FOUNDER BIO

Robyn Ward is a 20+ year veteran of the technology industry, having served as both an operator and an investor. In 2017, she started FounderForward to help founders and executives uplevel themselves as leaders and build high-performing teams, cultures, and companies. To date, FounderForward has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs and executives at companies like Ritual, Alloy Financial, Tala, ZenBusiness, and Care Academy, among others. As a coach and facilitator, Robyn combines her business expertise with extensive studies in psychology, neuro and performance science, Eastern philosophy, and presence-based and conscious leadership frameworks. Robyn is a frequent speaker and panelist on the topics of best self-leadership, entrepreneurial mindset, and high-performing teams and cultures. She also co-teaches a “Performance Mindset for Business” course at her alma mater USC and is a certified Spin and Intensati instructor. Full bio at Linkedin

FOUNDER STORY

I grew up in a family that didn’t discuss emotions. We loved each other, but feelings weren’t shown or discussed. Sports and school were emphasized and became my lens to value my worthiness. Early on, I developed a worldview that was very black-and-white (win vs. lose, success vs. failure, good vs bad). 

I spent the first decade-plus of my career launching and growing companies in the late 90s/early aughts tech ecosystem. It was a world that emphasized intellectual smarts and one’s capacity to hustle 24/7. There was no discussion of EQ or vulnerability or well-being and that suited me just fine. Being a fast-paced, hard-charging executive became my entire identity and life.

It wasn’t until I moved out of company-building and into Venture Capital that I began to solidify my perspective on what makes an exceptional leader. And it was quite different than what the technology ecosystem had advertised. I also got my first coach around this same time. I worked on (and still work on) emotional regulation, somatic intelligence, work/life harmony, flexible thinking, equanimity, and more.

In 2017, I got certified as a coach and launched FounderForward. It has been my privilege to work with over 200 founders and executives taking steps forward to realize the full potential and impact of themselves and their companies. This is my calling and I find nothing more rewarding.

COACHING PARTNERS