Thinking about leaving your corporate job to start a business? Many professionals dream about becoming entrepreneurs, but very few understand what the transition actually looks like. In this episode of Designing Successful Startups, Jothy Rosenberg sits down with April Lemay, former Deloitte Partner and founder of April's Maple, to discuss what it really takes to leave a successful corporate career, build a business from the ground up, and lead with confidence through uncertainty. Drawing on years of executive leadership and entrepreneurship, April shares practical advice for founders, business owners, and anyone considering a career change into entrepreneurship. In this conversation you'll learn: • How to transition from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship • Why asking for help makes you a stronger founder • The mindset successful entrepreneurs develop • How previous career experience transfers into building a business • Why saying "no" is often one of the most important business decisions • What it really takes to build and grow a small business • Lessons from building a maple syrup business with more than 14,000 trees • Leadership principles every startup founder should know Whether you're starting your first business, launching a startup, buying a small business, or planning your next career move, this episode offers practical insights that apply far beyond one industry. --- Start Here Leading & Raising Money Course: https://whosaysyoucantstartup.teachable.com/p/leading-raising-money Full Startup Bundle: https://whosaysyoucantstartup.teachable.com/p/full-bundle Tech Startup Toolkit: https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Startup-Toolkit-Development-Entrepreneurs/dp/1119523644 --- Follow Jothy Rosenberg Website: https://jothyrosenberg.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jothyrosenberg/ ⏱ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:42 Why April Left Deloitte 07:15 Starting a Business Later in Life 13:08 The Reality of Entrepreneurship 20:16 Asking for Help as a Founder 27:45 Building April's Maple 35:28 Leadership Lessons 43:19 Advice for First-Time Entrepreneurs 50:11 Final Thoughts #entrepreneurship #startup #smallbusiness #leadership #businessgrowth #founder #startupadvice #careerchange