From Google Barcelona to His Own Agency: Simon Ramboer's Untold Story

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Listen to this article~3 min

Simon Ramboer went from Google Barcelona to founding District 360, a photo agency with clients like Amazon and Lego. He shares the highs, lows, and lessons of building a business on his own terms.

Simon Ramboer seemed to have it all: managing big media budgets for clients like Coca-Cola and BMW, then landing a job at Google in Barcelona. On paper, it was a dream career. But deep down, something was missing. He found his real passion behind the camera, not in a boardroom. ### The Pivot: From Marketing to Photography When COVID hit, Simon decided to merge his marketing know-how with his love for photography. That's how District 360 was born. Today, it's a full-service photo and video agency with its own team and clients like Amazon, Lego, and Gondola. But behind those impressive names lies the gritty reality of entrepreneurship. ### The Dark Side of Building a Business Simon opens up about the long hours, the near-burnout, and the tough choices. He left everything behind for Barcelona, then returned for love. He built a company from scratch, hired staff, made significant investments, and faced the chaos when a key team member was out for an extended period. ### The Counterintuitive Growth Strategy What sets Simon apart is his deliberate choice not to grow as fast as possible. Instead of scaling rapidly, he focuses on sustainable growth. He prefers hiring in-house employees over relying solely on freelancers, and he works hard to retain clients. His advice? Sometimes entrepreneurs should promise less and deliver more. > "I'd rather have a team that's fully committed than a rotating door of freelancers. It's about building something that lasts." ### Lessons from the Trenches - **Burnout is real:** Simon nearly hit rock bottom, but he learned to pace himself. - **Hire for the long haul:** In-house teams foster loyalty and consistency. - **Client retention over acquisition:** Keeping existing clients happy is cheaper than chasing new ones. - **Under-promise, over-deliver:** It's better to exceed expectations than to overcommit and fall short. ### A Conversation That Hits Home This isn't just another success story. It's a raw, honest conversation about ambition, growth, setbacks, and doing business on your own terms. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, Simon's journey offers valuable insights into what it really takes to build a business that aligns with who you are. So, if you're feeling the pressure to scale quickly, take a step back. Maybe the best path forward is the one that fits you best.