What It Takes to Lead a Start-Up with Justus Kilian
Description
In this episode, host Matt Gjertsen and guest Justus Kilian dive deep into what truly makes leaders stand out—well beyond what any MBA program can teach. Justus, a partner at Space Capital and an expert in evaluating startup founders, shares the six core leadership skills he looks for when betting on new companies. Together, they break down essential leadership traits like unreasonable persistence, adaptability, cross-functional experience, first principles thinking, adaptive “heat” management, and the art of negotiation.
Matt and Justus explore why strong leadership is critical for both startups and established organizations, and discuss red flags that can derail a promising leader. Whether you’re an aspiring founder, new manager, or just looking to step up your leadership game, this episode is packed with practical insights and actionable tips you can apply right away.
United States
