| As Silicon Valley buzzed this week with discussions about founder mode versus manager mode, female founders came forward to share their stories of being sidelined for adopting founder mode. Traits that are celebrated in male leaders — decisiveness, authority, boldness — are often viewed as toxic or difficult in women. These stereotypes are not only unfair, but they stifle women’s potential, forcing them to choose between being likable or being effective. The truth is, founder mode is not about being brash — it’s about being decisive, visionary and adaptable — qualities that are gender-neutral but frequently interpreted through an outdated cultural lens. |
Posts from X this week: Remember when the female founders did founder mode and all got cancelled for it? – Sara Mauskopf It happened to me first — headlines portraying me as a “toxic leader” when I had to make the same, often unpopular, decisions that my male peers did without critique. For them, it’s called Founder Mode, and it’s celebrated (a proper noun! With its own merch! And trademarks being filed as I write this!).For women, it’s called “toxic”. – Sophia Amoruso Women founders have been reaching out to me over the past 24 hours about how they don’t have permission to run their companies in Founder Mode the same way men can. This needs to change – Brian Chesky |
| For decades, the world has celebrated the brash, hard-charging founder, epitomized by leaders like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. These men are often portrayed as visionaries whose sheer force of will and personality drove their companies to greatness. Their successes turned them into the poster boys of founder mode, fueling the misconception that to be a visionary leader, one must also be tyrannical, bold to the point of arrogance, and indifferent to the feelings of others. In recent years, the narrative has started to unravel. While there’s no denying that innovators like Jobs and Musk have left indelible and valuable marks, the idea that abrasive leadership is essential for success has been increasingly challenged. My sense is that founder mode, at its core, is not about arrogance — it’s about bold vision, making quick decisions under uncertainty, and possessing the tenacity to pursue that vision against all odds. Years ago, while listening to Ray Dalio’s Principles on a road trip, I was intrigued by his concept of the Shaper: a visionary who redefines industries and sets new standards. However, as I listened, something nagged at me — every example of a shaper Dalio gave was male, like Jobs, Bill Gates, and Dalio himself. Not a single woman was mentioned. Could it really be that no women had ever reshaped their fields and, by extension, our lives? Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves grappling with the same issue. The lingering stereotype that successful founders must be authoritarian and ego-driven creates significant challenges for women, who are often expected to be assertive but non-offensive. Female founders who embrace founder mode find themselves labeled as toxic girl bosses, while men exhibiting the same behaviors are admired as strong leaders. It’s as if decisiveness and authority are only acceptable when displayed by men. But here’s the truth: founder mode is about far more than being brash or forceful. It’s time we dive into the nature of founder mode, understand it and expand the conversation to synthesize a powerful leadership style that can thrive in today’s dynamic, fast-paced and global context. Respectful, visionary founders — whether women or men — will truly shape and pave the way for our future. |
