The Founder to Leader Podcast

“How Do I Lead When I'm Not in the Lab Anymore?” | Scaling Dilemmas From Founders

What happens when you go from running the lab to running a company?  In this episode of the Founder to Leader Podcast, we unpack a dilemma from a research-founder who built her company on a decade of research. Since closing her first round, she spends her weeks in investor meetings, board prep and hiring loops - and barely sets foot in the lab. Her CSO's updates look reasonable, but she feels out of control! Should she start showing up at the lab again, or is this just how it's supposed to be? Joining the conversation:  * Marvin Holten (Co-founder & CTO, DIASENSE)  * Signe Vikkelsø (Professor, Copenhagen Business School)  * Mia Jung (Head of Leadership Development & Leadership Coach for Founder to Leader, Copenhagen Business School)  * Yohanna Gustafsson (Podcast Host & Programme Manager, Founder to Leader)    🔍 Want an outside perspective on your own dilemma? Submit it anonymously here: https://forms.office.com/e/RSxf5BrxvN [https://forms.office.com/e/RSxf5BrxvN]

“Why Is My Best Performer Failing as a Manager?” (And Other Roles & Culture Dilemmas)

What changes between you and your team when your company starts scaling?  In the eight episode of the Founder to Leader Podcast, we zoom in on the roles and culture dilemmas that arise when a scaling company outgrows its early setup.  We unpack three real founder dilemmas:  * What happens when my early hire resists a new reporting structure?  * Why do my top performers struggle when promoted into leadership?  * How do I transition from a "family culture" to a performance-driven organization?    Joining the conversation:  * Christian Cordius (Founder, Banana Cph)  * Signe Bruskin (PhD, Copenhagen Business School)   * Nina Uller (Leadership Coach, Founder to Leader)  * Yohanna Gustafsson (Podcast Host & Program Manager, Founder to Leader)    🔍 Want an outside perspective on your own dilemma? Submit it anonymously here: https://forms.office.com/e/RSxf5BrxvN [https://forms.office.com/e/RSxf5BrxvN]

"I Fired My Team's Favorite Colleague - Now What?” (And Other Crisis Communication Dilemmas)

What happens internally when guilt, blame and responsibility land on you as the leader? In the seventh episode of the Founder to Leader Podcast, we zoom in on leadership communication in moments of crisis. We unpack three real founder dilemmas: * How should I respond when journalists start digging into my company? * Should I take full responsibility for my senior leader's costly mistake in front of my board? * I fired my team's favorite colleague and can't say why. Now what? Joining the conversation: * Ulv Ankerstjerne (Co-founder & CEO, Killer Kebab) * Camilla Sløk (Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School) * Magnus Stawicki Blak (Leadership Coach, Founder to Leader) * Yohanna Gustafsson (Podcast Host & Programme Manager, Founder to Leader) 🔍 Want an outside perspective on your own dilemma? Submit it anonymously here: https://forms.office.com/e/RSxf5BrxvN [https://forms.office.com/e/RSxf5BrxvN]!

"Can I Go Partying With My Employees?" (And Other Boundary Dilemmas)

In the sixth episode, we explore what happens when boundaries between founders and their teams aren't set or clearly communicated. We unpack three real founder dilemmas: * Whether your expectations around urgency and your team's availability are too high * Not knowing if or how to socialize with the people you manage * Feeling like the parent of your team and not knowing how to stop Joining the conversation: * Lasse Finderup (Co-founder & CEO, Good Tape) * Christian Garmann Johnsen (Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School) * Nina Uller (Leadership Coach, Founder to Leader) * Yohanna Gustafsson (Podcast Host & Program Manager, Founder to Leader) 🔍 Want an outside perspective on your own dilemma? Submit it anonymously here: https://forms.office.com/e/RSxf5BrxvN [https://forms.office.com/e/RSxf5BrxvN]! 📖 The book Nina is referring to: "The Delegation Trap: It's Not Them, Its You" by Atiba de Souza

“Why Do We Need All This Structure?” (And Other Structure vs. Freedom Dilemmas)

We're back*! In the fifth episode, we explore why founders resist structure, when they need it, and what happens when they postpone it. Because as companies grow, structure becomes unavoidable. It isn’t the opposite of freedom, but it often feels that way. We unpack three real dilemmas: * Hating structure, but being asked to add it by your team * Feeling out of control under a very idea-driven co-founder * Removing leadership to empower people, but seeing progress stall instead Joining the conversation: * Line Kloster Pedersen (Founder & CEO, Visibuilt) * Michael Pedersen (Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School) * Mia Jung (Head of Leadership Development, Copenhagen Business School & Leadership Coach, Founder to Leader) * Yohanna Gustafsson (Podcast Host & Programme Manager, Founder to Leader) Want an outside perspective on your own dilemma? Submit it anonymously here [https://forms.office.com/e/RSxf5BrxvN]! *Important note: From 2026, The Founder to Leader Podcast will be released once a month - on the last Wednesday of every month.