'Because the ego started to grow bigger than the project itself': a case study of founder's syndrome on an educational community of practise. Issue 4 (2nd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ceaser, Donovon Keith
• Is Part Of: Ethnography and education. Volume 13:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 459
• Page End: 476
• Publication Date: 2018-10-02
• Subjects: Founder's syndrome -- community of practise -- environmental education -- adultism -- nonprofit organisations; Educational anthropology -- Periodicals; Ethnology -- Research -- Periodicals; 306.43
• DOI: 10.1080/17457823.2017.1384321
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-7823

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In 2010 I worked at Green Shoots, a nonprofit service-learning urban farming school started by John Browne. Despite an openly egalitarian community of practise ethic, Browne used his leadership to create a hierarchy at the school that eventually led to a walk-out by staff in which he responded by outright firing them. Using the theory of founder's syndrome, or the tendency of a founder to subvert the aims of their organization, I examine Browne's leadership and how his attitude destroyed the community of practise at Green Shoots. Findings reveal a character profile of Browne as a charming and inspirational teacher who engaged in a dominating leadership that contradicted the community of practise's ideals, creating further contradictions which resulted in disrespected students, disillusioned staff, and a founder unable to take responsibility for his leadership. Finally, I discuss the importance of addressing the power of founders so that founder's syndrome does not impede the important work of educational nonprofits.