Dbvisit

Dbvisit’s CEO, Mark Otten, recognised the need for a strategic overhaul and a fresh approach to leadership within the company. He was looking for a facilitator who could provide practical business insights and guide the company through strategic issues without adhering to a rigid, formulaic approach.

Mark engaged Leigh Paulden based on a recommendation from a trusted friend. Leigh’s extensive experience as a director, business owner, and successful salesperson made him the ideal candidate to provide the practical, hands-on guidance Dbvisit needed.

“I learned about Leigh from a friend of mine who had used him. I was told that Leigh was very good, practical, and had a lot of real business experience. A lot of coaches get a model from somewhere and then they just follow that formula. Leigh is not like that at all.

He’s been a director. He’s been a business owner. He’s been a successful salesperson. He understands all facets of business” – Mark Otten

Leigh’s approach was not confined to a single methodology. Instead, he tailored his coaching to the specific needs of the company, focusing on strategic thinking, values alignment, and trust-building.

“He’s always got a tool. If you need a model for thinking about a sales strategy or something, he’ll have that. He seems to have a way to address any business problem in his toolkit. If I say, I want to talk about this or that, he’ll say, ‘we’ll do that. I got something for that’”.

One of Leigh’s initial tasks was to introduce the “Hedgehog Concept,” which helped Dbvisit identify its core strengths and focus on what truly drives their business. He also conducted a trust exercise that, although initially uncomfortable, was a breakthrough in fostering openness and collaboration within the team.

“Leigh is very good at holding us to priorities. You know, digging them up each quarter, following them each month, resetting them for the quarter or carrying on with them. He’s very good at that. That’s his true value – keeping us accountable for the important things.” – Mark Otten

The company achieved its highest-ever revenue in the past year and experienced a 26% growth rate. This success was enabled in part to the structured, accountable approach that Leigh instilled in the leadership team. By focusing on strategic priorities and fostering an open, collaborative environment, Dbvisit was able to operate more efficiently and effectively.

On a personal level, Mark has also experienced significant benefits from Leigh’s coaching. The regular, structured conversations removed much of the drama and stress from running the business, allowing for more proactive and strategic management.

“There’s no drama. Nothing that hits us or throws us through a loop. We have a cadence that drives conversation, monthly, weekly, that removes the drama from the business.”

Dbvisit’s engagement with Scalable Sustainable Business Growth was a resounding success. The tailored, practical approach provided by Leigh not only addressed immediate challenges but also laid a strong foundation for future growth and stability.

“Putting everything in play, bringing in Leigh, and choosing to have hard conversations as a group has made all the difference in the world. We can really get into the nitty gritty collaborating, which is really hard. It’s hard work because it demands total honesty about things.

We’re not 100%, people still shy away from ‘I don’t want to talk about that, it’s too hard’. You just got to keep going. I mean, it’s a business. It has problems. It’s going to throw them up to you all the time. That fundamentally drives our business. That’s made all the difference in the world for us.”

“He’s great because he understands business. He knows what you go through as a leader. He knows what you got to deal with. He knows when things are tough and he validates that. He’s engaging and supportive.”