5. Chief Executive

In this perceptive episode, Jonathan Maharaj, Founder of Aurora Financials, shares how to bridge the growing information gap between you and your team as a stage 5 founder. If you're leading executives but struggling with confidence in the numbers and hidden dysfunction, you won't want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why scaling creates more dysfunction and information asymmetry at the board level
- How to distinguish symptoms from root causes in financial and operational issues
- What soft controls and people-focused leadership look like to maintain alignment

In this efficient episode, Scott Abbott, Founder and CEO of BOS-UP, shares how to lead executives effectively by blending robust systems with human-centered leadership, EQ, and intentional ""Boss Up Moments"" to scale beyond founder-driven chaos. If you struggle with executives falling out of alignment despite a strong team, or if you find that your drive and decisiveness now work against you at this level, you won't want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why what got you here as a founder will now work against you as a CEO
- How to shift from managing people to building systems that create real alignment
- What it truly means to lead from the heart while maintaining strong structure

In this high-impact episode, Eric Nitzberg, Founder and Principal of Sierra Leadership, shares why even successful CEOs battle imposter syndrome and identity struggles in stage 5. If you feel exposed, question your role, or wonder “who am I now?” as your company grows beyond your hands-on control, you won't want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why imposter syndrome actually increases at senior levels and is a normal response to bigger challenges
- How to reframe your role from “doer” to strategic leader who focuses on vision and talent
- What it really means to be both fully authentic and fully strategic in your communication

In this eye-opening episode, Alexis Sikorsky, Owner of Sikorsky Consulting Ltd, shares how to prepare for a strong private equity exit in stage 5. If you worry about leaving money on the table, fear private equity as the enemy, or feel stuck in growth and decision fatigue, you won't want to miss it.

You will discover:

- Why private equity is your friend, not your enemy, when you understand how they actually value and buy companies
- How to reverse due diligence on PE firms to avoid bad partners and fish-and-chip tactics
- What assessment and preparation steps dramatically improve your valuation and exit outcome

Alexis Sikorsky is a strategic advisor to founders who are serious about scaling fast and exiting strong. With a nine-figure private equity exit under his belt, Alexis isn’t speaking from theory—he’s lived the entrepreneurial highs and lows across decades of company building, boardroom negotiation, and international leadership. His flagship book, Cashing Out, lays out the APEX methodology, a four-part framework (Assess, Plan, Execute, Exit) that demystifies the journey to private equity for founders feeling stuck or overwhelmed by growth and decision fatigue.