Good Governance and Leadership in Founder-led Organizations (with Dr. Susanna Kislenko)

Founders are often the spark that launches nonprofit organizations - bringing vision, passion, and relentless drive to meet urgent community needs. But founder-led organizations can also face governance pressures such as blurred boundaries between board and management, over-reliance on a single leader, and the risks of “Founder’s Syndrome.” Without thoughtful structure, succession planning, and clear roles, even strong organizations can stumble.

In this episode of Let’s Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald is joined by Dr. Susanna Kislenko, a governance researcher and practitioner with the University of Oxford and Carleton University, and co-author of Imagine Canada’s new guide, Good Governance and Leadership in Founder-led Organizations. Drawing on research and real-world experience, Susanna explores what makes governance in founder-led nonprofits different, how boards can provide effective oversight while supporting the founder’s vision, and why succession planning should be seen as a measure of founder success - not a threat.

Whether you’re a founder, board member, or nonprofit leader, this conversation offers practical insights to strengthen accountability, prevent harm, and build resilient organizations that can thrive beyond any one individual.

Make sure to check out our full episode list. This episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

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