82% of Startups fail for this reason
The advice founders need but rarely get (steal my approach and get in my head)
Everyone loves to quote the stat: “Most startups fail.”
What they don’t tell you is 82% fail because of leadership and team-related issues—not the product, not the market.
Why? Because building a great product is only half the equation. If you can’t lead through chaos, navigate interpersonal dynamics, or make aligned decisions under pressure, even the best idea will stall.
That’s why the advice you get from mentors and success stories—while well-intentioned—often misses the mark. You finally get time with the person you’ve admired from afar, the one whose story lit a fire under you. You ask thoughtful questions, take notes, and leave feeling inspired. And yet… when it’s 11PM and you’re stuck on a hard call, that advice doesn’t always help.
Because what worked for them probably won’t work for you.
Advice is situational. Leadership is personal.
When you’re scaling something massive, navigating a messy pivot, or managing a team that’s growing faster than your systems can handle, you don’t need more inspiration. And sometimes, even the most well-meaning advice from someone who’s “been there” can cloud your judgment and pull you away from what you know is right for your company.
What you really need?
Someone who can push you through the pressure.
Someone who can hold your vision when you lose sight of it—and keep you grounded when everything around you feels uncertain.
What I bring isn’t just insight. It’s momentum.
I’ve led teams of 150 people. Managed eight-figure budgets. Sat in the founder’s seat, made the tough calls, and carried the weight of performance, people, and vision. I also have a doctorate in leadership and spent years researching what actually helps leaders thrive through change.
Because it’s not just about what works—it’s about why it works.
And when we work together, we build from that exact intersection: lived experience + research-backed strategy.
“Her entire outlook and methodology is one that makes me feel heard and seen—and not at all judged.”
Before you even know what you need, I know how to spot it. I’ve been there. I’ve been dragged through the mud. I’ve made decisions that soared and ones that stung. I know what it’s like to lead in uncertainty and still be expected to deliver.
(If you’re already nodding along and thinking “this is me,” feel free to reply directly to this email—I’d love to hear where you’re at.)
And here’s what I know for sure:
That stat—82% of startups fail due to leadership and team-related issues—isn’t just a number. It’s a mirror.
It’s not just about the product. It’s about how you lead through the chaos.
Change isn’t the problem—how you respond to it is.
In startups, uncertainty stalls momentum. Fear slows growth. My job is to cut through the noise, simplify the chaos, and help you take small, strategic steps that turn hesitation into real, repeatable progress.
Because the truth is: you already have what it takes to lead the company you’re meant to build.
What’s getting in the way isn’t your ability—it’s the self-doubt that clouds your clarity.
At the core of my work is one thing: self-trust. And we build it, one decision at a time.
Steal my approach: what I look for (and why it matters)
In my doctoral program, we spent nearly a year on a single skill: problem identification.
Not jumping to solutions. Not chasing trends. But understanding what’s really going on—beneath the surface.
Two lessons from that work have shaped everything I do now:
You cannot choose the right strategy unless you deeply understand the real problem.
The word “problem” is not negative. It’s powerful. If we can spot it, we can fix it.
That’s how I work—with founders, with teams, and within growing companies. We don’t run from problems. We name them, unpack them, and use them as a starting point to build smarter, stronger leadership.
Get in my head: the 3 most common leadership gaps I see
(And what’s really beneath them)
These aren’t just patterns I’ve observed in the leaders I work with—these are lessons I’ve had to learn the hard way, too. They show up most often during times of growth, change, or when you’re leveling up faster than your systems (or self-trust) can keep up.
Here’s what’s on the surface—and what’s usually going on underneath:
#1. On the surface: Indecision and slow decision-making
Below the surface: A breakdown in self-trust
Leaders are constantly bombarded with voices—investors, mentors, advisors, even competitors. It creates a fog. You start to question if your way is the right way, or if you should be doing it like them. It’s not a strategy problem. It’s a self-trust problem. And until that muscle is strengthened, decisions will feel like molasses.
#2. On the surface: Small errors that shouldn’t be happening
Below the surface: An unspoken trust issue or identity shift
Mistakes aren’t always about process—they’re often about people. A lack of relational trust between team members, a misalignment that hasn’t been addressed, or someone going through a personal identity shift that’s quietly impacting the way they show up. If you’re seeing small things slip, it’s time to dig deeper into the interpersonal.
#3. On the surface: A good hire with the right resume
Below the surface: A cultural misalignment that slows everything down
Hiring for skills alone is one of the most expensive mistakes a leader can make. Someone can ace the interview and still be the wrong fit for your culture, your pace, or your leadership style. The ripple effect? Friction, slowed momentum, and misalignment across the team. Culture is strategy. Hire accordingly.
About Me
I’m Dr. Barbara Levin, founder and CEO of Be Bold Group, a modern R&D consulting firm specializing in leadership development for startup founders.
With over a decade of organizational leadership experience and a doctorate in the field, I help founders become the leaders their startups need—turning the chaos of growth into confident, aligned leadership. My work blends research, lived experience, and strategy to ensure every part of your company scales in harmony.
Because when you grow, your startup does too.
