From Google to His Own Agency: Simon Rambour's Unfiltered Entrepreneur Story

Dr. Niklas Richter · 2026-10-08

Sometimes the path to success isn't a straight line. For Simon Rambour, it meant leaving a dream job at Google in Barcelona to chase something entirely different: his passion for photography. His journey from managing massive ad budgets for Coca-Cola and BMW to building District 360, a photo and video agency with clients like Amazon and Lego, is a masterclass in following your gut—and facing the messy realities of entrepreneurship head-on. ### The Leap from Corporate to Creative Simon's story starts in the high-stakes world of media buying. He was handling big accounts, living in Barcelona, and working for Google. On paper, it was the dream. But something was missing. "I realized I wasn't fulfilled," he says. "I wanted to create, not just optimize." So during the pandemic, he combined his marketing know-how with his love for photography. District 360 was born. But building an agency from scratch isn't glamorous. Simon talks openly about the grind: 12-hour days, near-burnout, and the emotional toll of leaving everything behind for Barcelona—only to return for love. "It was a rollercoaster," he admits. "But I wouldn't trade it." ### The Other Side of Entrepreneurship Behind the client logos and creative shoots, there's a less-discussed reality. Simon shares the tough decisions: hiring employees, making hefty investments, and what happens when a key team member is out for months. "Small teams are fragile," he says. "One absence can throw everything off." He also challenges the growth-at-all-costs mindset. Instead of scaling as fast as possible, Simon deliberately keeps District 360 lean. He prefers hiring in-house staff over freelancers, even though it's more expensive. "You can't build a culture with temps," he explains. "I want people who are invested." And when it comes to clients, he's learned to underpromise and overdeliver. "It's better to say 'we'll try' and then blow them away than to promise the moon and fail." > "Entrepreneurship isn't about being the biggest. It's about being the most authentic version of yourself." – Simon Rambour ### Lessons for Fellow Entrepreneurs Simon's journey offers several takeaways: - **Follow your passion, but be practical.** Combine your skills with what you love. - **Growth isn't always the goal.** Sometimes staying small means staying strong. - **Invest in people.** Freelancers are flexible, but a dedicated team builds lasting value. - **Be honest with clients.** Underpromise, overdeliver. - **Expect setbacks.** Burnout, turnover, and tough calls are part of the deal. His advice? Don't compare your chapter 1 to someone else's chapter 20. "I almost burned out trying to do everything," he says. "Now I focus on what matters: great work, great people, and a life I actually enjoy." Simon's story is a reminder that success isn't one-size-fits-all. It's about defining it on your own terms—and having the guts to walk away from the safe path when it no longer fits. For more honest conversations with entrepreneurs, check out www.belgische-ondernemers.be. And if you find these stories valuable, subscribe and leave a 5-star review. *This episode is brought to you by Teamleader, Victus Sales, and Blackbird Business.*