90 Seconds to Be Inspired

Everyone (in my professional bubble) is buzzing about Founder Mode! 

If you haven’t read the piece by Paul Graham, check it out here.

I texted my Founder buddies and People people about it. The response has been super interesting, and I would even say inspiring!

Check out the All-In podcast. They drop a ton of value bombs on what founder mode really is. In this amazing episode of HR Heretics they talk about why “founder mode” hits a bit different for us HR peeps.

As a former Chief People Officer who worked for Founder/CEOs and now as a Founder/CEO myself, the article was an “ah ha” and put language behind something I have inadvertently been building frameworks around. So let me take you on a trip down memory lane….

90 Seconds to Learn a Little

Somehow, we’ve been accidentally scaling founder mode…here is a glimpse into the philosophy: ScaleU, an approach to begin to scale the best parts of Founder Mode.

In my first Chief People role, I faced a steep learning curve: no experience in founder-led tech companies, and the Founder had never had an external CPO before. I felt out of my depth, battling imposter syndrome while craving autonomy and respect, rather than being micromanaged over minor details like doorknobs during a major office buildout.

I was inexperienced, juggling work and an infant, and struggling to succeed. I saw the Founder as a bottleneck rather than a resource and failed to integrate their strengths into the organization.

By my next role, I was more seasoned but still struggled with ego, trying to mold the Founder into a Manager instead of appreciating their unique approach. Leading a Founder/CEO group later, I realized these brilliant, passionate individuals needed the right support to scale effectively, which reshaped my perspective on leadership. It was their company, not mine. From that point forward I committed to helping founders build the company they were dreaming about, but incorporate the critical People POV we had cultivated.

Right around that time I met the fabulous Alli Trussell and we combined forces with the equally fab Arthur Woods to create a system to help Founders excavate, explain, and enact their unique leadership principles across their company. Founder mode, at scale. ScaleU was born.

90 Seconds to Connect

HR People - this is for you. To truly elevate our ability to scale alongside Founders, we need an exceptional network—one that goes beyond the ordinary. Navigating the HR landscape and finding high-octane, high-caliber peers can be incredibly challenging. Yet, we are tasked with the monumental responsibility of building companies alongside these Founders, embodying the same level of excellence and rigor they demand. To rise to these expectations, we need more than just a support system; we need a catalyst for innovation. It's about high performance and surrounding ourselves with peers and mentors who demand our best, believe in our potential, and refuse to let us fall short.We need a new inner circle and a sandbox to discuss, debate, and dominate. I have good news. We built that sandbox and called it Wendy Road. Name sound familiar?

Wendy Road is a cohort of powerhouse people leaders who will convene over lavish dinners in NYC over the course of 9 months. FOMO? I know, sorry. Don’t fret, we will be posting content after each dinner to share our learnings with the world!

Our first cohort is full, but the second one is being assembled. If you’d like to learn more about joining Wendy Road, please apply here!

It’s almost Fall, which means travel is in full swing! Here’s where I’ll be over the next few weeks!

• 9/17-9/19 in NYC for the inaugural Wendy Road dinner!

• 9/23-9/27 at the Elevate conference in Los Angeles (CPOHQ)

• 10/1-10/4 in NYC for The Grove Conference by Sequoia and Matchr dinner

Let me know if we can meet up in any of these great towns (or if I’m missing something I should be attending!)

Help expand my inner circle!

My company, ScaleJOY, has delivered quality experiences to hundreds of clients and has grown solely by word of mouth referrals. Spread the joy by sharing this newsletter, or connect them directly to me for leadership development, coaching, or offsite facilitation. Thank you for your continued support!