Why do so many startup founders feel lost or burned out after reaching success?

In this episode, we uncover why some startup companies feel "flat" or emotionally collapsed after major milestones like scaling or exit. We explore the hidden startup struggles that emerge when momentum slows — and how founders can avoid spiraling.

You’ll learn powerful startup tips and the Realignment System designed to foster sustainable business growth, inner clarity, and strategic decision-making during high-pressure transitions.

What really happens after scaling fast or exiting big? Many founders hit emotional walls — burnout, loss of purpose, or mental fatigue.

In this episode, psychiatrist-turned-performance coach Dr. Anne-Marie King shares her Realignment System — a 90-day mental performance framework for high-growth founders.

Hosted by Mario Rivas

📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.

New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Welcome & Why Founders Struggle After Success

02:30 Symptoms of Misalignment While Scaling

06:40 How Mental Performance Drives Growth

10:20 From Psychiatry to Coaching Founders

15:00 What Happens Post Exit (and Why 70% Crash)

20:45 The Realignment System & Operating Rhythm

26:00 Identity, Recovery & Finding Purpose Again

30:00 Key Advice for Any High-Performance Leader

💬 Key Highlights

▸ 70% of exited founders experience post-exit emotional collapse

▸ Common symptoms: burnout, overwhelm, second-guessing, scattered focu

▸ The real reason momentum stalls at scaling stage: internal constraints

▸ Dr. King’s 90-day operating system for mental performance & founder alignment

▸ Why identity loss is so common post-liquidity and how to rebuild▸ How to decode founder signals and map hidden bottlenecks to outcomes

👥 Who Should ListenStartup & scaleup founders • Investors • Executive coaches • Wellness-focused leaders • Board members • Exited entrepreneurs • Founders feeling stuck

🔗 Follow & SubscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlUApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/Community Website: https://www.squarecircle.me

🧠 Keywords

startup, scaleup, entrepreneurship, business podcast, leadership, business growth, founder mindset, startup stories, scaleup journey, entrepreneur advice, business strategy, innovation, venture capital, startup founders, startup funding, executive leadership, enterprise leadership, enterprise strategy, business transformation, board of directors, fractional leadership, NEDs, startup scaleup people, mental fitness, founder psychology, exited founders, performance coaching, founder burnout, alignment, identity work

#startupleadership #businessgrowth #scaleups #enterprise #boardleadership #venturecapital #startup #founderstories #innovation #businesspodcast #careergrowth #operationalexcellence #leadershipdevelopment #startupstrategy #funding #exitstrategies #teambuilding #corporategovernance #techfounders #startupscaleuppeople #startupfunding #vc #podcast #shorts #leadership #entrepreneurship #investing #governance #peoplestories #experience #leadershipskills #leadershiplessons #businessleadership #businessstrategy #businessideas #businesssuccessstories #businesssuccess #biotech #saas #failure #fail #entrepreneur #howtoinvest #hiring #digitaltransformation #expansion #businessexpansion #technology #successmindset #motivation #mindset #perseverance #resilience #Emprendimiento

What does it really take to evolve from COO to CEO? Or from startup founder to strategic enterprise leader?

In this episode of Startup Scaleup People, we sit down with Simon Stibbs, an executive coach who has advised 1,000+ CEOs and coached over 30 leaders into top roles across Australia and beyond.

From working with first-time founders to enterprise CEOs managing thousands, Simon reveals the real inner work required to shift mindsets, lead boards, navigate politics, and position yourself for the next big leap.Hosted by Mario Rivas and Tiffany Chown.

📢 About Startup Scaleup PeopleReal stories from startup, scaleup & enterprise leaders. From boardrooms to founder garages — we bring you insights on growth, leadership, funding, exits, and everything in between.New episodes every Sunday at 4PM UK time.

🧭 Chapters

00:00 Welcome & Intro

01:50 Why Simon coaches COOs into CEOs

06:00 Top barriers that block CEO transitions

09:20 Coaching women to reframe their strategic value

13:10 What young CEOs need to focus on

16:30 Managing boards and internal politics

24:30 Leading teams across 14 countries

30:00 Building the right network for CEO transitions

💬 Key Highlights▸

Why COO-to-CEO is one of the hardest transitions

▸ The key blind spots even high-performing leaders face

▸ How language, perception & framing shape career growth

▸ What separates a strategist from a "troubleshooter"

▸ Why board relationships can make or break your influence

▸ Lessons from working with CEOs managing 15,000+ people ▸ The importance of developing a board portfolio early

👥 Who Should ListenAspiring CEOs • COOs & C-suite leaders • First-time founders • Board advisors • Leadership coaches • Investors & executive recruiters

🔗 Follow & SubscribeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupscaleuppeople/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@square.circle.podcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3804Om0XrGG1gNRsev6DlUApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/startup-scaleup-people/id1847157416LinkedIn (Page): https://www.linkedin.com/company/squarecirclecommunity/LinkedIn (Mario): https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariorivassanchez/Community Website: https://www.squarecircle.me

🧠 Keywords

startup, scaleup, entrepreneurship, business podcast, leadership, business growth, founder mindset, startup stories, scaleup journey, entrepreneur advice, business strategy, innovation, venture capital, startup founders, startup funding, executive leadership, enterprise leadership, enterprise strategy, business transformation, board of directors, fractional leadership, NEDs, startup scaleup people, coaching, board politics, COO to CEO, career growth, high-performance leadership

#startupleadership #businessgrowth #scaleups #enterprise #boardleadership #venturecapital #startup #founderstories #innovation #businesspodcast #careergrowth #operationalexcellence #leadershipdevelopment #startupstrategy #funding #exitstrategies #teambuilding #corporategovernance #techfounders #startupscaleuppeople #startupfunding #vc #podcast #shorts #leadership #entrepreneurship #investing #governance #peoplestories #experience #leadershipskills #leadershiplessons #businessleadership #businessstrategy #businessideas #businesssuccessstories #businesssuccess #biotech #saas #failure #fail #entrepreneur #howtoinvest #hiring #digitaltransformation #expansion #businessexpansion #technology #successmindset #motivation #mindset #perseverance #resilience #Emprendimiento #Empreendedorismo #Entrepreneuriat #Unternehmertum #Imprenditorialità #Ondernemerschap #उद्यमिता #ريادة_الأعمال #Girişimcilik #Kewirausahaan #Pagnenegosyo #创业 #起業家精神 #기업가정심