Lessons in Leadership from the Founder of a Global Startup
January 8, 2026
In September, Amit Gupta, CEO and founder of Dayton-based Aeroseal, took the stage at Launch Dayton Startup Week to deliver a keynote on leadership and growth. Since founding Aeroseal, Amit has led the company from humble beginnings to a global leader in technology that makes residential and commercial buildings more energy efficient. Along the way, he has hired hundreds of employees, attracted more than $100 million in venture capital, and evolved his leadership approach many times over. His keynote offered valuable insights into how founders can grow as leaders while building companies that last.
There Is No Such Thing as Work-Life Balance
Amit began with a philosophy that challenges a common belief: there’s no such thing as true work-life balance. Instead, he believes the goal should be to integrate work and life in a way that allows for full presence in both. “If you can find a position where you love what you do, you’re treated well, and you can treat others well, you can fully commit to your life as a whole, without the need to compartmentalize a ‘work self’ and a ‘life self,’” he said. For Amit, this alignment creates purpose and allows for deeper engagement at home and at work.
Choose Your Headquarters Based on Quality and Value
Aeroseal has always called Dayton home, even though it could have relocated to either coast at any point in its growth. Amit shared several reasons why the company continues to thrive in the region:
- Value: Dayton allows Aeroseal to grow efficiently, getting more for every dollar than it could in larger markets.
- Talent: The region is rich in skilled professionals, enabling Aeroseal to scale with a high-performing team.
- Accessing Customers: The company can reach many customers and partners within a few hours’ drive or a short flight.
- Time: Shorter commutes give employees something money can’t buy, more time for meaningful work and life outside of it.
For Amit, these factors aren’t just logistical. They represent strategic advantages that contribute to the company’s success.
To Grow as a Leader, Keep Learning
One of Amit’s most memorable quotes from the session resonated deeply with the audience: “A person does not change from one year to the next, except for the new people they meet and the books they read.” Great leaders, he emphasized, must evolve continuously. Amit’s formula: surround yourself with great people, find great mentors, and read great books.
All Change Relies on Unreasonable People
Amit closed with a reflection inspired by George Bernard Shaw’s idea that all progress depends on unreasonable people. Most people adapt to the world around them, accepting challenges or inconveniences as inevitable. Unreasonable people, on the other hand, insist and persist that the world must adapt to their vision. As Amit shared, that’s where change begins: with those willing to question the status quo and push forward until something better takes its place.
At Entrepreneurs’ Center, we’re proud to support innovators like Amit and Aeroseal as they shape industries and demonstrate that world-changing ideas can thrive right here in Dayton.
Learn more about how EC supports high-tech startups at ecinnovates.com.
