How Can Founder-Led Companies Break Through Growth Plateaus with Alexis Sikorsky

Ever feel like your business hit a ceiling—and no matter how hard you grind, it won't budge? In this episode, Alexis Sikorsky breaks down the real reasons founder-led companies stall around the $5M–$10M mark. He shares how he scaled New Access, survived the 2008 crash, and eventually reached a $100M+ exit. You'll hear why "more ideas" isn't the problem—lack of clarity is. And you'll leave with a simple way to assess what to fix first, so growth becomes engineered instead of chaotic.  Quotes:  Don't confuse what's urgent with what's important.  If it's more than that, then you don't have a company, you have a job.  You never lie a dollar about the past, because they will find it.  You have no idea what people will tell you if you buy them a beer.  The sum total of my mistakes cost me 5 years and 50 million.  Takeaways:  The $5M–$10M plateau usually hits when founder fatigue, too much "in the business" work, and missing leadership all collide.  Breaking through starts with assessment—knowing your numbers, your gaps, and your true opportunities.  Upgrading from doers to C-level leaders isn't about talent alone—it's matching the right role to the right level of expertise.  Private equity isn't "dumb money"—they often know exactly what value they can unlock those founders can't see yet.  Strategy beats shiny objects: the question isn't which 3 of 10 ideas to do, it's what problem you're solving first.  Conclusion:  If you've been grinding for years and the next level still feels out of reach, this episode is your wake-up call. Alexis shows that plateaus aren't a mystery—they're predictable, and that's good news. When you know your numbers, upgrade leadership, and stop treating strategy like a luxury, momentum returns fast. Instead of chasing ten "smart" moves, you focus on the one core constraint holding the business back. That's how you stop running like a headless chicken—and start building a company that can scale and exit on your terms.  Links Mentioned:   Website: https://www.asikorsky.com/   LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/alexis-sikorsky-consulting   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexissikorsky/