Athena MasterClasses
The Agreements Founders Overlook: Operating Agreements, Buy-Sell Clauses, and Non-Competes
Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 12:00 PM CT
Most multi-owner businesses have an operating agreement. Fewer founders know what it actually says — or whether it still reflects how the business operates today. This masterclass is for founders who want to understand the documents that quietly govern everything.
Carolyn will walk through the foundational agreements that govern how a business runs, who can leave and on what terms, and how to protect the business when key relationships change. This isn’t about preparing for the worst — it’s about building with enough clarity that the worst is far less likely to happen.
You’ll learn:
- What an operating agreement actually governs and why it matters beyond formation
- How buy-sell clauses work and why they are one of the most valuable provisions a multi-owner business can have
- What non-compete and non-solicitation agreements actually do — and their limits
- How to identify whether your existing agreements are current and complete
- Common provisions founders sign without fully understanding — and what they mean in practice
Standard Ticket: $10 to attend the live session
Empower Ticket: $15 to attend the live session and receive recording
50% of ticket proceeds goes directly to the Athena Founders Collective Scholarship Fund
Business Partnerships: How to Structure Them, Protect Yourself, and Plan for the Unexpected
Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 12:00 PM CT
Going into business with someone else can be one of the most exciting decisions a founder makes. It can also be one of the most legally consequential. Most founders focus on the opportunity and skip the structure. This masterclass is designed to change that.
Carolyn will walk through how business partnerships actually work from a legal standpoint — ownership splits, decision-making authority, roles and responsibilities, and what happens when the relationship changes. Whether you’re considering a partnership, currently in one, or simply want to understand your options, this session provides the legal foundation that most founders never get until something goes wrong.
You’ll learn:
- How partnership structures work legally and what ownership percentages actually mean
- How to define roles, decision-making authority, and contributions before they become points of conflict
- What happens when a partner wants to exit, goes silent, or the relationship breaks down
- How entity type affects partnership structure and liability
- Questions every founder should ask before going into business with someone else
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