The Appeal to Authority (or rather, the deference to authority) fallacy is insidious, regardless which direction is comes from. The founder may see themselves

The Appeal to Authority (or rather, the deference to authority) fallacy is insidious, regardless which direction is comes from. The founder may see themselves as the unique authority because they are the owner, they laid the groundwork, and they know their customers. Alternatively, the founder may see themselves as completely ignorant in a space (say BD strategy or industry marketing) and defer entirely to a professional firm or consultant. Both of these are folly. Yes, the founder must have opinions and some amount of ego -- they must remain bought into a mission, but the key to success is flexibility, rationality, and willingness to change one's mind. This is a global truth, too. Basing a company (or a business unit, or a product team, or a functional group, or whatever) on a cargo cult of ego may work for a while but it will create far more pain & suffering than success.