The Sponsor Conversation You're Avoiding (Leadership)

If you're PE-backed, your sponsor is not your enemy and not your boss. They're your largest shareholder — and the quality of that relationship moves faster than your EBITDA.

The best CEOs run their sponsor 1:1 on purpose:

• Lead with the number, good or bad — never let them hear it from someone else

• Bring one decision you want air cover for

• Ask what they're hearing that you're not

The CEOs who go quiet when results slip are the ones who get replaced. Silence reads as loss of control.

When did you last bring your sponsor bad news before they asked?