About Podcast
When a cash-strapped market-research firm in Cambodia teetered under debt, poor data quality, and the real risk of collapse, one leader rebuilt it from the inside out. Laurent Notin, the Bottleneck Coach, led that turnaround, driving the company to become debt-free, scale revenue toward $1.3M, and build a nationwide network of 350 interviewers while later turning those playbooks into coaching for founders worldwide.
Behind the scenes, Laurent applied disciplined financial controls (an eight-week cash-flow forecast and a creditor payment schedule), hired a finance lead, and commissioned rigorous data-quality procedures that he forced into practice by creating an Operations Director role. He changed culture through concrete actions, quarterly field visits, new HR processes for part-time interviewers, provincial offices, and even sharing the pain of a temporary 50% salary cut, then pivoted into social research for large donors to capture higher-value projects.
Key Takeaways:
- Implement an 8-week cash-flow forecast and a scheduled creditor-repayment plan to stabilize payroll and eliminate short-term debt.
- Codify and enforce data-quality procedures and appoint a dedicated Operations Director to protect deliverable integrity and client trust.
- Build a distributed field network (provincial offices + interviewer database) to lower execution costs and win large, nationwide studies.
- Lead visibly: regular field visits and transparent leadership choices (e.g., shared sacrifice) accelerate cultural change and employee buy-in.
- Diagnose founder bottlenecks, especially the inability to let go and use coaching or mentoring to delegate effectively and scale beyond the founder.
Join us with Laurent Notin as he shows leaders how to remove bottlenecks, rebuild operations, and scale businesses beyond themselves.
- Financial Stability: Build strong financial foundations through cash flow management and debt repayment.
- Operational Quality: Improve processes to ensure high-quality results.
- Company Culture: Foster an inclusive environment where all employees feel valued.
- Strategic Growth: Identify new opportunities and build unique competitive strengths.
- Personal Growth: Focus on self-awareness and mentorship to help others succeed.
Special Guest: Laurent Notin, The Bottleneck Coach
Location: Helsinki, Uusimaa FINLAND
Air Date: March 2, 2025
Website:
- LaurentNotin.com: learn more about Laurent’s work and “Discover How to Break Free from Being Your Business’s Biggest Bottleneck Today!” on his website. Scale Tales listeners can also request a complimentary coaching call by mentioning his interview!
Podcast:
- Inter:Views – Cracking the Entrepreneurship Code: Laurent’s podcast.
Video:
- Laurent Notin | The Bottleneck Coach: Laurent’s YouTube channel.
Producer & Host: Alicia Butler Pierre
Additional Voiceovers: Hashim Tale and Clarence Levy III
Audio Editor: Olanrewaju Adeyemo
Sound Design: Sabor! Music Enterprises
Video Editor: Gladys Jimenez
Show Notes: Hashim Tale
Sponsor: Equilibria, Inc.More About Guest, Laurent Notin:
Laurent is a sought-after business coach who helps technical founders and entrepreneurs unlock their potential and drive sustainable growth. Drawing on his extensive experience running SMEs across three countries, he offers a global perspective and practical insights that resonate deeply with founders navigating complex challenges.
Known as the Bottleneck Coach, Laurent specializes in identifying and addressing the bottlenecks that hold businesses back. Through strategic questioning and actionable guidance, he helps founders break free from operational overwhelm, enabling them to focus on what truly matters—vision, strategy, and leadership.
Laurent’s coaching is rooted in the belief that transformation begins at the top. He empowers founders to challenge their assumptions, rethink their approach to leadership, and build empowered teams. By enabling clarity, strategic focus, and a renewed sense of direction, Laurent equips his clients with the tools to achieve measurable results and long-term success.
Working with Laurent is more than a coaching experience—it’s a partnership that helps founders step out of the grind, reclaim their time, and scale their businesses with confidence.
More About Host, Alicia Butler Pierre:
Alicia Butler Pierre is the Founder & CEO of Equilibria, Inc.. Her career in operations began over 25 years ago while working in various chemical plants and oil refineries. She invented the Kasennu™ framework for business infrastructure and authored, Behind the Façade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success. She is the producer of the weekly top 2% Business Infrastructure podcast with a global audience across 70+ countries.Alicia is also an adjunct instructor of Lean Principles at Purdue University and serves as the USA Chair of the G100’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. The Process Excellence Network recognized her as a Top 50 Thought Leader in Operational Excellence. A chemical engineer turned entrepreneur, she’s designed and optimized processes for small businesses, large enterprises, non-profits, and government organizations alike.
More About Sponsor, Equilibria:
Equilibria, Inc. is an 19-year-old boutique operations management firm. We build the business infrastructure necessary for fast-growing businesses to scale with less pain. With a range of services and products, entrepreneurs can get the operational support and resources they need on demand. 