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Founders

It starts with vision.

Creators. Builders. Warriors. Founders have the courage and determination to turn a dream into reality. You understand the responsibility you have to others you've inspired to join your journey. For decisions that affect your business, your people, and your legacy, trust forms the foundation of your advisory relationships.

At Egon Zehnder, we've worked with hundreds of founders. We partner with young companies to forge teams delivering sustained growth. We assemble networks of trusted advisors to help navigate the path. We engage with founding teams on personal development and team dynamics. We build boards for those contemplating capital markets.

No matter what growth stage or industry your business is in, we honor your vision and attune to your way of working. We share your bias for action, helping you develop high-performance organizations. We join you as you plan for new leadership and for your next chapter. We're here to move in lockstep with you and help you anticipate and plan for the challenges ahead. For you and your company, "good enough" can never be enough.

Get the Right Advice at the Right Time

First, assess what challenges you're facing at this point in your journey:

Founders are unique, but you don't do it alone. Through it all, we offer strategic tools and expertise, opening doors to help your company achieve its market potential. Start a conversation with us, or read our insights for Founders


Founders Consultants

Anna Auerbach

Anna Auerbach

New York

Anna Auerbach, based in New York, is a core member of Egon Zehnder’s Technology and Digital practice. Anna is an experienced advisor, founder, and… Read more

Dani Aaron

Dani Aaron

New York

Dani Aaron, based in New York, is active in Egon Zehnder’s Consumer, Technology, and Communications practices. She is a valued advisor to clients… Read more

Ana Paula González

Ana Paula González

Miami

Ana Paula González is a trusted leadership advisor that partners with leaders at Board, Investor and Management levels at the intersection of VC & PE… Read more

Moses Zonana

Moses Zonana

Miami

Moses Zonana, based in Miami, is a member of Egon Zehnder’s Global Technology & Communications Practice. Read more

Guhan Selva

Guhan Selva

Los Angeles

Based in Los Angeles, Guhan leads Egon Zehnder’s US Digital practice. He draws on more than two decades of b2c and d2c operating experience growing… Read more

Lindsay Trout

Lindsay Trout

Palo Alto

Lindsay Trout has spent her career helping companies and their leaders succeed in the digital era. Based in Palo Alto… Read more

Rebecca Birkelund

Rebecca Birkelund

Palo Alto

Based in Palo Alto, California, Rebecca is active in Egon Zehnder’s Technology Practice. A creative and analytical advisor who draws on extensive… Read more

Mayuri Patel

Mayuri Patel

Palo Alto

Mayuri Patel advises leaders across GTM and technology roles with a strong focus on software and services organizations. Read more

Gus Gostyla

Gus Gostyla

Palo Alto, Los Angeles

Based in Palo Alto, Gus Gostyla spent his career supporting startup founders and VCs by building strategic partnerships with iconic consumer tech… Read more

Vanessa Chehlawi

Vanessa Chehlawi

Toronto

Vanessa Chehlawi, based in Toronto, co-leads our Leadership Advisory Practice in Canada. She advises clients on solving leadership challenges and… Read more

Jodie Zimmerman Frenkiel

Jodie Zimmerman Frenkiel

Montreal, Toronto

Jodie Zimmerman Frenkiel advises leading Canadian and global consumer, retail and healthcare companies on leadership challenges. Based in Montreal… Read more

Magali McIntyre

Magali McIntyre

London

Magali McIntyre advises technology organisations, financial services clients, and private equity-backed high-growth companies on leadership… Read more

Adam Quint

Adam Quint

London

Adam Quint, based in London, is a lead consultant in the Technology and Communications Practice. Read more

Yao Yao

Yao Yao

Shanghai

Yao Yao is an active member of Egon Zehnder’s Consumer Practice. Based in Shanghai, she serves clients in executive succession, leadership… Read more

Naveed Bandukwala

Naveed Bandukwala

Chicago

Naveed Bandukwala, based in Chicago, leads Egon Zehnder’s North America Automotive and Mobility Practice. With experience across the automotive and… Read more

Eric Anderson

Eric Anderson

Atlanta, New York

Eric Anderson, based in Atlanta and New York, serves as the Global Co-Head of the Technology and Communications Practice. Read more


Thought Leadership | Founders

Read more insights
Resolving Founder Fear/Fearless Polarity

Resolving Founder Fear/Fearless Polarity

From fearless entrepreneurship to unexpected fears, uncover the personal transformation a Founder undergoes during Founder succession. Read more

Understanding Potential: Which Leaders Will Scale as the Company Scales?

Understanding Potential: Which Leaders Will Scale as the Company Scales?

To help organizations assess their talent beyond the standard competencies, we developed the Executive Leadership Potential model. Recognized in publications such as Harvard Business… Read more

The Importance of People Decisions in Scaling Businesses

The Importance of People Decisions in Scaling Businesses

About 1 in 5 businesses fail within their first year, and a lot fewer manage to successfully scale. What separates winning organizations during this… Read more

Embracing Market Challenges and Uncertainties: PE Insights

Embracing Market Challenges and Uncertainties: PE Insights

Insights from 20 experienced operating partners and buy-out investors from various private equity funds from Shanghai and Hong Kong. Read more

Balancing Legacy and Evolution

Balancing Legacy and Evolution

Leadership succession pose unique challenges for founder-led beauty brands. Our analysis uncovers successful strategies and pitfalls amid this shift. Read more

Book Excerpt - Smart Startups: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know

Book Excerpt - Smart Startups: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know

Werk's co-founder and Egon Zehnder consultant Anna Auerbach shares insights for success and pitfalls essential for aspiring entrepreneurs. Read more

Riding the Founder Succession Wave

Riding the Founder Succession Wave

Delved into the stories of 52 Founder CEOs who stepped down in the first half of 2023 to uncover the reasons behind their transitions. Read more

The Key Hire and the Fallacy of the Lone Genius Founder

The Key Hire and the Fallacy of the Lone Genius Founder

The key to startup success: Founders must be open to hiring talented individuals who complement their skills to help address gaps and tackle challenges. Read more

The Trapping of a Founder

The Trapping of a Founder

After victoriously envisioning, creating, funding and launching a company, forces conspire to keep founders in that same leadership position forever, even as the role… Read more

Pitfalls of Prosperity

Pitfalls of Prosperity

As organizations grow and thrive, they face unique team building challenges that can hinder their success. In this article, we explore common pitfalls of… Read more

Building Trust with Founders

Building Trust with Founders

Whether you are a board member, C-Suite leader, or chosen successor, earning the trust of the Founder is the cornerstone of your success. Read more

The Founder Succession Wave Is Coming

The Founder Succession Wave Is Coming

Who follows the founder? The timing and choosing of this leader can be a tricky and often a highly emotional process. And it’s one… Read more

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