Small gripe, but "herself"? Better as "and the founder had gone…" Even him/herself is a good option.
"Finally, our sector is on top and these young people want to come and join us."
It's like saying "and these young women…"
It's often much easier to write and read pronouns, and it is my opinion (though far from an accepted truth) that alternating him/her when contextually appropriate is less clunky than using the him/herself construction.
As a writing instructor, I personally have no problem with "himself" being used in a broader, non-gendered construction... and for the same reason have no problem with a similar usage of "herself", though as I say, opinions vary.
Let's cut the crap; when people write she/her/womankind for the generic it's about PC. It's not standard English.
Well, so has treating women like second class humans, but hopefully we can overcome that, too, no? Languages live... yes it is about acknowledging difference, but so what?
"Every time somebody misuses she/her as the generic I'm knocked into a moment of confusion wondering who this sudden specific chick is."
I was at the barber in my tiny Texas town today... you should have heard their comments when "his husband" came over the TV audio... they were shocked, too.
Indeed.. and that's the problem.
The times, they are a changin!