The 4 Transformations)

Last week we covered the 5 signs you've outgrown founder-led operations. That was the diagnosis. Today is the treatment plan. Knowing you need to change and knowing HOW to change are two very different things. The jump from $500K to $2M isn't about working harder, hiring more people, or finding more clients. It's about fundamentally rebuilding how your business operates and how YOU operate within it. In this episode, I'm breaking down the four transformations that take you from founder-powered to systems-powered: operational shifts, team shifts, financial shifts, and the one nobody talks about — founder identity shifts. THE 4 TRANSFORMATIONS: OPERATIONAL SHIFTS:• From intuitive to documented (the 20% that drives 80%)• From reactive to rhythmic (weekly, monthly, quarterly cycles)• From all-things-to-all-people to core focus TEAM SHIFTS:• From doers to leaders• From hub-and-spoke to distributed authority• From hiring skills to hiring values FINANCIAL SHIFTS:• From revenue focus to profitability focus• From checking the bank to financial forecasting• From founder scraps to sustainable compensation FOUNDER IDENTITY SHIFTS:• From doer to director• From indispensable to replaceable• From hero to host KEY TAKEAWAYS: • Don't multiply your current model — transform it• Document the 20% of processes that drive 80% of your results• Hire for values first, skills second• Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity• Your goal is to work yourself out of the day-to-day job• A business that can't run without you is a job, not an asset RESOURCES: • <a href="https://au878tgncza.typeform.com/to/Kh5TTOb9?typeform-source=thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Take the free Leadership Assessment </a>(3 min)• <a href="https://portal.thedevaincollective.com/public/form/view/693f126a806d2a4c93b21f4b?_gl=1*15o2m47*_ga*MTIxMTM0NDU1Ni4xNzQ1NjI5MzIz*_ga_1V1Q44DC05*czE3NzA2NDIyMzMkbzUkZzEkdDE3NzA2NDI2MDAkajU4JGwwJGgw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Book a Strategic Discovery Audit</a> ($997 engagement)• Learn more at <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thedevaincollective.com</a> CONNECT WITH THE DEVAIN COLLECTIVE: • <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-devain-collective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>• <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thedevaincollective" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>• Website: <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thedevaincollective.com</a> CONNECT WITH SHEENA: • <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheenadhunt/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>• <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sheenad1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>

From $500K to $2M — What Actually Has To Change

...and what to do about each one

If you're working harder than ever but your business isn't growing proportionally, you haven't hit your capacity as a leader. You've hit the ceiling of founder-led operations. And there's a difference. In this episode, I'm walking through the 5 signs that tell me a founder is ready to transition from doing everything to building systems and leaders who can run without them. For each sign, I explain why it happens, what it's really costing you, and exactly what to do about it. If you recognize yourself in 3 or more of these signs, you're not failing — you're succeeding past your current operating model. That's actually good news, because the fix isn't working harder. It's building different infrastructure. THE 5 SIGNS: 1. You're the bottleneck in every decision2. Revenue grew but your hours didn't shrink3. Your team executes but doesn't think4. You can't unplug without everything falling apart5. You're exhausted but the business isn't growing faster EPISODE TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] The 11 PM email trap — why you're not a control freak[01:20] Sign #1: You're the bottleneck + the decision authority matrix[05:00] Sign #2: Revenue grew but hours didn't + the founder-dependent business model[08:10] Sign #3: Team executes but doesn't think + the 'no naked problems' rule[11:50] Sign #4: Can't unplug without chaos + the 'practice vacation' challenge[15:45] Sign #5: Exhausted but not growing faster + CEO-level time blocking[19:40] Wrap-up: Why recognizing these signs is actually good news KEY TAKEAWAYS: • 70% of decisions your team asks about can likely be delegated immediately• Ask yourself: If I got sick for 2 weeks, what would break? That's your vulnerability list• Institute a 'no naked problems' rule: every problem must come with a proposed solution• Block CEO time weekly to answer: What should we stop? What accelerates growth? Who needs development? RESOURCES: • <a href="https://au878tgncza.typeform.com/to/Kh5TTOb9?typeform-source=thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Take the free Leadership Assessment </a>(3 min)• <a href="https://portal.thedevaincollective.com/public/form/view/693f126a806d2a4c93b21f4b?_gl=1*15o2m47*_ga*MTIxMTM0NDU1Ni4xNzQ1NjI5MzIz*_ga_1V1Q44DC05*czE3NzA2NDIyMzMkbzUkZzEkdDE3NzA2NDI2MDAkajU4JGwwJGgw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Book a Strategic Discovery Audit</a> ($997 engagement)• Learn more at <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thedevaincollective.com</a> CONNECT WITH THE DEVAIN COLLECTIVE: • <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-devain-collective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>• <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thedevaincollective" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>• Website: <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thedevaincollective.com</a> CONNECT WITH SHEENA: • <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheenadhunt/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>• <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sheenad1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> NEXT EPISODE:From $500K to $2M: What Actually Has to Change — the treatment plan for everything we diagnosed today.

5 Signs You've Outgrown Founder-Led Operations

If you're a woman founder who's outgrown startup chaos but hasn't figured out sustainable scale yet, this podcast is for you.

Welcome to Beyond Founder-Led — the podcast for women founders who are done being the bottleneck in every decision. I'm Sheena Hunt, founder of The DeVain Collective. After 20+ years in Fortune 100 operations and close to 15 years building my own businesses, I've watched the same pattern play out hundreds of times: brilliant, capable founders hitting a wall. Not because they lack vision or work ethic, but because they've outgrown founder-led chaos and don't have the systems or leadership capacity to scale sustainably. That's what this podcast is about — what comes after you can't be in every meeting, make every decision, and personally deliver to every client. Each week, I'll share frameworks, client stories, and interviews with founders who've successfully made the transition from doing everything to leading everything. Real talk for women-led businesses doing $500K to $5M who are ready to scale without sacrifice. IN THIS EPISODE: • Why I rebranded this podcast around the founder-led problem• My background in Fortune 100 ops + entrepreneurship• What to expect from Beyond Founder-Led• How to know if this podcast is for you RESOURCES: • <a href="https://au878tgncza.typeform.com/to/Kh5TTOb9?typeform-source=thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Take the free Leadership Assessment</a> (3 min)• <a href="https://portal.thedevaincollective.com/public/form/view/693f126a806d2a4c93b21f4b?_gl=1*15o2m47*_ga*MTIxMTM0NDU1Ni4xNzQ1NjI5MzIz*_ga_1V1Q44DC05*czE3NzA2NDIyMzMkbzUkZzEkdDE3NzA2NDI2MDAkajU4JGwwJGgw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Book a Strategic Discovery Audit</a> ($997 investment)• Learn more at <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thedevaincollective.com</a> CONNECT WITH SHEENA: • <a href="www.linkedin.com/in/sheenadhunt" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>• <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sheenad1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>• Website: <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thedevaincollective.com</a> NEXT EPISODE:5 Signs You've Outgrown Founder-Led Operations — the diagnosis you need before you can fix anything.

Relaunch — Welcome to Beyond Founder-Led

Scaling is Complicated - in this episode we're focusing on key strategies to undertake as you begin to scale. ________________________________ Make sure you subscribe to the show to join us for every new episode. "Like" it on your app and share it with friends &amp; family! Help us spread the word 😊 How to connect with The DeVain Collective or Sheena:&nbsp; <ul><li>Make sure you like the&nbsp;<a href="about:blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Beautifully Complicated Podcast</a>&nbsp;page on Facebook!</li><li><a href="https://astounding-painter-8741.ck.page/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sign up for my email list</a>&nbsp;so you can get amazing goodies like Purpose. Profit. Impact. directly to your inbox!</li><li>Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheDeVainCollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The DeVain Collective</a>&nbsp;Facebook page and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thedevaincollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram </a>page and share your insights with the community.</li><li>1st Mini-Course launched -&nbsp;<a href="https://club.sheenahunt.com/optimize-the-process" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Optimize the Process</a>&nbsp;is a course focused on helping you with doing the sustainability work in your biz by writing and implementing standard operating procedures and training. Purchase it today!</li></ul> You can always reach out to the host, Sheena, at:<ul><li>Twitter: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Instagram: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://instagram.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.acast.com/www.thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thedevaincollective.com</a></li></ul>

Scaling is Complicated

Prepping for Change is Complicated - in this episode we're focusing on some key things you can do to prep your business for an economic shift. ________________________________ Make sure you subscribe to the show to join us for every new episode. "Like" it on your app and share it with friends &amp; family! Help us spread the word 😊 How to connect with The DeVain Collective or Sheena:&nbsp; <ul><li>Make sure you like the&nbsp;<a href="about:blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Beautifully Complicated Podcast</a>&nbsp;page on Facebook!</li><li><a href="https://astounding-painter-8741.ck.page/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sign up for my email list</a>&nbsp;so you can get amazing goodies like Purpose. Profit. Impact. directly to your inbox!</li><li>Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheDeVainCollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The DeVain Collective</a>&nbsp;Facebook page and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thedevaincollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram </a>page and share your insights with the community.</li><li>1st Mini-Course launched -&nbsp;<a href="https://club.sheenahunt.com/optimize-the-process" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Optimize the Process</a>&nbsp;is a course focused on helping you with doing the sustainability work in your biz by writing and implementing standard operating procedures and training. Purchase it today!</li></ul> You can always reach out to the host, Sheena, at:<ul><li>Twitter: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Instagram: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://instagram.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.acast.com/www.thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thedevaincollective.com</a></li></ul>

Prepping for Change is Complicated

Customer Experience is more than just a marketing buzzword of the 2010s. It's a value-add for your business when done the right way. Let's talk about how you can implement better customer experience in your business operations!&nbsp;________________________________ Make sure you subscribe to the show to join us for every new episode. "Like" it on your app and share it with friends &amp; family! Help us spread the word 😊 How to connect with The DeVain Collective or Sheena:&nbsp; <ul><li>Make sure you like the&nbsp;<a href="about:blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Beautifully Complicated Podcast</a>&nbsp;page on Facebook!</li><li><a href="https://astounding-painter-8741.ck.page/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sign up for my email list</a>&nbsp;so you can get amazing goodies like Purpose. Profit. Impact. directly to your inbox!</li><li>Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheDeVainCollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The DeVain Collective</a>&nbsp;Facebook page and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thedevaincollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram </a>page and share your insights with the community.</li><li>1st Mini-Course launched -&nbsp;<a href="https://club.sheenahunt.com/optimize-the-process" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Optimize the Process</a>&nbsp;is a course focused on helping you with doing the sustainability work in your biz by writing and implementing standard operating procedures and training. Purchase it today!</li></ul> You can always reach out to the host, Sheena, at:<ul><li>Twitter: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Instagram: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://instagram.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.acast.com/www.thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thedevaincollective.com</a></li></ul>

Customer Experience is Complicated

In the Moment - Know Your Moment In this bonus special episode, we're talking about your business finances and you getting intimate with them. We want you to KNOW YOUR MONEY. When you know your money, you make decisions on how best to leverage where you are to get where you want to be. LET'S TALK MONEY! ____________________________________ Make sure you subscribe to the show to join us for every new episode. "Like" it on your app and share it with friends &amp; family! Help us spread the word 😊 How to connect with The DeVain Collective or Sheena:&nbsp; <ul><li>Make sure you like the&nbsp;<a href="about:blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Beautifully Complicated Podcast</a>&nbsp;page on Facebook!</li><li>Work with us via our <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com/coaching/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">VIP Day</a>!</li><li>Learn more about our <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com/consulting/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Optimize</a> services.</li><li><a href="https://astounding-painter-8741.ck.page/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sign up for my email list</a>&nbsp;so you can get amazing goodies like Purpose. Profit. Impact. directly to your inbox!</li><li>Follow The DeVain Collective&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheDeVainCollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thedevaincollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> pages. &amp; share your insights with the community.</li><li>1st Mini-Course launched -&nbsp;<a href="https://club.sheenahunt.com/optimize-the-process" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Optimize the Process</a>&nbsp;is a course focused on helping you with doing the sustainability work in your biz by writing and implementing standard operating procedures and training. Purchase it today!</li></ul> You can always reach out to the host, Sheena, at:<ul><li>Twitter: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Instagram: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://instagram.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.acast.com/www.thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thedevaincollective.com</a></li><li>Email us: <a href="mailto:hello@thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hello@thedevaincollective.com</a></li></ul> Always remember that the best life is Beautifully Complicated.

In the Moment - Know Your Money

Annual Planning is Complicated It's a new year! That means it's time to work on your plans to reach those new year goals for your business. This episode will walk you through what is needed to have a successful annual planning meeting to see the success you want in your business this year. <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Annual-Planning-Flowchart.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Download</a> the Annual Planning Flowchart. Happy planning! ________________________________ Make sure you subscribe to the show to join us for every new episode. "Like" it on your app and share it with friends &amp; family! Help us spread the word 😊 How to connect with The DeVain Collective or Sheena:&nbsp; <ul><li>Make sure you like the&nbsp;<a href="about:blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Beautifully Complicated Podcast</a>&nbsp;page on Facebook!</li><li><a href="https://astounding-painter-8741.ck.page/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sign up for my email list</a>&nbsp;so you can get amazing goodies like Purpose. Profit. Impact. directly to your inbox!</li><li>Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheDeVainCollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The DeVain Collective</a>&nbsp;Facebook page and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thedevaincollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram </a>page and share your insights with the community.</li><li>1st Mini-Course launched -&nbsp;<a href="https://club.sheenahunt.com/optimize-the-process" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Optimize the Process</a>&nbsp;is a course focused on helping you with doing the sustainability work in your biz by writing and implementing standard operating procedures and training. Purchase it today!</li></ul> You can always reach out to the host, Sheena, at:<ul><li>Twitter: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Instagram: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://instagram.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.acast.com/www.thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thedevaincollective.com</a></li></ul>

Annual Planning is Complicated

In the Moment - From Now to Next We're headed into a new year! Before you roll out your 'new year, new me' mantra, let's do some introspective exercises to look back and ahead to realize our vision for ourselves. We're guiding you through 2 exercises in this In The Moment episode - Rear View Mirror exercise &amp; The Road Ahead exercise. Grab your favorite journal and <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Rearview-Mirror-Road-Ahead-Ex.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">download the question guide</a> to use as we work through this exercise to get you ready for the new year. Happy New Year from Beautifully Complicated Podcast &amp; The DeVain Collective team. See you in 2022! ____________________________________ Make sure you subscribe to the show to join us for every new episode. "Like" it on your app and share it with friends &amp; family! Help us spread the word 😊 How to connect with The DeVain Collective or Sheena:&nbsp; <ul><li>Make sure you like the&nbsp;<a href="about:blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Beautifully Complicated Podcast</a>&nbsp;page on Facebook!</li><li>Learn more about our <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com/consulting/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Optimize</a> services.</li><li><a href="https://astounding-painter-8741.ck.page/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sign up for my email list</a>&nbsp;so you can get amazing goodies like Purpose. Profit. Impact. directly to your inbox!</li><li>Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheDeVainCollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The DeVain Collective</a>&nbsp;Facebook page and share your insights with the community.</li><li>1st Mini-Course launched -&nbsp;<a href="https://club.sheenahunt.com/optimize-the-process" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Optimize the Process</a>&nbsp;is a course focused on helping you with doing the sustainability work in your biz by writing and implementing standard operating procedures and training. Purchase it today!</li></ul> You can always reach out to the host, Sheena, at:<ul><li>Twitter: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Instagram: @SheenaD1 -&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/SheenaD1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://instagram.com/SheenaD1</a>&nbsp;</li><li>Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.acast.com/www.thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thedevaincollective.com</a></li><li>Email us: <a href="mailto:hello@thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hello@thedevaincollective.com</a></li></ul> Always remember that the best life is Beautifully Complicated.

In the Moment - From Now to Next

Scaling women-led businesses without burnout

Running a business is complicated. Balancing it with the rest of your life? Even more so. I'm Sheena Hunt, and Beyond Founder-Led picks up where my previous podcast, Beautifully Complicated, left off — but with sharper focus. This show is for women founders ready to stop being the bottleneck and start building businesses that don't require their presence in every room. With 20+ years in Fortune 100 operations and close to 15 years as an entrepreneur, I've lived the chaos and found the path through it. Now I help mission-driven businesses scale sustainably — growing revenue without growing burnout. Weekly episodes with tactical frameworks, client stories, and honest conversations about what it really takes to lead and live well. Powered by The DeVain Collective | thedevaincollective.com 🎧Listen. 👍Like 📱Subscribe. 🗣Share. <a href="https://thedevaincollective.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The DeVain Collective's Website</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/TheDeVainCollective/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The DeVain Collective's Instagram</a><a href="https://portal.thedevaincollective.com/public/form/view/693f126a806d2a4c93b21f4b?_gl=1*q44i83*_ga*MTU4Mjc2NzMwMS4xNzcwNjQyNTM1*_ga_1V1Q44DC05*czE3NzA2NDI1MzQkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzA2NDI1NDIkajUyJGwwJGgw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Strategic Discovery Audit</a><a href="https://eylnewsletter.thedevaincollective.com/signup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Subscribe to Our Newsletter</a>

Beyond Founder-Led

Social Media

Follow

Your Hosts

Sheena Hunt