Founder–CEO transitions can make or break a company’s long-term success, yet boards and investors often treat them as crisis responses rather than strategic inflection points. By understanding the nuanced life cycle of leadership—from founder-led passion to professionalized execution—organizations can choose from multiple transition pathways, including the underutilized Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) model. BOT allows companies to preserve founder vision while embedding operational discipline, ensuring smoother cultural continuity, skill transfer, and reduced stakeholder resistance. When planned early and executed with clarity, such structured leadership handovers safeguard both growth momentum and legacy.