From 0 to 95 Employees: How Achile Van Gierdegom Built Quality Guard

Dr. Niklas Richter · 2026-05-28

At just 30 years old, Achile Van Gierdegom leads a company with 95 employees, six offices, and operations across seven countries. Ten years ago, he joined Quality Guard, a niche solution for food safety and self-inspection. What started small has become a scalable model expanding fast. If current trends hold, they'll double their revenue again this year. Quality Guard doesn't build hype or a flashy app. They build a product that works. A system that scales. And they pair it with a clear buy-and-build strategy. This isn't about buzzwords; it's about results. ### The Power of Practical Intelligence Achile calls himself "street smart" rather than "book smart." Impatient. Commercial. Down-to-earth. But behind that speed is discipline. Behind the expansion is a model that makes sense. He's not chasing trends; he's building something real. This conversation covers how you take on international responsibility at a young age. How you make acquisitions without losing your culture. Integration and tension in a fast-growing organization. The constant balancing act between speed and structure. ### Scaling Without Losing Your Soul One of the biggest challenges in growth is maintaining your identity. Achile talks openly about the pressure of rapid expansion. When you're adding employees and offices across borders, how do you keep everyone aligned? For Quality Guard, it comes down to clear processes and a shared mission. - Focus on core values over flashy perks - Build systems that scale without breaking - Hire for cultural fit as much as skill - Communicate constantly to avoid silos ### What It Really Takes to Go Global Expanding into multiple countries isn't just about opening new offices. It's about understanding local regulations, building trust, and adapting your approach. Achile emphasizes that you can't just copy-paste what works at home. Each market has its own quirks. For example, food safety standards vary widely. What's acceptable in one country might not fly in another. Quality Guard's success comes from staying flexible while keeping their core system intact. ### The Buy-and-Build Strategy in Action Acquisitions are a key part of the growth plan. But they're not about buying for the sake of size. Each acquisition must fit the culture and add real value. Achile explains how they integrate new teams without forcing change. It's a slow, deliberate process. - Identify targets that align with your mission - Integrate gradually to avoid culture shock - Keep communication open with acquired teams - Measure success by retention, not just revenue ### Balancing Speed with Structure Achile admits he's impatient. He wants to move fast. But he's learned that structure is what makes speed possible. Without systems, you just create chaos. The trick is finding the right balance for your stage of growth. He compares it to building a highway: you need the road first, then you can drive fast. Quality Guard invested early in processes that now let them scale without constant firefighting. ### The Bottom Line for Entrepreneurs This is a conversation about building. About growing without burning out. And about what really goes into rolling out a business across multiple countries. Achile's story is proof that you don't need to be the loudest or the flashiest to win. You just need a product that works, a team that believes, and the discipline to keep going. For more episodes, visit the podcast page. Special thanks to our partners: Teamleader and Cloudpoint. Win a duo ticket for the Work Smarter Event on June 4, 2026. Listen to the episode to find out how.