The founder stops showing up to board meetings. At first, it’s a scheduling conflict. Then silence. Frustration builds. People start talking about exit votes, formal censure—even leaving the board entirely. No one’s saying it out loud yet, but the relationship is breaking.

This case study is especially relevant if you are:

• A board member losing faith in a once-engaged founder

• A founder avoiding the board out of burnout, not defiance

• A legal or governance advisor navigating rising tensions

• An impact funder watching board cohesion fracture quietly

• A stakeholder who wants to repair trust without triggering a crisis

Sometimes the problem isn’t leadership failure—it’s the weight no one sees.

This case study shows how Pholus helped a founder under personal strain re-engage with a frustrated board—without drama or forced transparency. We acted as translator, reframing silence into clarity, and redesigned governance rhythms to match real bandwidth. The board stayed. The founder returned. And meetings shifted from confrontation to strategic alignment.

If your boardroom feels tense and no one’s naming the reason, this case study may help you change the conversation—before someone walks away.

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