#71 Don Hache | The founder, the architect, the steward.

Don Hache has started, scaled, acquired, and exited eight companies across North America over three decades. Long before AI was a talking point, he was building industrial automation systems with fuzzy logic and robotic vision. The question driving all of it has never changed: why is it done that way?In this conversation, Don and Ross explore the framework at the centre of Don's work. Founder. Architect. Steward. Three roles. Three phases. Most businesses never leave the first one, and it’s got nothing to do with talent. The business was built around one person's capacity rather than a structure that can run without them. They also get into AI, critical thinking, and what it actually takes to apply automation well inside a real business. Don's view is clear: AI works best in the hands of people who already go deep in their domain. The barrier to execution has dropped. The value of knowing your domain has not.One of the best conversations this season. If you are building something that’s supposed to outlast you, start here.Don Hache is a serial entrepreneur, CEO advisor, and business growth strategist. His work focuses on helping founder-led companies evolve into healthier, more scalable organisations through better architecture, clearer execution, and the disciplined application of AI in real business environments. He has facilitated CEO and leadership-team cohorts since 2007 and is writing a series of books on the evolution from founder to architect to steward. At the centre of his work: enterprise value is a decision, made early and deliberately.