Founders in Full
Founders in Full explores the future of family-focused solutions—from innovative tech startups to mission-driven services and products that help parents, caregivers, and families thrive.
Each episode features candid conversations with founders on what it really takes to start and scale: from customer research and product-market fit to brand positioning and marketing strategies that drive growth.
Whether you’re a family-focused founder, investor, or advocate, you’ll hear real stories and practical lessons on finding your ideal customer, crafting trust-building messaging, choosing the right channels, and prioritizing time and budget when every decision counts.
Hosted by Dan Ritzke—Fractional CMO and FamTech Marketing Consultant—Founders in Full shares the stories and insights of the people shaping the next generation of family-centered solutions.
Founders in Full
Paul Sullivan | The Company of Dads
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Paul Sullivan, Founder of The Company of Dads and longtime former New York Times columnist, shares how a personal decision inside his own family led to a broader mission: redefining what modern fatherhood looks like at home and at work.
When Paul’s wife launched her own asset management firm in 2013, he stepped into the role of “lead dad” — the go-to parent managing the mental load, logistics, and day-to-day responsibilities of raising their three daughters. What began as a quiet, almost “undercover” shift evolved into a national platform serving millions of fathers navigating similar transitions.
We explore:
✅ Why COVID became the catalyst that moved him from “undercover lead dad” to founder
✅ The data behind the 25 million lead dads in America — and why they’ve been largely overlooked
✅ How workplace culture still discourages fathers from taking leave or stepping fully into caregiving
✅ Lessons from leaving a high-profile career at The New York Times to build something from scratch
✅ The painful (and expensive) early founder mistakes that reshaped his approach to growth
✅ Why supporting fathers isn’t just about dads — it’s about equity for working moms and healthier companies
Paul’s story is a powerful reminder that cultural change doesn’t start with policy — it starts with visibility. By giving fathers language, community, and credibility, he’s helping reshape the future of work and family in real time.
👉 Learn more about The Company of Dads: https://thecompanyofdads.com/
👉 Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullivanpaulj/
Connect with me (Dan Ritzke):
I’m a Fractional CMO who helps FamTech companies position their brand, sharpen their messaging, create marketing strategies that drive growth, and oversee execution to make sure those plans turn into results.
👉 Visit my website: https://danritzke.com/
👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ritzke/
Apply to be on the podcast or nominate a founder:
👉 Founders in Full: https://danritzke.com/podcast/