matt will ensure that every aspect of the cohort runs smoothly and will help enhance the Downshifter experience.

The common thread uniting us is that we are all high performers who have navigated significant transitions and undergone personal healing journeys. We feel a strong call to serve leaders who are currently in the midst of their own transitions. This group will form our core team over the next six months, and we'll be joined by several new practitioners and guest lecturers as our Fall cohort gets underway. Additionally, we are in discussions with other coaches and leaders who have experienced their own healing journeys and are eager to contribute to our mission at Downshift.

At Downshift, we view all of our relationships, including those with Tracy, David, and Matt, as experiments. This exploratory and iterative approach allows us to test the relationship and discover what wants to emerge, both individually and collectively. As we step into this next chapter with openness and curiosity, it’s my hope and belief these relationships will evolve into long-term partnerships.

Our Fall 2024 Cohort

I’m thrilled to announce that applications are now open for our Fall 2024 decelerator cohort, running from October 8th to December 14th. This cohort marks an exciting chapter for Downshift, as we’ve incorporated a treasure trove of feedback from our Spring ‘24 Downshifters to enhance the experience even further.

Program Enhancements:

• Slowing the Pace: We’re simplifying the overall curriculum and several modules to create more spaciousness and intentionality.

• Longer Duration: Now a 10-week program, offering more time for deceleration, reflection, and integration.

• Extended Kick-Off Retreat: A three-day in-person retreat, rather than two, to dive deeper from the start.

• Enhanced Downshift Practices: Greater emphasis on practices that help our Downshifters truly slow down in the context of their lives.

• Focused Integration: More time to process experiences and a robust 30-day integration protocol at the program’s end.

• Expanded Content: More time on topics such as core values, and embodied experimentation.

• Increased Interaction: More 1:1 and small group interactions throughout the program.

• Comprehensive Workbook: A Downshift workbook featuring readings, exercises, and reflections.

• Longer Guest Lectures: Extended sessions with our guest lecturers for deeper exploration.

• Community Hour: A newly designed space for spontaneous conversation and connection.

• Infusion of Soul: More integration of nature, poetry, art, and metaphor throughout the experience.

• Personalized Tier: For those seeking a more personalized and deeper experience, this premium option includes four 60-minute 1:1 coaching sessions and unlimited voice-memo access to Downshift coaches.

The journey begins on Tuesday, October 8th, with a three-day in-person retreat at the Eldred Preserve in the Catskills of New York, just two hours from New York City. Nestled within a 3,000-acre nature preserve and overlooking the stunning Sunrise Lake, the retreat will feature nature immersion, breathwork, and other surprises designed to ground and inspire you.

To learn more about our Fall 2024 cohort, you can learn more and apply here.

We’re also hosting two Q&A sessions in the coming weeks. These sessions will give you a glimpse of what to expect and answer any questions you may have. 

• 12pm ET on Friday, September 6th (Register for Session 1)

• 12pm ET on Friday, September 13th (Register for Session 2)

Finally, I’m excited to unveil our new website at downshift.me, where you can find more details about the decelerator, our 1:1 coaching, our philosophy, and our growing team. We view our site as a constantly evolving expression of who we are as an organization and team. 

A Heartfelt Thank You

If you've made it this far, I want to sincerely thank you for taking the time to read about all the exciting updates happening at Downshift. Your interest and support mean the world to us. If anything here resonates with you, or if you’re curious about how you might get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’d love to connect and hear your thoughts.

And if you know any high performers who are navigating a transition and could benefit from what we’ve created, I’d be truly grateful if you sent them our way. We’re here to support and guide them on their journey, just as we’re here for you.