New training for budding startup leaders to solve one of the ecosystem’s biggest blind spots
In many startups, leadership appointments are often made quickly and without the support system typically found in larger companies. This can leave new leaders without the tools to navigate a complex environment. This is precisely the challenge behind the Emerging Leaders Program, a new leadership program developed by Startup Aarhus and Kaospiloterne. Andreas Søgaard, CEO of DripDrop, has also been involved in the development of the new program.
“It’s a natural part of startup growth that some employees step into leadership roles without formal training or previous experience. That transition is challenging, and it looks very different than in larger corporate environments. There has been a gap in opportunities for these new leaders, where education and networking go hand in hand. That’s why we at Dripdrop have chosen to send two of our emerging leaders to the first edition of the program,” says Andreas Søgaard, CEO of the startup DripDrop.
Leadership development for a growing ecosystem
The program combines hands-on learning, case studies, reflection, feedback techniques and tools to navigate complexity and change. Participants work with real-life leadership situations and develop a personalized plan to equip them for the leadership role they are already in or are moving into.
At Kaospiloterne, Bo Blaabjerg emphasizes that the process stems from a concrete challenge that the startup industry has long overlooked.
“Startups have a unique culture, a unique pace and unique challenges. Yet most existing training programs are not designed with this reality in mind. That’s why we’ve developed this program, which is targeted at new or future leaders in startups,” he says.
Bo Blaabjerg explains that the program stems from a specific need identified by the Dripdrop founder.
“We at Kaospilots only really became aware of this when one of our old alumni, Andreas Søgaard from Dripdrop, pointed out the problem. That’s why we’ve developed this program, which is targeted at new or upcoming leaders in startups. Of course, we hope that we hit a need that not only exists in Dripdrop, but also elsewhere, and that can make a real difference in other start-ups out there.”
An international ecosystem
According to the initiators, the goal is to replace random leadership development with a structured, relevant and experiential program specifically designed for the startup reality. The program targets new managers with 0-2 years of experience and employees who are growing into a leadership role.
At the same time, the program reflects a broader development in the ecosystem: more international teams, larger growth teams, and increasing pressure on young employees to take on leadership roles in a fast-paced, low-structure culture. The Emerging Leaders Program is offered nationally and held in English, so both Danish and international startup professionals can participate.
“From our perspective, this initiative is incredibly important for upskilling employees in startups and that it is now offered to all emerging leaders – also leaders who do not speak Danish. Today, startups are hiring much more internationally, and so far there hasn’t been any leadership training aimed at startups that is in English,” says Sisse Melsen from Startup Aarhus.
She also emphasizes the value of networking.
“In addition, there is the potential for participants to gain a unique network, as they will probably not only walk away with new insights and tools, but a whole group of people they can save with and mirror themselves in.”