The Influence Economy Podcast with Shayna Davis

The Influence Economy Podcast with Shayna Davis


The Tech Founder Ceiling No One Warns You About

January 05, 2026

There’s a tech leadership ceiling I see constantly—especially with founders and senior leaders who are exceptional builders but invisible externally.

You know the product.
You know the data.
You know the market.

But at a certain stage, that’s no longer enough. In this episode, I break down the moment every leader hits when their role quietly shifts from Head of Product to Head of Perception—and why ignoring that shift costs trust, talent, and opportunity.

This isn’t about personal branding or posting more content. It’s about external leadership as a performance skill.

Because whether you like it or not, the market is already forming an opinion. The question is whether you’re leading it.

What you’ll learn:

  • Why later-stage leaders are rewarded for signaling, not just execution
  • The difference between visibility and being understood
  • How executive presence has moved from the room to the world
  • Why silence and inconsistency damage trust
  • What it really means to own your narrative as a leader

Your Next Steps: