Skip to main content

A graphic of Connor Lim, a smiling Asian man wearing a black blazer and a dance class overlay
Founder Leadership

How this founder decided on his first hires

Building the online dance tutorial platform Steezy, Connor Lim and his co-founder said yes to two cold outreaches from people who liked their idea. They would end up being the first employees and sticking around for a decade to build the company.


A portrait of Jennifer Hyman, Chief Executive Officer at Babylist
Founder Leadership

Jennifer Hyman on navigating the move from Rent the Runway founder to Babylist CEO

After 18 years building her own company, Jenn Hyman is taking the reins at Babylist from its founder. She explains what it takes to lead a company you didn’t build, earn the trust of an existing team, and adapt your leadership to its next chapter.


Headshot of Nicolas Jammet, a bald, clean-shaven light-skinned man wearing a dark navy blue sweater with his arms crossed smiling gently at the camera.
Founder Leadership

Nicolas Jammet on staying hungry as Sweetgreen scales

After nearly 20 years of building Sweetgreen, co-founder Nicolas Jammet says staying curious, investing in talent, and embracing healthy tension with his co-founders are key to scaling.


Headshot of Pinky Cole Hayes, a Black woman with a buzz cut bleached blonde at the tips, wearing a red Slutty Vegan polo and smiling widely at the camera.
Founder Leadership

Pinky Cole Hayes on bankruptcy, starting over, and rebuilding her vegan burger chain

After using Chapter 11 to reorganize Slutty Vegan, Pinky Cole Hayes is rebuilding the company with a different understanding of growth, operations, and leadership.


A business woman shaking hands with a future partner in a glass-paneled office
Founder Leadership

When does a founder need to hire HR?

If a founder realizes they’re spending more than 20% of their time a week on HR issues, one expert says it time to hire an HR person.


Headshot of sisters Misbah and Farah Uraizee, women with light-medium skin and dark brown straight hair standing side by side while smiling widely at the camera.
Founder Leadership

Nectar’s founders learned AI can’t build a brand for you

After years at Meta, sisters Misbah and Farah Uraizee left to build Nectar Social, an AI platform for brands. Along the way, they’ve learned what AI can—and can’t—do for a brand.


Headshot of Allison Ellsworth
Founder Leadership

How Poppi’s founder is using her platform to launch her next venture

Allison Ellsworth, who founded the probiotic-soda brand, is working on a new brand and encouraging her followers to apply.

Founder Brew is our twice-weekly newsletter covering how great ideas and entrepreneurial spirit grow into real businesses. We examine what it takes to build, the tradeoffs founders face, and what keeps them going.

By subscribing, you accept our Terms & Privacy Policy.

A mobile phone scrolling a newsletter issue of Founder Brew