KEN NORTON

Ken Norton stands as a preeminent figure in the world of product leadership and strategic development, widely recognized for his profound insights and practical guidance. As the founder of Bring the Donuts, LLC, he serves as an executive coach to product leaders across various industries, helping them navigate complex challenges, foster innovation, and build world-class products. His unique approach combines deep operational experience with a coaching philosophy that empowers individuals and teams to achieve their full potential.

At Bring the Donuts, LLC, Ken's primary role involves working directly with CPOs, VPs of Product, and other senior product executives. He provides tailored coaching on critical areas such as product strategy, organizational design, team dynamics, and leadership development. His expertise is particularly valuable for companies undergoing rapid growth or significant product transformations, ensuring their product initiatives are aligned with business objectives and market demands. Ken's work helps leaders refine their vision, improve decision-making, and cultivate a culture of continuous improvement within their product organizations.

Ken Norton's distinguished career background provides the bedrock for his coaching prowess. He spent many years at Google, where he held significant product management roles, contributing to the development and scaling of numerous impactful products. This hands-on experience at one of the world's leading technology companies gave him an unparalleled understanding of what it takes to build and launch successful products at scale. Following his tenure as a product leader, Ken also served as a partner at Google Ventures (now GV), where he gained valuable experience in venture capital, evaluating early-stage companies and advising founders on product-market fit and growth strategies. This dual perspective—from both the operational side of product development and the investment side of venture capital—makes his counsel exceptionally well-rounded and impactful.

While Ken Norton's primary focus today is coaching, his background naturally positions him as a keen observer and potential investor in companies that align with his expertise. His investment focus areas typically revolve around early-stage technology companies, particularly those in SaaS, developer tools, artificial intelligence, and B2B software. He is drawn to startups with strong product-led growth potential, innovative solutions to real-world problems, and, most importantly, visionary founders who demonstrate exceptional product acumen and leadership. Ken understands the nuances of building scalable product organizations and looks for teams that can execute on a compelling product vision. Although specific public investments are not widely detailed, his influence through coaching and advisory roles has undoubtedly contributed to the success of numerous high-growth companies, effectively "investing" his knowledge and experience into their product leadership. His insights help companies avoid common pitfalls, accelerate their product development cycles, and ultimately achieve sustainable market success.

Ken Norton's commitment to sharing knowledge extends beyond his coaching practice. He is a well-known speaker at industry conferences and a prolific writer, contributing extensively to the discourse on product management and leadership. His articles and talks are highly regarded for their clarity, depth, and actionable advice, further solidifying his reputation as a thought leader in the product community. Through Bring the Donuts, LLC, Ken Norton continues to shape the next generation of product leaders, fostering innovation and driving product excellence across the tech landscape.