Your founder isn’t failing. He’s just… absent. The energy’s gone. Strategy sessions feel hollow. Deadlines slip without tension. The board doesn’t want conflict. The team needs direction. And no one knows how to say what’s become obvious: the founder has outgrown the mission.

This case study is especially relevant if you are:

• A board member witnessing quiet disengagement at the top

• A co-founder or stakeholder unsure how to raise the issue

• A leadership advisor trying to avoid a forced removal

• An impact investor watching momentum stall

• A founder wondering whether they still belong in the seat

The question wasn’t “Why are you failing?” It was “Are you still in?”

This case study shows how Pholus helped a stakeholder manage a founder’s voluntary exit—not with pressure or politics, but with clarity. We reframed the mission, created space for honesty, and structured a quiet transition that preserved reputation, relationships, and continuity. The result: no backlash, no power struggle, and no loss of legacy.

If you’re sensing that someone at the top has already left emotionally, this case study may help you find the right words—and the right next step.

Download it now and read it quietly. You’ll know if it applies.