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

Dr. Niklas Richter · 2026-10-08

Simon Ramboer seemed to be living the professional dream. He managed massive media budgets for clients like Coca-Cola and BMW, then landed a role at Google in Barcelona. On paper, it was the ultimate career path. But somewhere along the way, he realized his real drive wasn't in a corporate office—it was behind a camera. During the pandemic, Simon made a bold move. He combined his marketing expertise with his passion for photography and launched District 360. Today, it's a full-service photo and video agency with its own team and a client roster that includes Amazon, Lego, and Gondola. Not bad for something that started as a side hustle during lockdown. But behind those impressive brand names lies the other side of entrepreneurship—the part nobody puts on Instagram. ### The Messy Reality of Building a Business Simon doesn't sugarcoat it. He talks openly about the long workdays, the near-burnout moments, and the huge risks he took. He left everything behind for Barcelona, then returned for love. He built a company from zero, hired staff, made significant investments, and faced the chaos that ensues when a key team member suddenly drops out for an extended period. "I almost burned out," Simon admits. "But that's the price you pay when you care deeply about what you're building." These aren't just war stories. They're the kind of honest lessons that most entrepreneurs only share after a few drinks—or never at all. ### Why Slower Growth Can Be Smarter One of the most striking things about Simon's approach is his deliberate choice not to scale as fast as possible. While many founders chase rapid expansion, he's taken a different path. - He prefers hiring full-time employees over relying solely on freelancers. - He focuses on retaining clients rather than constantly chasing new ones. - He believes entrepreneurs should promise less and deliver more. "Growth for the sake of growth can break you," he says. "I'd rather build something sustainable than something that looks impressive on paper but falls apart behind the scenes." That philosophy has shaped District 360 into a stable, team-driven agency. It's not the flashiest route, but it's one that aligns with his values—and keeps him sane. ### What Other Entrepreneurs Can Learn Simon's story isn't just about switching careers. It's about redefining success on your own terms. He didn't follow the conventional playbook. He took risks, made mistakes, and figured out what actually mattered to him. For anyone feeling stuck in a job that looks good from the outside but feels wrong on the inside, his journey offers a powerful reminder: you don't have to follow someone else's definition of success. Whether you're in Belgium, the United States, or anywhere else, the core lessons hold true. Build at your own pace. Hire people you trust. And don't be afraid to walk away from something that looks perfect if it doesn't feel right. Simon's full conversation covers ambition, growth, setbacks, and the art of running a business that fits who you are. It's a candid look at what it really takes to go from a corporate dream job to building something of your own—and why that messy, uncertain path can be the most rewarding one of all.