Co-Creators, Not Employees: Inside Dr. James Bort’s Theory of the Startup Workforce

Dr. James Bort, Assistant Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business, shares key insights from his research publication, “A Theory of the Start-Up Workforce.” Professor Bort explains how early startup employees don’t just follow a founder’s vision, they actively co-create the company’s opportunities, culture, and narrative. He shows how ambiguous startup stories, scaling, and mission shifts can empower these “co-constructors” but also lead to rupture, cult-like cultures, and difficult exits, and offers practical guidance for founders to build more humane, employee-centered ventures. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. Disclaimer: 1. The background music incorporated in this video is the intellectual property of its respective developer and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Notwithstanding that it is a free-to-use version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy, and Deepak Bhatt do not own, and expressly do not claim, any rights, title, or interest in or to this music. 2. Dr. James Bort shared key insights from his research, "A Theory of the Start-Up Workforce", in an engaging episode of the Business Talk podcast. The uploaded video contains copyrighted content, so changing any graphics, music, or on-screen appearance of the author or host is not allowed.