Rebecca Morley sits down with Louise Hill, Co-Founder of GoHentry to get under the skin of what it really takes to lead a purpose-led business through fast growth. Louise shares candid stories about inflection points, letting go of control and avoiding founder bottlenecks, offering practical insight for leaders in the messy middle.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in the very business you worked so hard to build, you aren’t alone. In this episode of The Third Seat, we’re getting under the skin of what it really feels like when your start-up “inner circle” grows into a team of hundreds. Our first guest is Louise Hill, the Co-Founder and former CEO of GoHenry, the financial education app used by millions of families. Louise has navigated the full lifecycle of growth - from a school gate idea to a global juggernaut that merged with US fintech Acorns. She recently transitioned from CEO to Executive Chair, giving her a unique perspective on how to let go of the day-to-day while still leading with purpose.
In this conversation, Louise and Rebecca discuss:
If you’re in that messy middle of growth, feeling stretched and responsible for everything and determined to not lose your why along the way, this conversation will give you a practical lens and courage to lead more intentionally.
[0:30] Introducing Louise Hill and the GoHenry story
[2:36] From hands-on founder to early leadership
[5:36] The first inflection point: growing beyond the early team
[7:49] Purpose-led growth: Hiring for mission fit
[12:27] Drowning in work and confronting founder bottlenecks
[19:30] Ego, vulnerability and modelling honest leadership
[28:13] How Louise’s leadership evolved from 50 to 250 people.
[33:56] Stepping from CEO to Executive Chair
[42:00] Juggling family, boundaries and human-first policies
[52:03] Mis-hires, probation and acting fast but kindly
[58:05] Lobbying for financial education in schools
[1:01:55] Final advice for leaders in the messy middle
Louise Hill
GoHenry Co-Founder & Former CEO Executive Chair