Veri Archer, an operating executive in her mid-forties, is recruited to be CEO of a high-tech start-up, replacing the founder-CEO, Sanjay Cherry. He stays on as CTO. For Veri, it becomes a rite of passage twice over.

Behind the scenes, the transition of power is anything but smooth. Sanjay, a brilliant but beleaguered visionary, is forced to face the harsh truth that innovation alone isn’t enough to lead. Neal Armbruster—venture capitalist, mentor, and the man behind the curtain—must navigate the delicate politics of replacing a founder without fracturing a friendship.

As Veri quietly rallies for a turnaround, determined to find “a better way,” her story becomes one of quiet leadership, operational warfare, and personal grit. In a world where ego and emotion collide with strategy and structure, Succeeding Sanjay explores what it takes to truly lead.