Meet the founder
René Cole
Career Coach. Former Executive Recruiter. 2,000+ Hiring Decisions.
The coach who has been on the other side of the table.
René Cole is the founder and principal coach at The Career Doctor, a Washington DC career coaching practice built on a simple premise: the best career coach is one who has actually sat on the other side of the hiring table.
Before founding The Career Doctor, René spent two decades as an executive recruiter — personally closing 2,000+ hiring decisions across technology, biotech, SaaS, government contracting, and Fortune 50 companies including Amazon and Oracle. She evaluated candidates the way real hiring committees do, not just theorized about it.
That experience is the foundation of every coaching engagement. Clients don't get generic advice about 'telling your story.' They get specific, hiring-committee-level feedback on how they're actually being evaluated — and what to change.
René holds ICF coaching credentials and works with clients in Washington DC, Northern Virginia, Maryland, and nationally via virtual coaching. She specializes in career coaching for software engineers, research scientists, biotech and life sciences professionals, SaaS and govtech executives, product and program managers, and experienced professionals navigating transitions, promotions, or compensation negotiations.
Who René works with
Specialists, executives, and career changers at every level.
Software engineers and technologists
From new grad to staff and principal — moving within or into FAANG and FAANG-adjacent companies.
Research scientists and PhDs
Translating bench experience and academic credentials into industry roles at biotech, pharma, and advanced tech companies.
SaaS and govtech executives
VP to CRO, director to VP, founder to operator — navigating senior-level transitions in technology companies.
Product and program managers
Positioning for promotion, external moves, or a pivot into tech from government or consulting.
Career changers
Professionals moving from government, academia, federal, or non-tech backgrounds into commercial industry roles.
Work with René
Book a free intro call to talk through where you are and what you're trying to accomplish.
Book a free intro call