Bridge Building with Founders

The founder market is a significant part of the advisory board sector. Especially in the mid-market, founders are often navigating growth, people, strategy and complexity while trying to stay focused on what comes next. But knowing when to seek outside perspective, and finding the right form of support, can be less straightforward.

In this Advisory Insights conversation, we speak with seasoned advisor, Fellow of the Advisory Board Centre (FABC), and author of The Asking Leader, Mike Logan. Recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to primary industry through rural research and sustainable development, Mike works with founders and businesses up to $100M in turnover, supporting them through periods of growth and change. Speaking with Advisory Board Centre Founding Director, Louise Broekman, Mike shares his own journey from founder to Chair, what he looks for in the founders he works with, and how advisory boards can help create greater structure, discipline and momentum.

A recurring theme throughout the conversation is the importance of a learning mindset. Through his extensive career, Mike discovered that founders who remain curious and open to different approaches are often better positioned to make the most of an advisory relationship.

Very poor leaders make statements like, ‘Why don’t you do this?’ or ‘You should do that.’ But what they’ve missed there is engagement. If you can be curious and ask the right questions, you’ll be really effective. You’ve got to keep digging until you find the ownership, then comes accountability.

KEY INSIGHTS

Watch the full conversation to learn:

• What distinguishes a learning mindset from a fixed mindset, and why it matters when working with an advisory board
• The common trigger points that prompt founders to seek external advice and perspective
• How to establish a clear understanding of where a founder is today, where they want to go, and what is driving those ambitions
• How a Chair can bring greater structure and discipline to strategic discussions and business planning
• How roles can evolve over time, with Mike sharing his approach to transitioning from teacher to coach to mentor as the relationship and the founder’s needs develop
• Why well-prepared proposals and clear hypotheses lead to more productive advisory board conversations
• The importance of curiosity, self-discipline, engagement and accountability in creating an effective advisory relationship
• Continuous improvement and using constructive challenge to test strategic thinking
• How advisory boards can help founders move from ideas and intentions to more structured approaches to execution

Dive in!