E55: Leading From the Fire: Startup Leadership Without Burning Out with Arianna Cerrito

What does it take to lead a startup without losing yourself?

In this episode of Between Data and Risk, we’re joined by Arianna Cerrito, founder of Startup and Rise and startup mentor at LSE Generate, for a real conversation about the emotional toll of startup leadership. Arianna and Dr. Marian Siwiak explore what it means to lead from the fire — where everything feels urgent, your people rely on you, and burnout lurks behind every milestone.

They unpack the invisible decisions founders make daily: when to push, when to rest, and how to build culture and trust that last beyond the chaos of growth. Arianna shares hard-earned lessons about staying connected to your purpose, spotting burnout before it hits, and why values aren’t soft — they’re strategic.

Whether you're a first-time founder or a scaling leader, this conversation offers practical tools for building something meaningful without breaking yourself in the process.

Relevant links:

Arianna Cerrito on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariannacerrito/

Startup and Rise: https://www.startupandrise.com/

Takeaways:

- Why company values are your hidden lever for sustainable growth

- How to delegate without guilt

- Early warning signs of founder burnout

- Making remote culture work without micromanagement

- Reconnecting with your purpose when the chaos takes over

#Startups #Leadership #Burnout #Founders #RemoteWork #StartupCulture #WorkLifeBalance #FounderWellbeing #TeamTrust #CompanyValues #StartupMentor #BetweenDataAndRisk