Introduction: This study conceptualizes and provides a description of 'organizational readiness' from an employee perspective for a start-up to achieve success in their growth journey.

Purpose: The study aims to gain a deeper understanding of how employees within a start-up experience the growth phase.

Method: The study is of a qualitative orientation and is based on collected data from interviews with nine employees from two companies.

Results: The results show that employees within start-ups are attracted to the high pace of such companies, and that their motivation lies within the ability to work hard, and be an integral part of the company's decision making processes and journey into the scale-up phase. This is offset by micromanaging and a sense of being disconnected from the companies core structures.

Conclusion: Leadership within start-ups plays a vital part in the companies growth, where the entrepreneurial leader may be essential in the start-up phase, but not necessarily in the scale-up phase.