Founders Under Pressure: An Honest Conversation in the Age of Burnout

Entrepreneurs operate under intense pressure: financial uncertainty, fundraising cycles, hiring demands, long work hours, and the emotional weight of leading a company through constant change. Burnout and chronic stress are now among the most significant risks facing founders, affecting decision quality, team culture, creativity, and company performance.

This VEF event brings together founders, people leaders, and ecosystem partners for an open, practical conversation about sustainable leadership. Through personal experience, research-backed insight, and candid discussion, this session will explore how founders can navigate burnout, build resilience, and lead companies without sacrificing well-being.

5:00 – 6:00 PM: OPEN NETWORKING

Connect with entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, public sector leaders, and innovation champions across the region. Light refreshments provided.

6:00 – 6:15 PM: INTRO & WELCOME REMARKS 

• Welcome & event introduction 
• Partner remarks
• Community announcements 

6:15 – 6:20 PM: STARTUP LIGHTNING PITCHES 

• 5 presenters will pitch for 100 seconds each 

6:20 – 7:20 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION 

“Leading Through Burnout: Mental Health, Resilience, and the Founder Journey”

This panel explores personal, behavioural, and systemic contributors to founder and employee burnout, and practical approaches to leading sustainably. Speakers will discuss early warning signs, tools that support mental wellness in the workplace, and how we can build healthier companies without losing momentum.

Panelists include: 

• Charlyne Fothergill, Founder and Principal of Sova Operations

• Victoria Petriw, EVP, North America, Conversion

• Justin Cheung, Founder, Second Savour

• Tim Swanson (moderator) - Executive Search Partner, Corporate Recruiters

  More to be announced soon