Rapid growth is every founder’s ambition—but it often brings a hidden cost.

In this video testimonial, Philipp and Katarina Smakman, brother-and-sister co-founders of a fast-growing ecommerce family business in the pet supplements and pet food space, share what happened when their company reached that critical inflection point.

Operating across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the business had experienced significant growth in revenue, team size, and product lines. On paper, everything was going well. But behind the scenes, the very systems that had powered their early success were starting to creak.

As Philipp and Katarina explain, complexity was increasing—and with it came a real risk of losing clarity, speed, and accountability.

When What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

Like many founders, they reached a stage where instinct, informal communication, and ad-hoc meetings were no longer enough. Decision-making slowed. Meetings expanded without improving outcomes. The leadership team was busy—but not always aligned.

That’s when they began working with Jamie Goral as their business coach.

Rather than quick fixes, the focus was on building repeatable leadership structure—systems that could support scale rather than fight against it.

The Power of Leadership Rhythms

One of the biggest shifts Philipp and Katarina highlight is the introduction of clear leadership rhythms.

This included:

• A consistent, structured framework for one-to-one meetings

• Disciplined, outcome-focused leadership sessions

• Robust 90-day planning to align priorities and execution

The impact was immediate and tangible. Meetings became shorter, sharper, and more purposeful. Communication improved across the leadership team. Time previously lost to confusion or duplication was reclaimed.

Importantly, these changes didn’t just make the business more efficient—they made it calmer.

Systems That Stick

What stands out most in their testimonial is that this wasn’t a temporary intervention.

As Philipp and Katarina explain, these systems became embedded into the DNA of the business. They are now simply “how the company operates”—tools and frameworks they fully expect to rely on for many years as the organisation continues to scale.

This is a crucial distinction. Sustainable growth doesn’t come from heroic effort; it comes from structure that holds under pressure.

Growth for the Business—and the Founder

Beyond operational improvements, Philipp also reflects on the personal impact of the coaching.

As a founder, he developed a higher level of management skill and gained greater confidence in leading a growing organisation. The clarity provided by structure didn’t just benefit the team—it elevated his own leadership capability.

A Recommendation for Founders at the Next Stage

Philipp and Katarina’s story is a powerful reminder that scaling successfully isn’t about working harder—it’s about working with the right systems at the right time.

Their testimonial shows how structure, when applied thoughtfully, allows founders to scale without chaos, protect culture, and lead with confidence.

It’s why they wholeheartedly recommend working with Jamie to any business owner preparing for their next phase of growth—and why their experience resonates with so many founders navigating the same challenge.