When It’s Time for Founders to Step Down as CEO
About this episode
This episode features a discussion on the challenges founders face when stepping down as CEO and the importance of leadership transitions.
In this episode of Startup Success, host Kate sits down with Tony Jamous, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Oyster, and Hadi Moussa, the company’s newly appointed CEO, for a refreshingly honest conversation on scaling a global company— and knowing when it’s time to bring in new leadership. Tony shares the personal journey behind one of the hardest decisions any founder can make: stepping aside as CEO, and why putting the mission ahead of ego sets great founders apart. And Hadi explains how he’s approached the transition to ensure a successful handoff. We discuss: The moment Tony knew it was time to hand over the CEO role How to manage leadership transitions with intention and transparency Communicating the change in a way that builds trust and signals strength Why global hiring is a competitive advantage in the age of AI Whether you're navigating growth, thinking about leadership evolution, or rethinking how to build a distributed team, this episode offers a thoughtful look at what it really takes to scale—with the right people, in the right roles, at the right time. ----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn ! Learn more about Oyster at…
People in this episode
Host: Kate
Guests: Tony Jamous, Hadi Moussa
Topics covered
- leadership transition
- founder challenges
- scaling companies
- global hiring
- trust in leadership
- entrepreneurship
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Oyster
More episodes of Startup Success: A Podcast for Founders & Investors
- Q1 2026 Snapshot: The Startup Ecosystem
- The New Startup Go-To-Market Playbook
- Venture Debt: The Essential Guide for Founders
- Profitability Before Funding: How One Startup Did It
- A Case Study on How to Build a Mission-Driven Startup
- Venture Capital, Reimagined: A Conversation with Mike Collins
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Startup Success: A Podcast for Founders & Investors podcast page.