Many female founders came out to say that they don’t have the same permission to be in founder mode the way men do, and that it often leads to a double standard. Graham's idea that founders should remain “in the weeds” is a method that may earn male founders praise, but when female founders take the same approach, they face criticism and are often labeled as "toxic" or overly controlling. Women leaders must navigate these biases, fearing career-damaging backlash if they make mistakes, unlike their male counterparts who are celebrated for similar behaviors​.

Sara Mauskopf, CEO and cofounder of Winnie, said in an interview with Inc, that she sees female founders getting “canceled” for being outed as harsh or too direct with employees. She cites Audrey Gelman and Steph Korey, and says “Being tough on employees and wanting products to be perfect - all of these women did the same thing and had really successful businesses, but they were taken down in the press and then ousted by their boards or leadership.”

Interestingly, Mauskopf acknowledges that yes, male founders also receive backlash for leading in founder mode. (“You'll find millions of negative articles about Elon Musk, for example.”) The difference is that the fallout from that bad press is minor. Employees still want to work for him, he still gets funding.

In an industry where leaders are expected to be visionary, female founders are finding themselves stuck between staying true to their businesses while simultaneously avoiding behaviors that could be negatively interpreted. While male founders can wear their "founder mode" as a badge of honor, women must constantly navigate a complex web of expectations and biases, ultimately shaping how they lead their companies.

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