Are You A Founder, CEO, or Entrepreneur?
This post is for all of you out there who are both founder and CEO of your company. My simple question is this: which “title” resonates most with you – founder, CEO, or entrepreneur? Clearly, they’re all true, but let’s set aside the option to say all three. I am asking the unfair question of which one title best represents you and are you the most proud of being called? I’m also not asking which title should be on your business card, rather I’m asking how you view yourself. Which title best represents you?
Let’s look at these three statements:
- I am a founder.
- I am a CEO.
- I am an entrepreneur.
If you could introduce yourself as only one, which one would you choose and why? And, if there’s one that is better than these three, I’m all ears.
[UPDATE: I happened to be talking to a friend today who was the founder and CEO of a prior company – so I mentioned this post. He thought about it and talked about the experience of bringing in a CEO to run his company. He said he had no problems giving up the CEO role. But, the CEO had requested to also be titled one of the co-founders of the company. And, that he found violently objectionable. Maybe that’s another way to look at the question.]
Thinking About Thinking 
Founder… I’m the guy who is willing to sacrifice anything and everything to build something out of nothing.
Joshua, I agree with you. It feels to me like the “founder” title connotes a deeper sacrificial commitment to a company, than CEO or entrepreneur.
Founder – and as per Joshua’s post above
“I’m the guy who is willing to sacrifice anything and everything to build something out of nothing.”
and if it turns into nothing, wash, rinse, repeat
Ed Loessi
http://www.rapidinfluence.com
http://twitter.com/rapidinfluence
Well said, Ed Loessi!
Entrepreneur – I feel like it puts more focus on the importance of being agile, assuming multiple roles, and capitalizing on new / unexpected opportunities.
I’m personally fond of founderpreneur and intend to put it on my business card. What do you think?
Frank,
Very fitting. Go for it!
I often go by “webtrepreneur”..
(co)founder. In my case it’s ridiculous to call myself the CEO of a four person company, except when deals need to get done or legal docs signed (it’s like being the pitcher on a t-ball team). If you’re running a larger company that you started, founder conveys a greater sense of intimacy than CEO; it can’t ever be the CEO’s flesh and blood like it is yours. Entrepreneur is something that other people call you, and it feels like bad form to claim it for yourself. I think of it as title that can only be granted by older, wiser and more accomplished folks – um…entrepreneurs – after they determine that you’ve earned it.
Luke – interesting. I think what is coming out here is that the founder terms connotes “flesh and blood” commitment that no other title does. But, it’s interesting that you think entrepreneur is something you can’t call yourself. That’s interesting. I didn’t naturally think that so it’s a new perspective.
I’ve gone back and forth on all of them. All three have very different meanings. Not all founders are CEOs or Entrepreneurs (some just fall into something, but are not really all that entrepreneurial). Not all CEOs are founders or entrepreneurs (although, I would argue that the best CEOs are, at least, entrepreneurial). And, not all entrepreneurs are founders or CEOs (many know better and hire people who can do the job better than they can.)
But, at the end of the day, although I am currently all three, “entrepreneur” best represents who I am. It goes beyond my title and position of my current venture (www.smallarmy.net), but says who I am as a person. I enjoy identifying opportunities, developing new/strategic/creative ideas to address them, getting myself and others passionate about those ideas, and then bringing them to life.
Interesting question. Thanks for asking. Curious to see how others respond.
Thanks for the thoughtful response Jeff. Good luck with smallarmy.net. Great name for an ad agency. I think the “entrepreneurs” who have responded view themselves as a jack of all trades, flexible, do everything, making something of nothing, doing a lot with a little, creative and resourceful type. And they do it again and again.
I’d prefer to be considered an entrepreneur. It embodies more of the spirit of doing more than you should be able to given the resources within your means.
I think in terms of identity:
…I am an entrepreneur
I think in a professional context that’s meaningless to the vast majority of people – they don’t REALLY know what an entrepreneur is or does. So I’d say Founder & CEO of start-up. But Founder always goes first.
I would also vehemently object to calling someone a founder who wasn’t there at the table over lunch when the first idea was germinated that became the company. Sure, a co-Founder may come in before kicking off the company proper… but after that – even if it’s two weeks later – you come in you’re not a founder.
It’s hard to found a company. Being a true entrepreneur means founding companies. People don’t get that as a “title” coming in later.
Founder. Definitely. Like all founders, I believe I am building something that will change the world. If I am writing my tombstone, it I would far rather be credited with this (hopefully) courageous, visionary, and creative act than with a brilliant and well-executed management act.
Founder is like Father, or Mother. CEO is like Mr. French or Alice, the household chief who works and shapes with what you give him or her. Really important, but they did not contribute genetic code.
I totally agree with Luke G. on “Entrepreneur.” I would never introduce myself that way, even though I working on my third start-up.
Thanks Jules. I thought you’d say founder (Jules is founder and CEO of http://www.dailygrommet.com). And she’s quite the entrepreneur as well!
Most entrepreneurs are serial entrepreneurs…that means you’re a (co)founder multiple times and obviously within those, you’re filling many roles that changes (sometimes CEO). The only thing that’s lasting then is you’re always an Entrepreneur.
Jason – many of the folks who have replied are all in on “founder”. But, maybe after being a founder many times over – when all is said and done, they’ll realize they were an entrepreneur. Interesting point.
Hi…Great Conversation and just what I am looking for. I use the title founder, since I created this company..however, since I am also the head person/only person actually, that is driving the full development of this business..I would also called myself a CEO..but that is definitely second to “Founder”. I wonder if the title “president” could be used in place of CEO?
Christi
Global Crest Music/GC Style LLC
http://www.globalcrestmusic.com
Hi…Great Conversation and just what I am looking for. I use the title founder, since I created this company..however, since I am also the head person that is driving and leading the full development of this business..I would also called myself a CEO..but that is definitely second to “Founder”. Executive is a title that to me is very ambiguous..it doesn’t say what responsibilities you have..being a CEO is chief executive officer, which directly states your leadership position. I wonder if the title “president” could be used in place of CEO?
Christi
Global Crest Music/GC Style LLC
http://www.globalcrestmusic.com
Interesting question – these words produce different emotional reactions in the reader that vary based on the situation – For example, while “founder” when a company is small might connote extreme tolerance for risk, that same word when a company matures, could suggest an “out of date” touch with say the market. I like entrepreneur. At least when I think about the word, it seems to suggest that the individual in question is an “innovator”.
Richard – hope all is well with Kowabunga (Richard is the CEO). Actually, I think you’re the first to make this point that sometimes founder has a shelf life as a company grows. Not every founder is Steve Jobs or Jeff Bezos. Why not more love for CEO?
I prefer “Founder.” I agree with Joshua that it connotes some sort of sacrifice and deep belief in an idea. I like the idea of creating something from nothing.
Excellent post, good food for thought!
Founder…I designed, built & launched all of my businesses from scratch!
-Tim R. Monroe
TRM Development
“Helping Start-Ups, Build-Up!”
http://www.timrmonroe.wordpress.com
Without a doubt, Founder is the only title I really care about. It is not as much about the title as it is the proper recognition.
Depends upon whom I’m talking to.
If I’m in the Bay Area or in the NY Tech scene, “Founder” 100% of the time.
If I’m at a generic business function, then it’s generally “CEO.”
In fact, I’ve got two different business cards, one with no title at all, and one which says Founder/CEO. I’ve found remarkable differences between the reaction the cards get from different communities.
That all said, to myself, I’m always “Founder.” And I’m always the most comfortable in the crowds where “Founder” and the business card with no titles at all work the best.
Seth – another great observation. Really good comments on this post. What types of reactions do you get from different communities?
I would say entrepreneur!
Founder seems old school, and or the inventor of some relly great concept. My business is professional graphic design, nothing really that innovative about that, But the founder of facebook or twitter would make since.
CEO, is so upper brow, I would share with my “social circle”
But entrepreneur sounds perfect, because my inclination is to try and push my business to be a successful one, and as I study more and more about the behaviors of entrepreneurs, I identify the most with those behaviors…
—
Thanks and Regards
Noel for Nopun.com
a graphic design studio
I would say that when talking to others in the context of my current business I would either be the founder (co- in this case) or CEO, however outside of the context of the business I am an entrepreneur (having done this a few times). I would agree with another reply that in the early stages it is hard to be “CEO” of 5 person company, as I am CEO, CFO, product manager, office manager, copy repair man, travel agent, etc. As the business matures the role transitions to more of a true CEO role as other roles are taken over by employees. I believe that the title of “founder” or “co-founder” is more revered than “CEO”, and as such should not be handed out to others joining later, regardless of importance. Being a founder means you were there taking nothing, a raw idea at best, and turning it into a product or service, and ultimately a company. Once that transition takes place you can never go back.
Had a thought about this post while I was out on my run this morning:
I think that each title connotes something unique.
Founder = sense of ideas
CEO = sense of business
Entrepreneur = sense of opportunity.
In my lexicon,
If one calls themselves an Entrepreneur, he/she must have started 2 or more different ventures/companies. -it doesn’t matter if your ventures were failures of successes, the title still applies
You can call yourself a founder if you have founded only 1 or more company
You can call yourselfe a CEO even if you only have 6 months of CEO under your belt The title does not address the difference between 6 months of CEO vs those with 60 years of CEO.
Like other comments here, I call myself an entreprenueur because i have multiple start ups and will do more in the future. I just can’t stop thinking up new ideas that to me seem attractive to pursue. So, I think of the three, entrepreneur best describes me. I do agree that to the general public, the title entrepreneur is somewhat more ambiguous than the other two terms. But then again, all three words are meaningless without the follow up question, “CEO/Founder/Entrepreneur Of what?” That is when the title meaning becomes clear.
Addendum: the words Entreprenuer and Founder can be used on your business card when you are unemployed! CEO cannot …
I agree with those who say it’s between Founder and CEO. The problem with the term founder is that there could be a number of founders — technical, business, etc.
— and to introduce yourself as founder does not tell the person that you are meeting with that you are also the boss. (I saw this in Europe a lot where many Europeans did not like American titles like VP of Sales. They would say, “That does not tell people that I am in charge of sales.” Similarly, “founder” does not tell them that you are not only; a founder but also the the boss; CEO does.)
But the problem with CEO (alone; you said we could only pick one) is that there are many, many CEO’s but not many founders. To have founded a company is special, as others have noted.
So I would cheat and say, Founder and CEO.
Finally, I agree with your friend’s objection to a CEO coming in at a later date yet wanting to be called “founder.” I don’t think the founders have to be there on day one, but they do need to be there very, very early.
Des
I Think Co Founder Is Very Fiting – Sumone With Captial – Share’s The Vision of A Entrepreneur – Can Make Sumthing Out Of Nothing – CEO Me2ns Nothing – Entrepreneur – Co Founder Like Very Much
I was thinking if it was analogous for my situation as a pastor to use these categories:
Founder = Founding Pastor
CEO = Senior Pastor
Entrepreneur = Church Planter/Pioneer
As some folks seemed to imply in their comments, people picked titles on what seemed to sound “better” or more prestigious. I.e., there’s only 1 set of real founders, but CEOs will come and go. But going along with your original question as to what resonates with me, I think it’s none of them. I have no resonance with necessarily being identified as the originator (i.e., Founding Pastor) or as a type of person “Church Planter.” Some people like to be known as “The Founding and Senior Pastor.” But the title that most resonates with who I view myself is simply “Pastor.”
So… if I had gone into business (as some in my family had really hoped I would!) then perhaps would I view myself most as simply “manager” or “executive”? That didn’t seem to come up among other folks. And actually, I don’t think I’ve met too many people that would say, “I’m an executive.” Rather, they seemed to have a tendency to connect their title with an organization–as in a founder/ceo of such and such company.
Do the founder/ceo/entrepreneur types ever see themselves just as “executives?” My parents are both in that type of work, and I’ve never heard them identify themselves as such. But for me, I’m just a pastor for Jesus. Whether I’m a founder, senior pastor, or church planting pastor doesn’t stand out to me as much.
Nicely written 🙂
Very educational discussion. I am a founder who is anxious to shed the role of CEO. I fimrly believe that to continue to meet the needs of our customers, organizations must evolve through a particular life-cycle change.
This change is from typically entrepreneurial, seat-of-the-pants growth (to which I’m well suited) to well-planned and managed development (to which I’m not).
Look forward to reading more!
Very good responses from everyone on here. Personally I think that CEO is a title that should be reserved for when you actually have a human resources department, if not, then whats the point of saying you’re the leader if you have no one to lead? Calling yourself a CEO with less than 20 employees would be like a squad leader calling himself a General. I think the order should be Entrepreneur, Founder, then CEO. Entrepreneurs are visionaries until the vision becomes a reality. At that point you’re the founder aspiring to be a true CEO with underlings that would include a board of directors, and multiple departments. So basically I see an Entrepreneur as a “prospector” until he finds gold. At that point it’s time to become a miner/ founder and actually make something of your claim.
The level of committment is what differs:
I am a founder.
Subtext: Indicates emotional and financial investment in a business.
I am a CEO.
Subtext: One can be a CEO of a company that one doesn’t necessarily have a financial stake or emotional attachment to.
I am an entrepreneur.
Subtext: I would do this even if it didn’t have a financial stake. An entrepreneur can start a business, and not necessarily see it through as it ages.
I am in the process of founding an NGO/NPO and this has been a burning question for the past few months. This is an awesome discussion and I must say many of you make very interesting and valid points.
Because of you, I have decided to stick with Co-Founder/Director and leave it at that. Since this business is very new and there is only 2 “employees”, i fell it most fitting and appropriate. As a co-founder/director, I can proudly claim my stake as an entrepreneur (who else start new businesses after all) while advising the reader via my business card that I am also a leader in this company. This is round 3 for me and I am proud of having that entrepreneurial spirit and drive and it should therefore show on my card that I am more than just a leader, I am a dreamer, a creator of new things, a risk taker, a do’er of the undone.
Thank you everyone for your contribution to this interesting topic.
Aldrich, glad to hear that the blog post helped out. I like that you decided to stick with co-founder. There’s just something about being a founder that’s different than any other title.
Wow there are a lot of great points here. I consider myself founder of Stilettos in Business because it was my idea and I’m working (solely) to build it.
Thanks for the food for thought.
ISI discussed this theory in their American Business Magazine, which had some similar ideas.
CEO – Is when you have a board of directors
Founder – Is not a position within the company
Entrepreneur – Is not a position within the company
Owner <<< This one all of you missed. Owner or Co. Owner is a position within the company and it means that you are the one who controls the action.
Very interesting perspectives on this forum. I have set-up 7 companies in the last 10 years which I would call my first business cycle and now after several successes and failures am on my second business cycle with sourceprocuredeliver.com or SPD
My perspective on the question we all face of what do we call ourselves is as follows:
1. We need to bear in mind the context and situation we find ourselves in when the three titles needs to be invoked.
2. What you call yourself in a face-to-face introduction can be any of the titles and depends on where you are and who you are being introduced to. If you are getting introduced to Bill Gates, it may look a bit amusing to introduce yourself as Founder and CEO of XYZ.
3. The dilemma is what you put on your business card.
Founder means – Conceptualizer, the Visionary. It is this ones person’s vision and determination that the thought germinates into an idea, an idea into a concept, a concept into a business plan and a business plan into an organization.
It can be one person or a team of entreupreneurs who hit upon an idea jointly and mutually agree on respective roles and functions, becoming co-founders. Here the TEAM who met first are all visionaries.
CEO – is the functional term. The implementor. The strategist who plans & implements the vision of the Founder.
Entreupreuner is the generic term that expresses your personality, the kind of person you are and the way you want to be seen as. It is how someone introduces you as. Meet Mr. David, he is an Entreupreuner.
Hi! My name is David, I am an Entreupreuner..is not right there..
Hi! I’m David, I am the Founder of XYZ
Hi! I’m David, I am the Founder and CEO of XYZ
4. On my first business cycle I used the title of Managing Director on my business card and also when I introduced myself. Went well in all situations. It aptly described me as the Business Owner as well as the implementor.
5, Until the start-up has grown into a larger organization, say about 50 staff, it would be the Founder who runs the day-to-day functions of the CEO. Till such time, Founder and CEO is appropriate. In some ways it expresses the same meaning as the term Managing Director. Doesn’t matter if the company has only 2 staff, you are still the one directing and implementing the fortunes of the Company.
Hope the above adds a fresh perspective to the discussion
Just a thought…being the founder means early mornings, late evenings, weekends without your family, missed birthdays, I can go on but you get the point. SACRIFICE for an idea that you believe wil have great meaning in an effort to change someone’s life or something in their life. Founder means only one thing. You came up with the idea and contributed you blood, sweat and many times tears. CEO means you are currently the Captain of the ship. Perhaps you may be LUCKY enough to be both at the same time. Continue to innovate and create
Founder on a business card looks tacky.
If you started the business but don’t work in it you are an owner.
If you started the business as a venture with the notion of exiting and or selling, you are an entrepreneur
If you run and lead the business you are a CEO
I think it depends on the type of company/organization in question.
-If it was something you dreamt about day and night and finally put up,then you MUST call yourself the founder..simply because you are the sole reason for its existence. But if you happen to share your ideas with a partner and start a company with him then he becomes the co founder..
-But if it is more of a collective effort or you pitched in a bit late you can be the CEO. I believe that the word CEO doesn’t always convey the “attachment” with the company. You can join say five years after the company was formed and still be a CEO.
-I completely agree with Mr.Luke on the entrepreneur part. I would rather dig a hole and bury myself than introduce myself as an entrepreneur. I feel that it is more of a word that others should be using to describe you; than you using to describe yourself!
But thats just my take on it
I think many who’ve commented don’t realize that a good CEO who’s NOT a Founder is also invested in the business, emotionally and passionately. They too believe that it is now their baby, and spend 24×7 on it. They too know how to define the vision and strategy, and execute on it, albeit at a different stage than the Founder CEO. They may not have come up with the first idea(s) but they have to come up with subsequent ones. If you haven’t run into such CEOs, you’ve just run into managers and NOT leaders.
Hi.. well it was nice to go through all the comments..well i have business which was run by ma dad and he’s passed away but i am still continuing the business till date…according to me he’s the founder if i am not mistaken. Well iam making my new business card where i am totally confused what could be my designation..is it entrepreneur , co-founder, ceo or managing director…we dont have any shareholders too..its sme company…would really appreciate if somebody could help me on this
I think Enterprenure is the right word for the start-up Cos owner.
Founder looks more mature or agey and not challenging.
CEO should be only used when you are on top level management and not doing the work of manager or day to day activity.
This is what i feel.
I am also little confused and need helps in choosing my designation on buisness card. I am founder, properitor and only person who is working for the new co. right now which is in devlopment mode.
Whether “Director – Buisness Devlopement” is good ??
or i should use short designation like “COO” Chief Operating Officer ?? Please suggest ??
Founder is the sacrifice to prevent a failer of your own vision and mission. A CEO can be selected, demoted or dismissed. A founder u will always be part of the organization even if u age and retire.
I think it depends on the level of involvement in the business processes: at the beginning you are a founder, then you could be a CEO … if you are an employee type you coould be a CEO, if you choose to do business, you’re a founder… complicated 🙂
I’m proud to be an entreprenuer 🙂
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Great topic, here are my thoughts:
I believe “President” is perfect because it lets anyone you’re in business with know -YOU- are in-charge of your small business and make all the decisions…especially the financial decisions. CEO should be reserved for larger companies with a board of directors. I also like the idea of using “Founder” second for the reasons previously mentioned. It lets business associates know you developed the technology at hand, for example, and can be a key distinction.
I do not use “&” because you can’t continue to “find” a company once its founded. So the combination “President/Founder” best describes your history in a quick glance: You organized the company and now lead it (no mater its size).
THIS is the best response I have heard yet! Thanks, I am using this!
Aha and after all this the academy award goes to?
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Hello there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of
my old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will
forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read.
Many thanks for sharing!
Any thoughts on Founder/Director? What distinguishes the “Director from the “President”?
I am at a very situation of making a decision…. argggg Co-Founder for me… It was from Day one as that’s what the norms are… but some how it just does not suffice the POWER which CEO does, but CEO of 10 people? is a joke…
So yeah Co-FOunder
Very interesting perspectives in this message board. I personally believe that for business purposes CEO has a better ring to it. That is to say, when dealing with clients, employees and investors. However, I believe entrepreneur has a solid backing when you’re in the midst of your personal acquaintances. I personally don’t subscribe to the term ‘founder’ because it has a feel of nonprofit organization – not that there’s anything wrong with nonprofits, but its just what my strange mind has associated it with.
Founder Director. Joscocare is a company i founded and built up. 30 months on I have now appointed an Operations Director. Until recently i was calling myself ‘Company Director’. I was searching what to put on my business card and that’s how i found this discussion. As Joscocare is franchising soon, i thought it may be appropriate to call myself Founder Director as i have already found a person to be the Franchise Director.
Co-Founder/ Director would be my choice. I planned and formulated opening up Beyond Paradigm with a long time associate of mine
It’s “Founder” for me. Here is why. Both CEO and Entrepreneur are “expert” roles, meaning they like the job, that’s why they are doing it. A Founder is a more “creative” role because a founder pursues an idea, not a skill. In other words, CEO and Entrepreneur are judged by how good THEY are, a Founder is judged by how good their PRODUCT is. For a Founder, becoming a good CEO or Entrepreneur is a means to the end, not the end itself.
Having more than one invention, I see it differently. I might not be the one create the foundation for an invention, so in this case I would be the Inventor, but not the “Founder”. If I Invent and build its foundation I will be the inventor and “Founder”. If I proceed further to lead a team in a business, I might assume some responsibilities that may be labeled as CEO, COO or CTO (or even the simplest of tasks). An entrepreneur (active or inactive) to me is the one who starts up actions resulting in the risk taking process of building the business related to the invention (successful of not).
I believe if I am meeting a person in respect of a company that I founded and I am also the CEO of that company and I want that person to understand the background of the company, I will introduce myself as the Founder of the company and more so if I am the “product” of the said company. If I am attending a business meeting for that specific company for strategic purposes, I would introduce myself as the CEO. But if I am out there scavenging for business deals and ideas, I will introduce myself as an entrepreneur.
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You could definitely see your expertise in the article you write.
The world hopes for more passionate writers such as
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