nwv brief #30: what’s a founder?

dear founder,

i’ve been sitting with a question i can’t seem to shake:
what is a founder—really?

not the role.
not the pitch deck persona.
not the linkedin headline.

the human underneath.

because lately, the word feels more like a box than a mirror.
& the people i’m building for don’t fit neatly into boxes.

they sound more like this:

• the overthinker with a sharp mind & a tangled whiteboard

• the performer who built a following but lost their voice

• the operator who executes everything but still feels directionless

• the dreamer who can’t quite articulate the vision but feels it in their bones

they wrestle with:

• craving freedom but clinging to structure

• wanting to be seen but fearing being misunderstood

• chasing clarity but never stopping long enough to find it

sound familiar?
if any part of that lands—i’d love to know.

hit reply.
or take a second & click the one that feels closest:

because i’m not here to build for job titles.

i’m here for the in-between people—
the ones building quietly, navigating tension, searching for something honest.

if that’s you—i’m glad you’re here.

with vision, purpose, & appreciation,
Brooke