FOUNDER
TO LEADER
The most established leadership development program for founders in Denmark
Delivered by:
STEP INTO YOUR ROLE AS LEADER CONFIDENTLY
To move successfully from the role of a founder into the role of a leader requires a new and different set of skills. In this exclusive 4 months Personal Leadership Development Program, designed specifically for founders-turned-leaders, you will learn to lead yourself and others with empathy and confidence. Under the close guidance of our team of seasoned leadership coaches, combined with input from a tight-knit group of founders, you will strengthen your ability to build a healthy and sustainable foundation to scale your team and company effectively.
The dates for the 2026 cohorts are yet to be announced. You can already submit your application now to be among the first we consider when we open.
EXPLORE, LEARN, AND GROW IN OUR 4-MONTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Leadership and people related challenges are indicated as a reason for failure for more than 29% of all failed startups. As your startup grows and evolves, so must your efforts and abilities to navigate and steer your team toward success. But for many founders resources are scarce and relevant and targeted offers for leadership development in startups are limited.
We are changing that.
The Founder to Leader program is a 4-month personal leadership program designed to help founders build and expand their capabilities and repertoire to better handle people and leadership-related challenges in their role as leaders.
Based on a solid theoretical and methodological framework from organizational psychology we are equipping founder leaders with a new set of tools designed specifically for the startup context.
Each year we welcome 3 cohorts of 24 founders to participate in a series of learning activities covering 2 x workshops, 2 x immersive off-site retreats, and 4 x individual coaching sessions with experienced leadership coaches to support significant personal development and growth. Participants will find themselves working closely with other founders in peer-to-peer groups, facilitated by a leading team of leadership coaches.
THIS PROGRAM IS FOR FOUNDERS WHO ARE
01
Founders with equity who leads people, preferably paid emp. Who are as ambitious in the quest of becoming great leaders and developing their self-awareness and interpersonal skills as they are in building their business.
02
Driven to go above and beyond the normal quick fixes and short-term tactics.
03
Conscious and intentional about creating a strong and healthy company culture where people thrive and feel motivated.
04
Interested in helping your team balance and better their performance without the risk of burning out.
05
In search of tools to strike the balance between management and leadership.
06
Highly motivated to develop yourself personally and strengthen your role within leadership.
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COMMON QUESTIONS
o WHEN DOES THE NEXT COHORT START?
The dates for the 2026 cohorts are yet to be announced. You can already submit your application now to be among the first we consider when we open.
o HOW DO I APPLY?
We accept applications and do interviews on a rolling basis, so please submit your application here.
o WHO CAN APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM?
This program is designed for Denmark-based founders with equity who are operating at C-level and hence have the responsibility to manage, lead, and scale their team and employees. We prioritize founders with responsibility for full-time paid employees.
o WHAT DOES IT COST TO ATTEND THIS PROGRAM?
It is free of charge to participate in this program, excluding transportation to and from the venues, due to a partnership between Copenhagen Business School and the Danish Industry Foundation. However, please note that in case of a no-show or cancellation, we reserve the right to claim a no-show fee of 5000 DKK per day to cover the cost of your spot.
o WHAT TYPE OF FOUNDERS AND STARTUPS CAN I EXPECT TO MEET?
In this program, you will meet and become part of a tight-knit group of founders who, like yourself, are transitioning from an ‘doing everything yourself’ founder mentality into a formal role as a leader. We curate our cohorts based on parameters such as diversity, the ‘degree of urgency’, and potential impact.
You can expect to meet a diverse group of founders, some of whom are like-minded and at the same stage as yourself, as well as founders from other industries who operate startups with different business models and organisational structures. As a result, you will be challenged in your own ways of thinking and encouraged to step out of your comfort zone to achieve growth and develop your leadership capabilities. All peer-to-peer groups are facilitated by a well-versed team of leadership coaches who will make sure to match you with a relevant group of founders and provide you with a safe space for learning.
o DO I NEED TO HAVE ANY PRIOR LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE?
No prior leadership experience is required or expected in this program.
o WILL THERE BE A LOT OF THEORETICAL MATERIAL IN THIS PROGRAM?
In this program, we draw upon experiential learning formats that use “here-and-now” cases, while also drawing on the utilisation of peer-to-peer groups and 1:1 coaching sessions for learning. We provide you with learning material for the core methodology and concepts of the program, but there is no expected homework or preparation prior to our workshops. All exercises are designed to cultivate self-awareness, build a repertoire of ways to navigate and address leadership challenges, and equip you with a safe space to explore new paths.
Copenhagen Business School
Porcelænshaven 26, 2nd Floor
2000 Frederiksberg
Contact us here: foundertoleader.cse@cbs.dk
