Founder Culture with Romaine Wright

What happens when high performance stops being sustainable? In this episode I talk with Ben Kenyon, Founder and CEO of CLIMB Performance Coaching, about burnout and how he translates his experience working in the NBA to the workplace. Ben spent 11 seasons as an NBA performance coach — including 7 years with the Portland Trail Blazers and 4 years as Director of Performance for the Philadelphia 76er...

If you can’t unplug without feeling anxious, this episode is for you. Many founders think burnout comes from working too hard. Sometimes it comes from believing the business cannot function without you. In this episode of Founder Culture with Romaine Wright, we unpack the founder behavior quietly driving burnout behind the scenes: Responsibility Hoarding. If you stay involved in everything, strugg...

Have you ever looked at your business numbers and quietly thought:  “I might need to pivot… but what will people think?” Reputation Pressure is what happens when the image you’ve built starts influencing the decisions you make.  You feel a responsibility to maintain the version of yourself that you’ve been because that’s who people know and trust.  This episode features a deep conversation about R...

You left the 9–5. You built something of your own and you’re proud of it. But what happens when the way you tell that story sends a different message than you intended? When entrepreneurship is framed as freedom, what does that make employment? In this episode, we unpack how your words shape the way your team experiences success. If you want your team to take ownership of their work, your language...

You’ve run the numbers and the truth is starting to sink in…something has to change. But the moment you think about pivoting, another thought shows up: What will people think? In this episode of Founder Culture with Romaine Wright, we talk about the quiet pressure founders feel when their reputation starts influencing their decisions. The pressure to keep looking strong. The pressure to stay the c...

Still feel weird owning the title of CEO even though you built the business? You’re not alone. In this follow-up to our Season 1 episode “I Don’t Feel Like a CEO”, I’m joined by Vince Quinn, co-founder and CEO of SBX Productions to unpack the identity gap many founders quietly experience. Together, we explore why so many entrepreneurs struggle to feel like the leader their business requires and ho...

Season 2 is about to challenge the way you lead. Before it launches, I need to share this with you.   Founder Culture with Romaine Wright is going deeper into the behaviors, identity shifts, and quiet pressures that shape your company more than any strategy deck ever will. This season is for founders and leaders who are ready to see themselves clearly and lead with purpose and intention. Be sure t...

You’ve delegated, coached, and given feedback but it’s still not working.    Now you’re stuck in that uncomfortable space between loyalty and leadership, asking yourself what to do next.    In this episode, we revisit the first episode of the season, “I feel like I have to do everything myself,” and talk about what to do when underperformance really is underperformance. We’ll unpack Attachment Bia...

Struggling to slow down, even when you finally control your own time? You’re not alone. In this follow-up to our episode on Urgency Addiction, I’m joined by Maja Taylor, a former corporate leader turned Career Ownership Coach who knows firsthand how disorienting it can feel to be doing everything for your business and still feel like you’re not doing enough. We explore the very real mindset shift...

You built this business because you lived the problem yourself. You know what it feels like to be the overlooked customer, the frustrated client, the person who didn’t get the help you needed. That memory fuels your passion—but it can also set a trap. In this episode, I talk about projection: when your fire for the work turns into pressure on your team. If you’ve ever thought, “Why don’t they care...

You’ve made great hires and the work’s still getting done—but the vibe has shifted. Group chats are quieter. Energy is down. You’re second-guessing yourself more than usual. In this episode, we’re naming what’s happening: Culture Drift. Learn how to spot it, why it happens when teams grow, and what to do to realign before the spark is gone for good.     Follow Romaine on LinkedIn for more insights...

What happens when your ability to do it all becomes the very thing holding you back?   In this follow-up episode, we’re digging deeper into The Hero Habit—this time with Serita Lewis, a master at building strategic partnerships. Together, we unpack the mindset that keeps founders stuck in hustle mode and what helps Serita ask for help and lead differently.   Meet Serita Lewis, Founder of Urbnseek!...

If you're doing everything in your business, and secretly drowning, this episode is for you.   You’re the visionary and the executor. You’ve hustled hard to build something special but now the weight of doing it all is keeping you stuck.     This episode breaks down The Hero Habit—the habit of doing instead of leading because doing has brought you success.     Listen in for a mindset reset that wi...

You can help a lot of people—but at what cost? If you’ve ever stretched your offer (or your energy) just to avoid saying no, check out this episode to explore what’s really going on.   We’re digging into the emotional weight behind picking a niche and how people-pleasing shows up in business decisions.   Learn how to shift from overextending to owning your lane without losing your heart or your im...

You’ve built the business but still feel weird calling yourself the boss. If the title “CEO” feels too big, too corporate, or just not you… you are not alone.   We’re digging into the quiet identity crisis founders face when their vision outpaces their self-image. Imposter Syndrome doesn’t always sound like doubt—it often sounds like “I’m not the CEO type.” Learn how to own your leadership your wa...

You finally have control over your time but the quiet feels suspicious. If white space on your calendar makes you anxious, this episode is for you.   We’re unpacking urgency addiction—the compulsion to stay busy just to feel valuable—and why it's hurting more than helping your leadership.   Learn how to use downtime strategically so you can lead with intention, not just react to pressure.   Follow...

If nothing moves unless you move, it’s time to think about how you lead. This episode unpacks what’s really going on when delegation fails and everything boomerangs back to you, even though you have a capable team.     You’re not a control freak. You’re reacting to pressure, urgency, and fear that something might fall through the cracks.   We’re calling it Reactive Micromanagement—and it’s more co...

Building a business is hard… but building a team? That’s where things get tricky.  I’m Romaine Wright, Founder of Just Wright Consulting, LLC.  I help founders and startup leaders bring their teams together so they can scale their businesses without burnout and breakdowns.  So if you’re ready to lead on purpose and with intention, follow Founder Culture wherever you listen to podcasts.   Follow Ro...