Founder CEOs on Clubhouse

Description

There is an inner conflict that exists in Founder/CEO/Owners.

The three roles may sometimes be conflated when, in reality, each represents a different perspective that must be reconciled.

The CEO is an employee; she is hired by the shareholders/owners to hire and manage the team, and to deliver on the company's commitments. This requires the CEO to play the role of a parent where she must be willing to take on difficult conversations and discipline. It's a tough, unpopular, and frequently thankless role, much like being a parent 😉.

The Founder doesn't see herself as an employee. She is passionate about the mission and would prefer to serve as a grandparent, a cheerleader and bringer of happiness. She can afford to show her love and be popular thanks to the CEO's role as parent.

The Owner is an investor. She has risked her capital because of her belief in the business and its potential to turn her investment into return in a capital efficient way. To her, this is one of potentially many bets she's making within her portfolio.

Being CEO is thus less inner-conflict-inducing than being Founder/CEO. Adding in Owner to the mix makes it a trifecta of inner perspectives.

Every owner/investor seeks a great founder; every founder seeks a great CEO; and every CEO seeks a great team.