The CEO has the biggest vote. CEO is the only role in which specific competencies can be exercised, and non-leadership gaps can be hired for. Strength of the CE

The CEO has the biggest vote. CEO is the only role in which specific competencies can be exercised, and non-leadership gaps can be hired for. Strength of the CEO determines the size and number of gaps. Yes, it's possible for the CEO to delegate product decisions in support of specific goals, but it's the CEO who ultimately sets the company goals and fires the product person if needed. Here's an interesting thought exercise: if one of you were suddenly unavailable (hit by a bus, won the lottery, etc) and the remaining person had to hire contractors to fill in that role, would the company continue? Is it the same company with the same vision? The CEO is the chief storyteller... the keeper of The Lore. In a very small company that does not yet have its own self-sustaining culture, replacing the head will result in a company which is something "other". More practically, I'd advise you to think carefully about what you personally are trying to achieve. Want to remain in the weeds? You may be much happier transitioning to a more technically-focused role and handing off the strategy bits. Are you high-control and want to drive the ship, even if it means stepping away from the tech? Then execute like crazy in the big chair and truly own your role, but understand that this probably means recruiting technical / technical leadership help sooner rather than later.