The Soul of Startups

Discover how a founder’s personality can impact the culture of a startup In The Soul of Startups: The Untold Stories of How Founders Affect Culture, award-winning HR and diversity and inclusion professional Sophie Theen delivers an insightful and eye-opening discussion of the importance of culture in the vibrant and, sometimes, chaotic world of startup enterprise. In the book, you’ll hear from a people management expert who has sat alongside those who launch exciting new ventures. The author describes company founders who lacked the emotional maturity and intelligence to start an organization on which an entire team would rely for their wellbeing, as well as those who excelled at creating environments that allowed their team members to thrive, personally and professionally. You’ll also find: Unvarnished truths from people who have lived through the ups and downs of the startup experience Celebrations of the people who have worked for—and with—the celebrity CEOs to help them realize their vision Illuminating stories of the journeys of startup operators, including the good, the bad, and the ugly A can’t-miss resource for company founders, entrepreneurs, managers, executives, and startup professionals, The Soul of Startups also belongs in the libraries of human resources and people management professionals seeking unique insights into how the personalities of startup founders shape the structures, processes, and realities of working in a fast-growing company.

Foreword ix Preface xiii Introduction 1 Chapter 1 The Gen Z Leader 7 Chapter 2 The Type A 21 Chapter 3 The Talent Acquirer 43 Chapter 4 The Middle Manager 65 Chapter 5 The Unlearner 77 Chapter 6 The Trailblazer 95 Chapter 7 The Collectivist versus The Individualist 115 Chapter 8 The Community Builder 135 Chapter 9 The Keen Learner 157 Chapter 10 The Black Diamond 177 Closing Reflections 203 Acknowledgments 209 About the Author 211 Index 213