Aflevering Moving Beyond The Hustle As A Female Founder With Valerie Hirschhauser | Ep. 135

In this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, Valerie Hirschhauser explains why following the startup playbook often leads to founder burnout, hustle culture as a system glitch, and how founders can build a sustainable business without sacrificing their well-being. We talk about hustle as a coping mechanism, why being busy often replaces making real progress, and how profit can act as oxygen for impact instead of undermining it. This conversation is for founders who wonder whether working harder is really the path to success, and who are looking for a more sustainable way to build. Inside this conversation: - Why hustle is often a system glitch, not a lack of ambition - How burnout shows up long before founders stop functioning - Why intuition belongs in leadership and boardroom decisions - How energy management beats time management - Why profit can act as oxygen for impact, not a compromise - What changes when founders reclaim agency over their choices Chapters: 02:20 Valerie Hirschhauser's journey and the search for freedom in tech 05:11 Debunking the illusion of hustle culture for founders 08:07 The invisible impact of burnout on tech founders 11:10 Strategies for navigating the modern startup landscape 13:50 The role of mentorship and support for female founders 16:49 Addressing double standards for women in entrepreneurship 19:26 Rethinking investment expectations and VC relationships 22:22 Why energy management beats time management for leaders 25:27 Cultivating worthiness, balance, and self-belief in STEM 32:45 How to choose agency over autopilot in your career 35:41 Balancing purpose and profitability in a sustainable business 39:17 Why hustle is not a sustainable business strategy 45:34 How location and environment influence work-life integration 48:43 Making leadership development accessible for women in tech 51:25 Leading from the heart: Combining empathy and strength 55:09 The role of trust and investor support in startup success 57:52 Building inclusive and stronger founder ecosystems Connect with Valerie Hirschhauser: Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriehirschhauser/ The OneMillionWomen Website: https://www.onemillion-women.com/