Welcome to Dimension Five of the SAUS Leadership book, written by Adel Hameed and brought to life in this accessible audio edition.

In this chapter, we explore the complex dynamics of working with startup founders, how to build influence without ego, offer upward leadership, and maintain alignment when you're not the one setting the vision. From navigating tricky founder personalities to making pragmatic decisions under pressure, this chapter is a must-listen for startup leaders working at the executive level.

This version is AI-narrated to support wider accessibility.

For the full human-narrated edition by Jonathan Horne, we highly recommend listening here:⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/SKILL-YOU-SCALE-DIMENSIONS-SUCCESSFUL/dp/B0CX1LB668⁠⁠

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to:

- Navigate founder dynamics without falling into power traps

- Tame your ego while staying assertive and strategic

- Lead upward, horizontally, and downward with balance

- Make room for honest feedback and cross-functional trust

- Offer perspective without undermining the founder’s role

- Build OKRs that translate vision into aligned execution

Whether you're a CXO entering an early-stage team or leading from the middle, this chapter offers essential survival tactics and leadership skills to thrive in founder-led environments.

Subscribe to follow the full SAUS audiobook journey and unlock every dimension as it drops.

Brought to you by A8 Strategy.