From Ego to Execution: What 17 Startups Taught Me with Robert Matzkin

Tenacity with Sonia C is a podcast for founders building real companies. Each episode explores how founders decide what to build, how they prioritize, and how they navigate uncertainty as they move from idea to product and from product to growth.Ego can build companies, and it can destroy them.In this episode of Tenacity with Sonia C., Host Sonia Couto sits down with Robert Matzkin, serial entrepreneur, coach, and advisor who has launched 17 startups and exited two, to unpack the hard truths about ego, execution, burnout, and rebuilding as a founder.Robert shares how unchecked ego nearly cost him businesses, relationships, and clarity, and how learning to listen to data, coaches, and the market changed the way he builds and leads. From launching his first business at a young age to navigating investor pressure, failed bets, and personal burnout, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to survive and scale in entrepreneurship.Together, Sonia and Robert dive into:Why the ego is one of the most dangerous forces in entrepreneurshipThe difference between being coachable and ignoring your instinctsHow founders can recover from burnout without losing momentumWhat investors actually look for when raising capital todayWhy execution and traction matter more than ideasHow to protect yourself from bad investors and broken partnershipsWhy the most successful founders still have coachesThis episode is for founders, startup leaders, and entrepreneurs who are navigating pivots, failure, burnout, or high-stakes decisions and need grounded, real-world insight from someone who’s been there.If you’ve ever questioned yourself as a founder, struggled with ego, or felt the weight of building alone, this conversation will remind you that tenacity isn’t about being fearless, it’s about learning, adapting, and executing anyway.Listen or watch full episodes: https://soniacouto.com/Share your biggest takeaway and tag me: https://www.instagram.com/soniactechAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands