{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/670e79bdc9fa3ffd9e942cf6/6965088e1266d4af7486ea63?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"From Founder to CEO: Building, Letting Go and Leading in the Age of AI with Evgeny Shadchnev","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/670e79bdc9fa3ffd9e942cf6/1768235700491-0efa4939-ae30-407c-842b-d40c63ea36c9.jpeg?height=200","description":"<h2>Behind the SME with Evgeny Shadchnev, Founder of Makers, CEO coach and author specialising in leadership transitions.</h2><p><br></p><p>In this episode of <strong>Behind the SME</strong>, host Adam Kene sits down with <strong>Evgeny Shadchnev</strong>, founder of Makers and one of the UK’s most respected voices on founder-to-CEO transitions, to unpack the real journey of building, scaling and ultimately stepping away from a high-growth startup.</p><p><br></p><p>Evgeny shares how his background in computer science and early career as a software developer led him to spot a major gap between academia and industry - sparking the creation of Makers, a pioneering coding bootcamp that helped thousands of career switchers break into tech. He talks candidly about finding product-market fit, evolving the business model, and scaling from a scrappy startup to a 60+ person organisation working with major corporates like Deloitte.</p><p><br></p><p>The conversation goes deep into the realities of leadership: chaotic early culture, self-set salaries, hiring mistakes, and the difficult moment when early team members stop being the right fit. Evgeny unpacks why the skills that make you a great founder don’t always make you a great CEO, and how to recognise when you might be becoming the bottleneck in your own business.</p><p><br></p><p>We also explore CEO transitions, stepping aside with intention, emotional maturity in leadership, and why self-awareness is a non-negotiable skill for founders. Finally, Evgeny shares his perspective on AI-first businesses, zero-based thinking, and why the Netflix vs Blockbuster story is a warning every leader should take seriously.</p><p><br></p><p>💡 <strong>Highlights include:</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li>Building Makers and finding product-market fit in the bootcamp space</li><li>Scaling from 0 to 65 people and navigating the chaos-to-structure journey</li><li>When early team members outgrow their roles (and how to handle it well)</li><li>Founder vs CEO: why the skill sets are often very different</li><li>How to have difficult conversations with empathy, not ego</li><li>Recognising when it might be time to step aside as CEO</li><li>The emotional impact of leadership and why self-awareness is critical</li><li>AI-first vs AI-supported businesses: lessons from Netflix and Blockbuster</li><li>Zero-based thinking and preparing your business for an AI-driven future</li></ul><p><br></p><p>If you’re a founder, CEO, or leader wrestling with growth, culture, strategy, or the question <em>“am I still the right person for this job?” </em>this episode will challenge, reassure and inspire you in equal measure.</p><p><br></p><p>🎙️ <strong>Behind the SME</strong> is hosted by Adam Kene, CEO of Kene, exploring the real stories and lessons from the entrepreneurs and leaders powering the UK’s SME economy.</p><p>Like what you hear? We’d love to know!</p><p><br></p><p>📩 <strong>Contact us:</strong> hello@behindthesme.co.uk</p><p>🔗 <strong>Connect on LinkedIn:</strong> <a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme</a></p><p>🌐 <strong>More platforms:</strong> <a href=\"https://linktr.ee/behindthesme\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://linktr.ee/behindthesme</a></p>","author_name":"Adam Kene"}