Natalie Haywood

Natalie Haywood

Director of Engineering @ Netflix
5.0
(10 reviews)
Leadership, Growth, and Transformation
United States of America Active last month

Services

$270 / month

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  1. 1 Free 7-day trial
    No charge until day 7. Cancel anytime.
  2. 2 Ongoing calls + chat
    2 × 30-min calls per month, unlimited Q&A. Replies in 24 hours or less.
  3. 3 No lock-in
    Month to month, no contract.
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MentorCruise summary

Natalie is Director of N-Tech Engineering and Reliability at Netflix. She has more than 20 years of technology leadership experience, including roles at Epic Games, ServiceNow, and Mozilla. She helps engineers move into management, strengthen leadership narratives for promotions, and lead teams through organizational change.

Based on 6 verified mentee reviews

  • Several reviewers praise her candid, practical guidance on leadership transitions, blind spots, and career decisions.
  • Mentees value her structured sessions, clear direction, and concrete strategies for future growth.

About

Leadership Experience
With over 20 years of progressive leadership in technology organizations, I currently serve as Director of N-Tech Engineering & Reliability at Netflix, where I lead a comprehensive engineering organization spanning Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Site Reliability Engineering, Engineering Operations, and Talent Tech Engineering. My leadership journey includes transformative roles at Epic Games, ServiceNow, Mozilla, and more.

Mentorship & People Development Philosophy
Throughout my career and at Netflix, I've coached and inspired team managers, senior engineers, and incoming new graduates. I'm committed to improving inclusion, diversity, and equity across teams and have served on Women's ERG Councils, led Diversity & Inclusion cohorts, and actively participated in organizations like PDX WIT.

Where I Can Help You Grow
Leadership Development: Transitioning from individual contributor to manager, developing your leadership style, building high-performing teams, and navigating organizational dynamics
Engineering Management: Scaling technical teams, implementing engineering best practices, managing complex technology portfolios, and driving organizational transformation
Career Advancement: Strategic career planning, developing executive presence, preparing for promotions, and building cross-functional partnerships
Technology Strategy: Product ownership, service delivery at scale, managing enterprise systems, and balancing operational excellence with innovation
People Management: Hiring and retaining top talent, creating inclusive team cultures, providing effective feedback, and developing others
Organizational Change: Leading transformation initiatives, building new teams and capabilities, and navigating fast-paced, growing organizations

Ready to grow your career? I'm here to help you navigate challenges, develop leadership skills, and accelerate your professional journey through candid conversations and practical guidance.

What mentees say

5 out of 5 stars

Natalie helped me to navigate unknown territories in my career, and help me find what I value deeply as an individual. I started off seeking professional guidance on leadership, but in the end I not only learned that, but became a better human. Highly recommended!

Deleted

Deleted

Standard Plan • 7 months

5 out of 5 stars

Over the past six months, I’ve had the privilege of being mentored by Natalie during a season of real transition, navigating a job shift while preparing for paternity. Natalie brought a rare combination of thoughtfulness and challenge. She didn’t just affirm my ideas; she pushed me to sharpen them. She helped me step back, question my assumptions, and see my situation from angles I would have otherwise missed. Many of our conversations left me with a clearer head and a steadier center. Looking back, the goals we set together at the beginning of this journey are now checked off. More importantly, I feel aligned with the path ahead. I’m heading into paternity leave with a sense of peace and completion and a deeper confidence in the choices I’ve made. Grateful for the guidance, the perspective shifts, and the accountability. Thank you, Natalie.

sagar

Sagar

Standard Plan • 5 months

Sagar wrote 1 more review for the same mentorship

5 out of 5 stars

Natalie has been an incredible mentor. From the very beginning, she brought a level of organization, clarity, and presence that I value deeply. She has a grounding way of showing up fully attentive, structured without being rigid, and genuinely invested in my growth. Stepping into a new role can feel overwhelming, but she helped me navigate it with confidence. She gave me a solid framework to get started, asked thoughtful questions that helped me think more strategically, and consistently guided me back to what really mattered. Her approach made the transition feel far more intentional and manageable. I’m grateful for her support, her steadiness, and the space she created for me to grow. She’s an exceptional mentor and I’ve benefitted immensely from working with her. 🙌🏽

sagar

Sagar

5 out of 5 stars

Natalie is an incredibly thoughtful and dedicated mentor. From our very first interaction, she went out of her way to accommodate my timezone, proactively opening up new morning slots so I wouldn't have to take calls late on Friday evenings. That level of care set the tone for our entire working relationship. Her sessions were always well-structured, and she was consistently responsive and prepared. She helped me build clarity and confidence in what I'm looking for in my next career move. I'd recommend Natalie to anyone navigating a career transition who needs a supportive and organized mentor. She's the kind of mentor who makes you feel genuinely supported throughout the process. Thank you, Natalie, I'm glad our paths crossed!

Hajar

Hajar

Standard Plan • 3 months

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What happens when you start

You tell Natalie your goals. They see exactly what you want to work on before session one.

You meet within days. Natalie reviews your application and books your first session, usually within a day or two.

You leave with a plan. Concrete next steps and a weekly rhythm from your very first week.

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Skills

Engineering Leadership Leadership Development People Management Stakeholder Management Career Coaching Leadership Coaching Leadership Team Leadership Product Management Coaching Interview prep Mock Interviews Interviews Resume Review communication skills Engineering Management Hiring Performance Management Digital Transformation Career Growth Change Management Feedback