May 06, 2024

Founders Getting Fired – Preventing the Nuclear Option (Edu)

42 minutes

Is firing a founder CEO ever the right move? Learn about how startup founders and their boards can work together effectively to avoid the worst.

In this week's episode of The Startup Podcast, hosts Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein explain:

Founder Knows Best: Why removing a founder CEO is usually undesirable, given their deep vision and commitment.

All Above Board: Why board accountability is necessary when a leadership change becomes essential.

Evolving Ambitions: How founder CEOs must grow along with their companies, setting goals, seeking coaching and mentorship, and engaging with stakeholders through regular updates.

Support Before Severance: Why boards should exhaust all supportive measures, like setting clear improvement plans and providing targeted coaching, before considering dismissal.

The Empty Seat: Know the risks you might face if you leave the CEO position vacant for too long.

Tune in for the full discussion on the delicate balance of power between a startup's founder CEO and their board.

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Key links

The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Trilligent. Trilligent is your startup's one-stop-shop for regulatory, PR, and international expansion advisory. Their unique startup-friendly offering is essential for any startup looking to go beyond their home shores or deal with complex regulatory environments. Go to ⁠⁠https://trilligent.com⁠⁠ and book a call with their COO Laura to learn more – tell her we sent you!

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Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: ⁠⁠https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A⁠⁠

The Startup Podcast website: ⁠⁠https://tsp.show⁠⁠

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: ⁠⁠http://chrissaad.com/advisory/⁠⁠

Follow Chris on Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/⁠⁠

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/⁠⁠

Credits

Editor: ⁠⁠Justin McArthur⁠⁠

Intro Voice: ⁠⁠Jeremiah Owyang⁠⁠

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By Yaniv Bernstein, Chris Saad

3636 ratings