From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn Summary

From Start-Up to Grown-Up provides actionable strategies for startup founders and CEOs to scale their leadership alongside their business. It focuses on self-management (controlling self-doubt, maximizing strengths), team dynamics (communication, delegation), and company-wide systems (core values, strategic alignment). The book includes real-world examples from companies like Etsy and Venmo, plus 14 scripts for difficult conversations.

This book is ideal for startup founders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs navigating scaling challenges. It’s also valuable for leaders in fast-growing companies seeking frameworks to improve communication, delegation, and organizational culture. Aspiring executives in tech or innovation-driven industries will benefit from its practical leadership tools.

Yes—ranked #1 by Global Guru for startups and winner of the 2023 International Book Awards, it blends Alisa Cohn’s 20+ years of coaching experience with actionable advice. Readers gain tools like creating a “personal operating manual” and scripts for critical conversations, making it a practical guide for leadership growth.

A personal operating manual clarifies how a leader works best, detailing communication preferences (e.g., email vs. calls), decision-making style, and feedback expectations. Cohn recommends founders and employees create these manuals during onboarding to align workflows and reduce friction.

Cohn prioritizes three layers: self-management (identifying triggers, leveraging motivators), team leadership (delegation, feedback), and company strategy (core values, board relationships). Her approach is grounded in coaching startups like DraftKings and The Wirecutter, emphasizing adaptability and practical systems.

• Self-awareness audits to manage triggers and strengths.
• Delegate-to-elevate strategies for team trust-building.
• Core values integration to align company culture.
• 14 conversation scripts for feedback, conflict, and pivots.

“Growth of your company begins with growth within you.”

This underscores Cohn’s thesis that effective leadership starts with self-mastery before scaling teams or strategies.

The book’s appendix provides scripts for scenarios like correcting underperformance or addressing co-founder disputes. Cohn emphasizes clarity, empathy, and forward-focused dialogue, illustrated by examples from her coaching clients.

Some reviewers note the book leans heavily on early-stage startup challenges, offering fewer tools for mature enterprises. However, its focus on foundational leadership makes it widely applicable to scaling businesses.

Unlike generic leadership guides, Cohn’s book targets startup-specific hurdles like rapid scaling and founder-CEO transitions. It complements titles like The Lean Startup by adding psychological and managerial depth.

Cohn advises codifying core values through team workshops and embedding them in hiring, promotions, and daily decisions. For example, Etsy’s “Keep commerce human” value guided their seller-centric policies.

Cohn has coached CEOs at Venmo, Tory Burch, and Dell, and was named the #1 Global Guru for Startups. Her MBA and experience as a startup CFO inform the book’s blend of strategic and psychological insights.

Yes—the book’s emphasis on clear communication (e.g., async updates), structured delegation, and virtual “soulful meetings” aligns with remote/hybrid work trends. Cohn’s scripts adapt well to digital channels.

• “Joy of delegation”: Framing task-sharing as growth opportunities.
• “Soul in meetings”: Structuring agendas to foster connection and purpose beyond logistics.