The Real Reason Founders Burn Out Scaling

Most founders think scaling means more marketing, more hustle, and more chaos… but what if real growth comes from doing the exact opposite? In this episode, I’m joined by Leila Lahbabi, former Strategy Officer at Oliver Wyman, now a sought-after CEO coach and author of Billion Dollar Purpose.  With decades of boardroom experience and a powerful five-step scaling framework, she’s transforming how high-performing founders scale sustainably—without losing their soul. I brought Leila on because her take on growth is radically different—and deeply resonant. We unpack what it really takes to build a purpose-led, scalable business without burning out. As someone who's worked with hundreds of founders, I’ve seen firsthand how strategy, mindfulness, and energy management aren't just “nice-to-haves”—they're the core of sustainable success.  This conversation challenged me on a personal level, and I know it will do the same for you. ✅ FIVE COMPELLING REASONS TO LISTEN: The Truth About Scaling: Learn why most founders are focused on the wrong end of the business—and why the real money is in the back end. How to Scale Without Losing Your Soul: Discover the hidden danger of following advice that pulls you out of alignment and how to reconnect with your original purpose. Leila’s 5-Step 'CLAP' Framework: Get introduced to a powerful model that scales your business through collective intelligence, leadership, autonomy, and purpose—not just performance metrics. From Burnout to Balance: Hear how mindfulness, meditation, and energy awareness can radically transform decision-making and leadership capacity. The Parenting Perspective: Find out how being a parent can actually enhance your entrepreneurial edge, sharpen your focus, and make you a better, more values-led leader. If you disappeared tomorrow, would your business survive — or stall? Take the Exit Readiness Assessment to find out. Click here to get your score.  Chapters 00:00 The Misconception of Scaling 09:29 The Importance of Purpose in Business 13:40 Understanding the Backend of Scaling 20:11 Leadership and Team Dynamics 25:35 The Role of Mindfulness in Leadership 32:33 Overcoming Inner Barriers to Growth 34:02 Understanding Stakeholder Perspectives 36:24 Exploring Mindfulness and Meditation 40:57 Overcoming Overwhelm as a Founder 46:49 Practical Mindfulness Techniques 52:23 The Billion Dollar Purpose Book 01:00:40 Parenthood as an Asset in Business 01:06:00 Final Thoughts on Scaling with Purpose 🙏 How To Support The Business Strategist 🎙️ If this is the first time you’re listening congrats, if you like today’s episode please subscribe, listen and leave a review on 👉 Apple, Spotify ABOUT THE GUEST Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/leilalahbabiimpactstrategy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leilalhb Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leilalahbabi Access to my book billion dollar purpose as well as a free bonus (actionable cheat sheets to apply the methodology): https://www.leilalahbabi.com/billion-dollar-purpose ABOUT THE HOST LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamistrong Learn how to scale fast by taking the business growth quiz: https://howtogrowabusiness.scoreapp.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adamstrong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices