From Founder to CEO: Mastering Leadership Transitions in High-Growth Startups

As artificial intelligence transforms the business landscape, the challenges facing startup leaders have intensified. While technology can automate many processes, the human elements of leadership — building trust, navigating ambiguity, and inspiring teams through uncertainty — have become more critical than ever. Today's founders must evolve beyond their technical expertise to become adaptive leaders who can guide organizations through rapid change. Join Cornell faculty expert Brad Treat as he explores the essential leadership competencies required for founders transitioning to CEO roles. Drawing from his experience as a serial entrepreneur and visiting lecturer at the SC Johnson Graduate School of Management, Brad will examine how emotional intelligence, strategic communication, and adaptive leadership have become fundamental capabilities for startup success. In this session, Brad will guide participants through the critical founder-to-CEO transition, sharing practical frameworks from his journey building and successfully exiting SightSpeed (acquired by Logitech) and his current work supporting more than 200 early-stage companies. He'll address the common pitfalls that derail promising startups and provide actionable strategies for stepping into effective company leadership. What You’ll Learn: A framework for transitioning from technical execution to strategic leadership while maintaining team confidence Strategies for clear communication that build interpersonal agility and enhance investor relationships Methods for strengthening professional presence and emotional intelligence to foster stakeholder trust Techniques for managing team dynamics and scaling leadership capabilities as organizations grow Approaches for balancing hands-on involvement with delegation through adaptive leadership principles Follow eCornell on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.