Being a founder often comes with a relentless drive and pressure to succeed, but what happens when that intensity starts to affect how you treat your team? Krittika Marwaha, founder of Gurugram-based Little Odd Marketers, recently sparked a conversation on LinkedIn by candidly sharing how “founder-giri” almost turned her into the kind of boss she never wanted to be.
In a now-deleted post, Marwaha reflected on a situation where a colleague politely refused a 9 pm work call due to household responsibilities.
She wrote, “You sign up to give it your all – weekends, sleep, family time, because the vision is yours. And somewhere along the way, you start expecting everyone else to burn at the same intensity.”
The colleague explained that she needed to prepare dinner, help her son with exam preparations, and manage kitchen chores, all while dealing with patchy internet connectivity.
Marwaha shared a screenshot of the WhatsApp message and admitted, “I was so caught up in my own urgency that I failed to see her reality. That message made me realise I was becoming the kind of person I wasn’t ready to be known as – the kind who forgets that people are juggling rent, homes, school fees, network issues, and the everyday dance of life while still showing up to work hard.”
Is work culture to blame?
Marwaha pointed out that the advertising industry’s culture of speed and tight deadlines often normalises insensitivity.
“We reward speed over sensitivity, for every brief, every day,” she explained.
She also acknowledged the privilege of having a team that chooses to contribute to a founder’s dream.
“The truth is: I signed up to give it everything. That’s my choice. But when someone else decides to give a piece of themselves to your dream, that’s a privilege. That’s a responsibility you carry back as a leader,” she wrote.
How did the industry respond?
Marwaha’s honesty earned her widespread appreciation from professionals on LinkedIn.
One comment read, “I wish there were more founders and leaders like you who recognize these facts and support their team with utmost sincerity.”
Entrepreneur Nakul Saini added, “Your post is so honest and reflective, thank you for sharing this publicly. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of our own vision, and often we forget to acknowledge the full reality of what our team members are balancing. Your words are a valuable reminder of the responsibility we hold as leaders, not just to drive results, but to appreciate the personal sacrifices of those who help us build the dream.”