Building What Matters:
How Warren DeVarennes Is Redefining Fatherhood and Leadership
“Don’t lose yourself trying to build something. Build in a way that aligns with who you are and who you want to be remembered as.”
When you speak with Warren DeVarennes, his voice carries the warmth of conviction and the calm of a man who has learned to measure success differently. There’s no rush in his cadence, no need to impress. Instead, there’s a rare stillness—one that seems to come from knowing exactly what he values most. For Warren, that quiet clarity didn’t come from corporate triumph or a viral startup story. It came from fatherhood. He grew up in Duluth, Georgia, a modest middle-class town just outside Atlanta. “My childhood was pretty normal,” he says. “My parents have been married for almost forty years, and I’ve always been grateful for that.” His tone softens when he talks about them—his parents and grandparents were his earliest examples of consistency, the kind of everyday love that outlasts storms. That quiet stability, it turns out, would become the blueprint for how he leads today.
Warren DeVarennes and his wife
Before he became the co-founder of Dadgood, Warren’s career unfolded in the fast-paced world of fintech. “It started when I got an opportunity to work at a startup in ATL called Kabbage,” he recalls. The company helped small businesses with working capital—a fertile ground for someone with his drive and curiosity. But it was a conversation—one that started on LinkedIn—that changed everything. “My friend Gui and I were just chatting about needing a community for dads,” he says. “We wanted a space where we could connect, encourage, and just be honest. That’s how Dadgood began.” It wasn’t a business pitch—it was a need. “I think it was something I was searching for but couldn’t find,” he admits. “Dads shouldn’t have to dad alone.”
The mission of Dadgood is deceptively simple: to create a space where fathers can grow together—in their families, their businesses, and their sense of purpose. “If we build it the right way,” Warren says, “it should feel like a tiny piece of who our members are.” That sentence holds the essence of his philosophy. He doesn’t just want to build a platform. He wants to build belonging. There’s a gentleness to the way he talks about leadership. “Being a dad forces you to slow down, listen, and lead by example, not ego,” he says. “The same traits that make you a good father and husband make you a good leader.” In a culture that often glorifies hustle and detachment, Warren’s leadership philosophy feels almost revolutionary in its humility. He doesn’t chase scale for scale’s sake—he chases meaning.
Ask Warren what anchors him, and his answer is immediate: “Jesus Christ is the ultimate source for all I do.” That faith—paired with his wife and three daughters—forms the center of his orbit. “My wife has taught me patience and perspective,” he says. “My daughters have taught me joy and presence. They remind me daily that leadership starts at home.” His mornings begin early—around 4 a.m., a sacred window of quiet before the world stirs. “When I’m with my family, I’m all in. When I’m working, I’m focused,” he says. “It’s not always perfect, but I’ve learned balance isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing what matters most.” When the balance tips, he steps back. “Running, lifting, or just quiet time with God—that’s where I reset.” It’s this discipline of stillness that keeps him grounded in the chaos of startup life. “If the role ever feels like it’s taking priority over family,” he says simply, “then I’m failing.”
There’s a subtle power in how Warren leads. “It’s about consistency and integrity—showing up and doing the work alongside your team,” he says. In many ways, he’s part of a new wave of founders—men and women who are reshaping what leadership looks like in the next decade: values-driven, family-centered, and faith-informed. He believes success isn’t measured in exits or followers but in impact. “For my family, I want to be remembered as someone who loved them well. For my company, I want to build something that made people’s lives better. For my community, I want to help other dads realize they can be ambitious and grounded.” That quiet duality—ambition and grounding—feels like the future of leadership itself.
When asked what he’s building toward next, his answer isn’t about expansion rounds or market share. It’s about freedom. “Peace. Freedom. Being able to build and spend time with my family whenever I want.” Still, his dreams for Dadgood are big. “One day, I want Dadgood to be a community of one million members,” he says. “A place that impacts dads, families, and future generations.” And beyond that, he envisions more spaces where founders can talk openly about family, faith, and fulfillment—not just the usual business metrics. “Pray to God about it,” he advises other founders. “Don’t lose yourself trying to build something. Build in a way that aligns with who you are and who you want to be remembered as.”
As our conversation winds down, Warren reflects on what drives him forward. “Every time I look at my wife and daughters, I’m reminded that time is short,” he says. “I want to make it count.” He’s building quietly—but with purpose. Not chasing noise, but nurturing legacy. In a world obsessed with scaling fast and shouting loud, Warren DeVarennes is doing something far more radical. He’s choosing to lead softly, build slowly, and live fully. And in that choice lies the future quiet—a future where success sounds a lot like peace.