Playbook
Advanced 10–14h5 modules · 12 lessons

I’m a founder-CEO scaling the company

Operating cadence, exec hires, fundraising, board — CEO mode.

Your curriculum

Read in order

Each module is a pillar of the role. Finish one before opening the next — you’ll always know exactly what to read next.

  1. 1
    Pillar · CEO mindset 2.5h

    Module 1 — The leadership shift

    Outcome: You understand what changes when leadership becomes the job, not the side-job.

    1. 1.1
      Engineering Leadership Beyond the Code: A Field Manual for Tech Founders, CTOs and CEOs
      38 min read
    2. 1.2
      Founder Mode vs. Manager Mode: When to Stay Deep, When to Delegate
      12 min read
    Next up → Module 2 — Operating cadence
  2. 2
    Pillar · CEO operating system 2h

    Module 2 — Operating cadence

    Outcome: You can run the week, month and quarter with intention.

    1. 2.1
      The CEO Operating System: Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly
      16 min read
    2. 2.2
      Type 1 vs Type 2 Decisions — When to Be Fast, When to Be Slow
      7 min read
    Next up → Module 3 — Hire the leadership team
  3. 3
    Pillar · Executive hiring 3h

    Module 3 — Hire the leadership team

    Outcome: You can hire, reference and onboard executives without burning a year.

    1. 3.1
      Hiring Executives: The Founder's Playbook
      18 min read
    2. 3.2
      Structured Hiring: A Framework That Works
      11 min read
    3. 3.3
      Interview Scorecards: Writing Them Well
      14 min read
    Next up → Module 4 — Capital & governance
  4. 4
    Pillar · Fundraising & board 3h

    Module 4 — Capital & governance

    Outcome: You can raise on story, run a useful board and read a term sheet.

    1. 4.1
      The Fundraising Narrative: Seed to Series B
      17 min read
    2. 4.2
      Board Management for Founders
      14 min read
    Next up → Module 5 — People systems that scale
  5. 5
    Pillar · Scaling people ops 2h

    Module 5 — People systems that scale

    Outcome: Performance, comp and culture systems that survive 10x growth.

    1. 5.1
      Performance Reviews People Don’t Dread
      12 min read
    2. 5.2
      Writing a Compensation Philosophy You Can Defend
      12 min read
    3. 5.3
      Career Ladders That Don’t Trap People
      13 min read
Go deeper with the full roadmap
CEO & Founder Leadership

From technical founder to operating CEO — the leadership stack to run the company, not just build the product.

12h · 5 stages