Struggling with the balance of nurturing parent and wise mentor
In the dynamic world of technology, decisions can make or break a company. This is a lesson Simon De Baene, the visionary Co-founder and CEO of Workleap, a leading software company serving over 20,000 companies in more than 100 countries, learned the hard way.
Back in 2017, Workleap, then known as GSoft, was at a crossroads. With three business models - two full-fledged products and a services division - De Baene faced a challenging decision. He chose to close the services division and bring back the affected employees into the product teams, a move he believed would preserve their jobs and well-being.
However, business logic suggested a sale of the services division. De Baene, prioritising the welfare of his team, decided against it, fearing being seen as abandoning his team. This decision, although well-intentioned, came with a heavy price. It cost him millions of dollars, the trust of some clients, and the happiness of several employees.
De Baene, reflecting on his past mistakes, states that a younger version of himself would have kept a larger percentage of shares and created new entrepreneurs by ceding the reins to those who wanted to continue in the services division. He admits that he ended up displeasing many by his decision to close the services division and reassign the employees.
The consequences were immediate, causing uprootedness and a shock for some employees. The arrival of 60 new people into the product teams created a setback for relatively young and fragile products.
Despite these challenges, Workleap has grown significantly. Today, it employs 400 people and has reached $100 million in annualized revenues. De Bane is active within the Montreal community of young entrepreneurs and is involved with the Centech technology center of ÉTS.
Looking back, De Baene draws a fundamental lesson from his past mistakes: good decisions are rarely popular at the moment, and leading isn't about trying to please everyone. He has learned that being a leader isn't about being a father, but a guide.
Simon De Baene co-founded GSoft in 2006 in a shared apartment with two friends. From an IT services firm, it later developed its own products, ShareGate and Officevibe. In the summer of 2023, GSoft changed its name to Workleap.
As Workleap continues to grow and evolve, De Baane's reflections serve as a reminder of the importance of making tough decisions and learning from mistakes. His journey is a testament to resilience, growth, and the power of learning from past experiences.
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