Many leaders treat Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) as little more than a legal formality or a simple perk to attract talent. According to Stefan Surina, CEO and Founder of Eldison, this is a critical mistake. Drawing from years of experience advising founders, he believes that an ESOP isn’t just a part of a compensation package – it’s the foundational tool for building a company’s culture. Done right, strategic ESOP turns employees into true owners, while a poorly planned one risks creating resentment and killing motivation before a company even gets off the ground.
