FOUNDER
TO LEADER
Personal Leadership Development Program for Founders
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-month Personal Leadership Development Program, designed specifically for entrepreneurs and founders, 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.
WHY LEADERSHIP IN STARTUPS MATTER
The program is funded by Copenhagen Business School and The Danish Industry Foundation and is made available as a free resource for founders.
Leadership challenges account for the reason for more than 29% of all failed startups. Furthermore, according to research, 65% of startups fail due to interpersonal conflicts within the founding team. Despite this, leadership development is still viewed as nice-to-have skills versus essential competencies that a person can learn, develop and master over time, within the startup scene.
As a startup grows and evolves, so must the leadership abilities to effectively steer the team toward success. Building sustainable cultures in startups is a significant challenge for early-stage founders. More often we see that the reality is poor performance, stress, dysfunctional team dynamics, excessive workload, and lack of diversity, all of which make the entrepreneurial journey extremely stressful on a personal level for most founders.
This program aims to change that. The transformative Founder to Leader program offers a structured and comprehensive approach to equip early-stage founders and C-level operators with the skills and mindset needed when transitioning into the formal leadership role.
Led by a well-versed team of seasoned leadership experts and coaches, this program provides guidance and support, in addition to tools and frameworks, to help founders as they navigate the path and transition from founder to leader.
SELECTED THEMES YOU CAN EXPECT TO DIVE INTO
The Founder to Leader program is designed to help founders build a repertoire of competencies to address short and long-term leadership challenges.
/01
Identify your own growth opportunities
Through self-reflection and awareness, leaders gain valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses, in order to identify areas for growth. It helps them recognize their own emotions, motivations, and reactions, which in turn enhances their ability to regulate emotions and make sound decisions that lead to gaining a broader range of strategies and approaches.
/02
Create a strong team culture
Informal dynamics refer to the interactions and relationships that develop naturally among team members of a startup and shape the communication patterns, collaborations, and ultimately performance. Formal structures encompass the designated roles, responsibilities, and hierarchical arrangements that guide the decision-making processes. By understanding the dynamics of informal and formal relations, founders can foster a culture that contributes to the startup’s goals.
/03
Strengthen your co-founder team
One of the critical aspects of building a successful startup lies in effectively navigating co-founder and employee dynamics. Yet, this is a significant and ever-present challenge for most founders. In this program we explore strategies to nurture and build effective collaborations, resolve conflicts, and align short and long-term goals, ensuring that founders can navigate the complexities of co-founder and employee dynamics.
/04
Balance results and human relations
Balancing the relational and performance aspects of leadership is key to building a thriving startup. In this program, you will explore insights and techniques to foster healthy dynamics between teams (whether between cofounders or employer/employees), establish boundaries and structure, and cultivate authentic and effective communication.
/05
How to balance actions and reflections
Knowing when to act and when to reflect is an essential leadership skill to navigate short- and long-term decisions.
/06
How to attract and build your first C-level team
Knowing when to act and when to reflect is an essential leadership skill.
Copenhagen Business School
Porcelænshaven 26, 2nd Floor
2000 Frederiksberg
CONTACT: foundertoleader.cse@cbs.dk
