I help design leaders craft impactful, fulfilling careers and grow happy, high-performing teams.
Leadership is deeply rewarding, but it can also be challenging and overwhelming. You’re navigating high expectations, tight timelines, and the need to inspire clarity in an ever-changing world. Often on your own with little time to reflect—or first-hand experience to draw on—it’s easy to feel stuck, stretched, or unsure of the best way forward. Let alone in a way that feels authentic to who you are and the impact you want to have in the world.
I’ve been there. With 20 years in product design and leadership, including the last five as Director of Product Design at Monzo, there’s a good chance I’ve faced the challenges you’re navigating now. After managing over 100 individuals and scaling multiple design teams ranging from 10 → 60+, for companies like BuzzFeed in New York and Babylon Health in London, I understand the high stakes, the hard decisions, and the weight of leadership.
That’s why I’m here. To help leaders like you create the space to unpack challenges, gain clarity, and craft a sustainable, fulfilling path forward for you and your team. If you need a trusted partner to help in prioritising what matters, lightening your load or amplifying your impact, I’d love to chat.
Services
Services
Services
‘Coach’ and ‘advisor’ can mean many things. I chose the name Intentional Partners because that’s how I work best. I care about long-term, purposeful relationships, meeting you where you’re at, and tailoring our partnership to evolve together over time, as you grow. I’m here to help enable leaders like you. Consider the suggestions below as a starting point.
1
Coaching for Experienced and Emerging Design Leaders
Whether you’re early in your management journey, leading an entire organisation, or a seasoned senior IC considering what’s next, I’ll help you navigate the challenges of leadership and unlock growth—for yourself, your team, or your product.
Our sessions are all about you—whether you’re stuck on a tricky strategic decision, need to navigate complex team dynamics, or just want a candid partner to help you think bigger. I’ll bring insights from over a decade in design leadership to help you tackle your toughest challenges with confidence.
To ensure meaningful progress, I recommend meeting every other week for a minimum of six sessions.
1
Coaching for Experienced and Emerging Design Leaders
Whether you’re early in your management journey, leading an entire organisation, or a seasoned senior IC considering what’s next, I’ll help you navigate the challenges of leadership and unlock growth—for yourself, your team, or your product.
Our sessions are all about you—whether you’re stuck on a tricky strategic decision, need to navigate complex team dynamics, or just want a candid partner to help you think bigger. I’ll bring insights from over a decade in design leadership to help you tackle your toughest challenges with confidence.
To ensure meaningful progress, I recommend meeting every other week for a minimum of six sessions.
1
Coaching for Experienced and Emerging Design Leaders
Whether you’re early in your management journey, leading an entire organisation, or a seasoned senior IC considering what’s next, I’ll help you navigate the challenges of leadership and unlock growth—for yourself, your team, or your product.
Our sessions are all about you—whether you’re stuck on a tricky strategic decision, need to navigate complex team dynamics, or just want a candid partner to help you think bigger. I’ll bring insights from over a decade in design leadership to help you tackle your toughest challenges with confidence.
To ensure meaningful progress, I recommend meeting every other week for a minimum of six sessions.
2
Advising for Scaling Product Companies
I provide leadership and strategic advisory tailored to your company’s stage of growth. Whether you’re a Head of Design looking to elevate your team, a product leader building one from scratch, or simply need an experienced partner to tackle key organisational challenges, I’ll help you create and execute a clear path forward. I’ve supported scaling companies in key areas such as:
Growing your team. From org design and tailored hiring approaches to onboarding and retaining top talent.
Improving quality and pace. Establishing feedback standards, tools, and rituals to define excellence and ship quicker.
Strengthening design strategy. Enhancing design’s visibility, fostering a shared vision, and aligning with company goals.
Crafting ways of working. Building stronger collaboration within the team and among cross-functional partners.
I work best as a long-term partner on an ongoing retainer, including two hours of weekly video calls with async support in between. Depending on availability, I can also flex to ad hoc needs or scale up to one day per week in an interim fractional leadership capacity.
2
Advising for Scaling Product Companies
I provide leadership and strategic advisory tailored to your company’s stage of growth. Whether you’re a Head of Design looking to elevate your team, a product leader building one from scratch, or simply need an experienced partner to tackle key organisational challenges, I’ll help you create and execute a clear path forward. I’ve supported scaling companies in key areas such as:
Growing your team. From org design and tailored hiring approaches to onboarding and retaining top talent.
Improving quality and pace. Establishing feedback standards, tools, and rituals to define excellence and ship quicker.
Strengthening design strategy. Enhancing design’s visibility, fostering a shared vision, and aligning with company goals.
Crafting ways of working. Building stronger collaboration within the team and among cross-functional partners.
I work best as a long-term partner on an ongoing retainer, including two hours of weekly video calls with async support in between. Depending on availability, I can also flex to ad hoc needs or scale up to one day per week in an interim fractional leadership capacity.
2
Advising for Scaling Product Companies
I provide leadership and strategic advisory tailored to your company’s stage of growth. Whether you’re a Head of Design looking to elevate your team, a product leader building one from scratch, or simply need an experienced partner to tackle key organisational challenges, I’ll help you create and execute a clear path forward. I’ve supported scaling companies in key areas such as:
Growing your team. From org design and tailored hiring approaches to onboarding and retaining top talent.
Improving quality and pace. Establishing feedback standards, tools, and rituals to define excellence and ship quicker.
Strengthening design strategy. Enhancing design’s visibility, fostering a shared vision, and aligning with company goals.
Crafting ways of working. Building stronger collaboration within the team and among cross-functional partners.
I work best as a long-term partner on an ongoing retainer, including two hours of weekly video calls with async support in between. Depending on availability, I can also flex to ad hoc needs or scale up to one day per week in an interim fractional leadership capacity.
3
Deep Dive Working Session
A one-hour jam session designed to tackle your most pressing challenge. Whether you’re wrestling with a product design dilemma, a pivotal career decision or a complex leadership question, this session provides a focused, confidential space to explore fresh solutions together, leaving you with actionable next steps and renewed confidence in your ability to tackle what’s ahead.
While these typically happen over video calls, we could also use Figma, FigJam, Google docs or whatever tool best suits the challenge you’d like to work through together.
3
Deep Dive Working Session
A one-hour jam session designed to tackle your most pressing challenge. Whether you’re wrestling with a product design dilemma, a pivotal career decision or a complex leadership question, this session provides a focused, confidential space to explore fresh solutions together, leaving you with actionable next steps and renewed confidence in your ability to tackle what’s ahead.
While these typically happen over video calls, we could also use Figma, FigJam, Google docs or whatever tool best suits the challenge you’d like to work through together.
3
Deep Dive Working Session
A one-hour jam session designed to tackle your most pressing challenge. Whether you’re wrestling with a product design dilemma, a pivotal career decision or a complex leadership question, this session provides a focused, confidential space to explore fresh solutions together, leaving you with actionable next steps and renewed confidence in your ability to tackle what’s ahead.
While these typically happen over video calls, we could also use Figma, FigJam, Google docs or whatever tool best suits the challenge you’d like to work through together.
Testimonials
Testimonials
Testimonials
“
Tom has been an instrumental partner to me in scaling Monzo’s Design org. I’ve learned so much and levelled up as a leader throughout our time working together. Among other things he overhauled our hiring process, career framework and design reviews to strengthen product design at Monzo. His leadership working with product teams across the business has influenced and improved both our customer-facing experience and our complex internal tooling. A loved leader and trusted coach to those he manages, his leadership approach consistently brings the best out in others and sets an inclusive tone for our thriving design community.”
— Vuokko Aro, Chief Design Officer at Monzo
“
Tom has been an instrumental partner to me in scaling Monzo’s Design org. I’ve learned so much and levelled up as a leader throughout our time working together. Among other things he overhauled our hiring process, career framework and design reviews to strengthen product design at Monzo. His leadership working with product teams across the business has influenced and improved both our customer-facing experience and our complex internal tooling. A loved leader and trusted coach to those he manages, his leadership approach consistently brings the best out in others and sets an inclusive tone for our thriving design community.”
— Vuokko Aro, Chief Design Officer at Monzo
“
Tom has been an instrumental partner to me in scaling Monzo’s Design org. I’ve learned so much and levelled up as a leader throughout our time working together. Among other things he overhauled our hiring process, career framework and design reviews to strengthen product design at Monzo. His leadership working with product teams across the business has influenced and improved both our customer-facing experience and our complex internal tooling. A loved leader and trusted coach to those he manages, his leadership approach consistently brings the best out in others and sets an inclusive tone for our thriving design community.”
— Vuokko Aro, Chief Design Officer at Monzo
“
Tom’s superpower is using his deep empathy to build relationships quickly and help others around him thrive. During my time working with him, I witnessed first-hand how Tom’s thoughtfulness and craft expertise leveled up the designers around him. But even more than that, the example Tom set for his team and peers — for how to work through challenges together, how to accept critical feedback and action on it, and how to approach complex, messy product and org problems — had a lasting impact on his teams and on those he managed.”
— Cap Watkins, VP of Product Design at Lattice
“
Tom’s superpower is using his deep empathy to build relationships quickly and help others around him thrive. During my time working with him, I witnessed first-hand how Tom’s thoughtfulness and craft expertise leveled up the designers around him. But even more than that, the example Tom set for his team and peers — for how to work through challenges together, how to accept critical feedback and action on it, and how to approach complex, messy product and org problems — had a lasting impact on his teams and on those he managed.”
— Cap Watkins, VP of Product Design at Lattice
“
Tom’s superpower is using his deep empathy to build relationships quickly and help others around him thrive. During my time working with him, I witnessed first-hand how Tom’s thoughtfulness and craft expertise leveled up the designers around him. But even more than that, the example Tom set for his team and peers — for how to work through challenges together, how to accept critical feedback and action on it, and how to approach complex, messy product and org problems — had a lasting impact on his teams and on those he managed.”
— Cap Watkins, VP of Product Design at Lattice
“
Tom is one of those rare leaders who doesn’t just help people succeed—he inspires them to believe in their own potential. A visionary coach, he unlocks possibilities and empowers people to achieve more than they ever thought possible. At Monzo, I saw the profound impact he had—not only on his team but also on his peers, myself included. Tom’s approach is rooted in trust, respect, and an unwavering belief in others' success. He’s positive, thoughtful, and transformative. If you’re lucky enough to work with him, you’ll find his guidance to be a game-changer. I can’t recommend him highly enough.”
— Hayley Camille Morgan, Board Member at FutureMoney
“
Tom is one of those rare leaders who doesn’t just help people succeed—he inspires them to believe in their own potential. A visionary coach, he unlocks possibilities and empowers people to achieve more than they ever thought possible. At Monzo, I saw the profound impact he had—not only on his team but also on his peers, myself included. Tom’s approach is rooted in trust, respect, and an unwavering belief in others' success. He’s positive, thoughtful, and transformative. If you’re lucky enough to work with him, you’ll find his guidance to be a game-changer. I can’t recommend him highly enough.”
— Hayley Camille Morgan, Board Member at FutureMoney
“
Tom is one of those rare leaders who doesn’t just help people succeed—he inspires them to believe in their own potential. A visionary coach, he unlocks possibilities and empowers people to achieve more than they ever thought possible. At Monzo, I saw the profound impact he had—not only on his team but also on his peers, myself included. Tom’s approach is rooted in trust, respect, and an unwavering belief in others' success. He’s positive, thoughtful, and transformative. If you’re lucky enough to work with him, you’ll find his guidance to be a game-changer. I can’t recommend him highly enough.”
— Hayley Camille Morgan, Board Member at FutureMoney
“
Tom had a bigger impact on me during the time he managed me than anyone else in my career. Whether through his soft-spoken questions, clever wit, or honest reflections, he always had my best interests at heart. One of many examples is when before meeting him, I was ashamed of my poor visual design skills. He helped me work through this with support from my peers in gamified workshops. He built me up in a way that I now recognise as masterful leadership. I went on to do the same for my reports when I became a manager and built more great relationships as a result. Tom set my standard for exceptional leadership and now you have the opportunity to discover the same.”
— Liam Carter-Hawkins, Head of Design at Kry Livi
“
Tom had a bigger impact on me during the time he managed me than anyone else in my career. Whether through his soft-spoken questions, clever wit, or honest reflections, he always had my best interests at heart. One of many examples is when before meeting him, I was ashamed of my poor visual design skills. He helped me work through this with support from my peers in gamified workshops. He built me up in a way that I now recognise as masterful leadership. I went on to do the same for my reports when I became a manager and built more great relationships as a result. Tom set my standard for exceptional leadership and now you have the opportunity to discover the same.”
— Liam Carter-Hawkins, Head of Design at Kry Livi
“
Tom had a bigger impact on me during the time he managed me than anyone else in my career. Whether through his soft-spoken questions, clever wit, or honest reflections, he always had my best interests at heart. One of many examples is when before meeting him, I was ashamed of my poor visual design skills. He helped me work through this with support from my peers in gamified workshops. He built me up in a way that I now recognise as masterful leadership. I went on to do the same for my reports when I became a manager and built more great relationships as a result. Tom set my standard for exceptional leadership and now you have the opportunity to discover the same.”
— Liam Carter-Hawkins, Head of Design at Kry Livi
About
About
About
Hi, I’m Tom—nice to meet you. I’m based in Walthamstow, London, with my wife and two young boys. Among other things, my world view has been informed by making music, long train rides and nine years lived in New York City.
For me, joy at work comes from two things; empowering people and making things. Intentional Partners emerged as a long-term way for me to orient my life around these core values. Partnering with great leaders, wherever they are. If that sounds like something you’re looking for, I’d love to chat.
Intentional Partners is Tom Harman
A design leadership coach and advisor based in London, working globally
Intentional Partners is Tom Harman
A design leadership coach and advisor
based in London, working globally