Endorsements Received

Dana Stalder

“Michelle Denogean’s take on the four founder superpowers is spot on. At Matrix Partners we have seen them all, both their strengths and blindspots. Her GROW system not only makes complete sense but is vital for every start-up founder to embrace as they scale.”

Dana Stalder
Partner, Matrix Partners

Martina Lauchengco

“It's a hard truth: what makes founders great when they start isn’t what makes them great as their companies grow. I’ve seen all the founder superpowers — and blindspots — Michelle calls out. Her GROW system is a pragmatic, hands-on roadmap for any founder wanting to become a better leader.”

Martina Lauchengco
Partner, Costanoa Ventures

Tara-Nicholle Kirke

“GrowUp is the first book of its kind to focus on the founder’s mindset. No one talks about the emotional rollercoaster of starting and scaling a company, but take it from me — it can be a wild ride! Michelle Denogean approaches this topic with directness and care, offering practical advice for the personal journey founders take when scaling their companies.”

Tara-Nicholle Kirke
MA, Esq.
Founder & CEO of SoulTour, Author of The Transformational Consumer

Jim Stengel

“Brilliant. Michelle deeply cares about founders; she has worked with many, some who have succeeded, and some who have not. In this inspiring and useful book, she shares an approach for founder self-awareness...and how to act on it. If you are looking to take your start-up to the next level and aren’t sure how, I highly suggest reading GrowUp immediately.”

Jim Stengel
CEO The Jim Stengel Company, Host of the CMO Podcast, Author of Grow, Former Global Marketing Officer, Proctor and Gamble

Andy Moss

“Scaling a start-up requires the right team to compliment your strengths as a founder. Michelle not only understands this deeply, but encourages founders to look within themselves and identify the growth needed to empower their teams for long term success.”

Andy Moss
Founder & CEO at Mindtrip, former CEO and Founder of the following: Roadster, Shopstyle, Fabkids

Greg Sands

“GrowUp is spot on and, frankly, a must-read for every founder looking to build a long-lasting business that creates meaningful value. I’ve seen first-hand how Michelle’s expertise and deep empathy for founders impacts startups’ success. Her unique experience as a trusted sounding board for many founders throughout her career has given her the ability to create critical tools and frameworks to help even more companies accelerate growth.”

Greg Sands
Founder & Managing Director, Costanoa Ventures

Guy Gal

“As someone who will never grow up as an individual, Michelle's practical approach to maturing a growing company is essential for founders who want to maintain their authenticity while they scale their business.”

Guy Gal
CEO of Side

Rudi Thun

“I have worked with Michelle who has an innate ability to see the strengths and blindspots one cannot see in themselves. Read this book and let her help you scale and prosper!”

Rudi Thun
COO, Mindtrip

Malte Kramer

“GrowUp is a must-read for startup founders looking to take their company to the next level by improving their own mindset. I wish I had this eight years ago when I started Luxury Presence!”

Malte Kramer
CEO, Luxury Presence

Dawn Callahan

“Scaling a business is very different from starting one. Michelle Denogean not only understands this deeply but encourages founders to look within and identify the growth necessary to make their company successful long term.”

Dawn Callahan
CMO, Boingo Wireless

Matthew E. May

“Starting a company is one thing, scaling it for growth is quite another. The innovative strengths of a founder are altogether different from the leadership strengths needed to guide a startup from scale-up to grow-up. This book should be required reading for any founder hoping to make those leaps successfully.”

Matthew E. May
ScaleUp Strategist, Insight Partners and co-author, What a Unicorn Knows: How Leading Entrepreneurs Use Lean Principles to Drive Sustainable Growth

Kevin Eyres

“Michelle offers an excellent guide and framework for business growth, drawing on her wisdom of someone who has experienced a significant transformation. The highlight is its focus on the internal journey, approached with great empathy and care.”

Kevin Eyres
Conscious Leadership Coach, Teacher and Speaker, and Former Managing Director, LinkedIn Europe

David Kain

“I’ve been fortunate to start two businesses and work with founders of many others. Without question, I could have used this book to accelerate and ensure greater success. It will be at the top of my recommended list, and I’ll use it as a workbook when helping others. Bravo!”

David Kain
President, Kain Automotive

Stephen Capezza

“Michelle simplifies the complex struggle that comes along with being a founder led startup into a consumable framework that positions leaders to lead with their strengths first. Her years of experience successfully guiding founders to find scale with their business, incredible strengths as a people leader and storyteller make GrowUp a must read!”

Stephen Capezza
President, Side