NYC Founder's Circle - Mitigating Burnout with Resilience
About Event
Founding is hard. Join a community that lets you unclench your amygdala, ground yourself, and reflect. For now, we are limiting the group to men/male-identified founders to foster openness and vulnerability.
Led by an expert Executive Coach facilitating a round table discussion with you and fellow founders in an intimate group discussion focused on the shared personal and professional challenges we face as founders.
This Month's Prompt:
When you think about the moments you’ve felt burned out, what do they reveal about how you're pursuing your purpose?
Agenda
10am: prompt arrival (can get there 15 min early)
5 min: Settle in with some grounding breath work
15 min: Round the room check-in around prompt
20 min: Focus on “what’s hot”
5 min: Wrap up. Set intentions.
30 min: Optional group sesh. This weeks topic: "Future of Founder Circle"
Location & Logistics
All attendees will sign an NDA to protect one another's confidentiality.
Space is limited to make for a productive space. If you are arriving more than 15 minutes late - please do not join so as to not disrupt.
If attending, confirm your RSVP with phone number and email by 10AM one day prior to the scheduled IRL session date, in order to be registered with the security desk at the building entrance.
Keep an eye out for a QR code that will be texted to you once you're registered.
After arriving at 666 Third Ave, go to the front desk, show your ID and QR code, to be able to access the elevators to the 7th floor reception.
Once at 7th floor reception, tell them you're here for the Founders' Circle meeting.
Ground Rules
Commitment Matters: This is not intended as a "drop-in group." Community only works if we show up—for ourselves and each other. We ask members to attend every monthly session. When we have to miss one, we share an async update on your #1 goal within a week.
Confidentiality is Sacred: What’s shared in the group stays in the group. We follow Chatham House Rule and ask all members to sign NDAs. This is a space where real vulnerability is welcome—and protected.
No Pitching in Sessions: These meetings aren’t pitch time. We focus less on what you’re building and more on how you’re building it—emotionally, relationally, and personally. We avoid shallow talk. Everyone can talk shop afterwards.
Sharing > Advising: We share our experience first and offer advice with care. Instead of telling someone what they might do, share your own story. “When I went through something similar…” over “What you should do…”.
Who We Are
Karl Stewart is an Executive Coach and Business Owner who shifts leadership practice from overwhelm to great ease and flow, especially for senior AfroLatina leaders in Tech, Design, Education and Entertainment.
Fahad Khawaja is a purpose-led community builder and Founder/CEO of Hue, the platform that partners with companies to help position their brands and leaders for sustainable growth, anchored in building trust with Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC). Hue reaches 80,000+ leaders daily across platforms, including those from unicorn tech startups, Fortune 100 brands, and top media companies, agencies, and nonprofits.
Ben Aronowicz started an agency focused on building better workplaces and finds energy meeting the needs of professional communities like StartupExperts.