Elizabeth Pollman and Yifat Aran: Ousted, Startup Failure and Equity Compensation in the Unicorn Era.

This podcast delves deep into the governance challenges faced by venture-backed startups, founder-CEO ouster dynamics, the influence of employees in corporate governance, the pitfalls of poor governance, changing landscape of startup failure, intricacies of equity compensation, impact of legal structures on staying private, and boardroom governance complexities. They also discuss important takeaways from books, mentors, and influential figures in the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Takeaways • Founder-CEOs' power is not as perpetual or entrenched as it may seem. • Dual-class shares do not always protect founders from ousters. • Employees are increasingly asserting their influence in corporate governance. • Lack of governance can lead to disastrous consequences for startups. • Startup failure is an integral part of the ecosystem, and startups can fail with honor. • Some startups, realizing the immense value of their employees, must raise money only to cash out RSUs. • Legal structure evolution has enabled companies to stay private for longer durations. • Venture-backed startups eventually need to transition to public markets. • Prioritizing different aspects of life and personal development is important for successful entrepreneurs and leaders. • Staying awake and focused while working through the night can be achieved by eating gummy bears.