Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has shed light on a troubling issue in the tech industry: women founders feel they cannot embrace “founder mode” in the same way as their male counterparts. Chesky shared this concern in a series of posts on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. He explained that many women founders have reached out to him, expressing that they don’t have the same freedom to run their companies in the assertive, hands-on manner known as founder mode.
Women founders have been reaching out to me over the past 24 hours about how they don’t have permission to run their companies in Founder Mode the same way men can,” Chesky said. “This needs to change.”
Founder mode, a concept recently detailed by Paul Graham, a founding partner of startup accelerator Y Combinator, involves a more direct, dynamic approach to running a company. This contrasts with the traditional “manager mode,” which relies heavily on delegating responsibilities to a small group of direct reports.
Challenging founder mode stereotypes
Chesky retweeted several female founders who shared their experiences of facing backlash for adopting founder mode. He referenced a 2020 headline discussing the fall of the “girl boss” and its toxic work cultures, suggesting that societal perceptions contribute to the problem.
Chesky co-founded Airbnb in 2008 and credited influential figures such as Jony Ive, Hiroki Asai, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, and Elon Musk for inspiring him to embrace and advocate for founder mode. The discussion continues as more industry leaders and female entrepreneurs emphasize the need for systemic change to enable all founders to lead their companies authentically and effectively, regardless of gender. The debate surrounding founder and manager modes has gained momentum in Silicon Valley, with many questioning the effectiveness of traditional, hierarchical management structures in today’s fast-paced, innovative business environment.
As the conversation evolves, it is clear that addressing gender disparities and fostering an inclusive environment where all founders can thrive is crucial for the future of the tech industry and beyond.
