Dylan Field, CEO of Figma, discovered an uncomfortable truth early in his entrepreneurial journey: being a great leader doesn’t automatically make you a good manager. When he co-founded the design platform in 2012, Field possessed leadership experience but lacked formal management training. He freely admits he was “bad at all of it” initially, a candid acknowledgment that resonates with many emerging entrepreneurs who face similar challenges.
The Leadership-Management Gap
Field’s realization that leadership and management are distinct skill sets became a turning point in his career. Many aspiring founders assume that their ability to inspire and guide a vision translates directly into managing teams effectively. However, Field learned that management requires specific techniques, emotional intelligence, and systems that go beyond inspirational leadership. This gap between vision-setting and day-to-day team management is common among first-time founders.
From Struggle to Success
Despite his rough start, Field committed to improving his management capabilities. His willingness to acknowledge shortcomings and actively develop the necessary skills paid off tremendously. Today, Figma stands as a $19.45 billion company used by 95% of the Fortune 500, serving as a testament to Field’s growth as both a leader and manager. His journey underscores an important lesson for entrepreneurs: recognizing your weaknesses is the first step toward building a thriving organization.
Field’s story demonstrates that success doesn’t require perfection from day one. Instead, it demands self-awareness, humility, and commitment to continuous improvement—qualities that prove invaluable when scaling a business from startup to industry leader.