5 Things That Make a Founder Magnetic
How do you get people to WANT to know you?
Being magnetic. A skill or a desire? Certainly something that can contribute to the success of a founder in my view. But what does that look like in a person?
It’s someone who’s not just marketable, not just polished - but the kind of person people want to work with, back and build alongside.
Because charisma is great…but maybe a little overrated? Chatty Cathy’s? Brilliant but sometimes exhausting. And perfection? Alienating.
What really pulls people in is something deeper, more human and more real. And I believe it’s the secret weapon that helps you get to where you’re (meant) to be going.
Whether you’re building a business, a personal brand or preparing for your next “step up”, these are 5 traits I see over and over again in the most compelling founders I know (and work with):
1. Clarity of Voice
Not just “what do you do?”. But why it matters.
Magnetic founders know how to tell the story of what they’re building or doing in a way that sticks. Their message is crystal clear - not jargon, not pitch-deck sales-speak - just real, intentional clarity that cuts through the noise. It’s a conversational clarity - not presenting the message, but landing the message.
If you can’t say what you do in one sentence without waffling, you’ve got a clarity problem - not a product one.
2. Conviction in Chaos
Founders who are magnetic don’t fake confidence. They have conviction - even when things are messy. And it always gets messy.
They know their idea matters. They move through uncertainty with a mix of grounded-ness and grit - they are constantly thinking about the Big Picture and letting that guide them. They don’t need to know everything (who does?). They just keep moving, asking the right questions and keeping the momentum.
3. A Compelling Energy
This isn’t about vibrating or being loud on LinkedIn. It’s about energy you trust.
Some of the most magnetic people I’ve met are calm, steady…quietly visionary. Others are full chaos in the best way.
The point is, they show up with energy that feels real, deep, emotional, authentic and in motion.
People don’t remember your slide deck (although they might remember an incredibly boring one 😂)
They remember how you made them feel - in their company, in the audience or on the other end of the phone.
4. Powerful Pivots
The businesses I think are destined for success? They can pivot. With purpose. Success is not guaranteed obviously, but those with tenacity and grit are more likely to “get there”.
They’re not clinging to the original version of the idea - they’re iterating, listening, adapting, staying creative without losing themselves.
It’s not “we move” for the sake of it.
It’s we evolve - with context and courage.
Changing course isn’t a bad thing; it’s a natural thing - but how you handle that? Well it sets you apart.
5. Emotional Fluency
Let’s say it louder: emotional intelligence is a BUSINESS ADVANTAGE.
Scrap that, it’s a BUSINESS NECESSITY.
Magnetic founders know how to:
Build trust
Read between the lines
Ask for help
Handle negative feedback
Lead with humanity
No one wants to build a brand with a robot or a martyr.
People want to build with someone real - someone emotionally literate and self-aware enough to lead well.
🌀 Want to be more magnetic?
Listen, you already are.
Most people just need help pulling the good stuff to the surface.
That’s what I do - through workshops, strategy and straight-talking mentorship for founders and creatives who want to go big without burning out. Sometimes you just need a little help to dig deeper, to understand your best qualities or to hype you up. And that’s where I come in. Everyone needs a hype person in their corner - but a hype person who can also give it to you straight (when it’s needed)? That’s me!
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Thanks for reading
Jennie xxx