Cognitive dissonance is holding conflicting beliefs simultaneously. For example, believing that immigrants are lazy and job-shy whilst also believing that they

Cognitive dissonance is holding conflicting beliefs simultaneously. For example, believing that immigrants are lazy and job-shy whilst also believing that they are taking all the jobs. What you described sounds more like either a lack of awareness or revisionism (depending on how conscious it is). There are parallels, though, and I don't like the snark you're getting from other replies here. Both relate to how identity and image drive beliefs. You could even frame the revisionist founder as having cognitive dissonance about what the primary reasons are for their decisions.