Today’s episode pulls back the curtain on the “dirty secret” stalling growth for scaling Shopify brands: operational complexity and founder bottlenecks.
If hitting $2M–$5M+ in revenue has brought chaos, team misalignment, and burnout, this conversation is the wake-up call—and antidote—you need. We’re diving into the practical playbook for building a self-managing organization that breaks through the ceiling and unlocks sustainable scale.
My guest is Leon van der Laan, founder of Remode Company, architect of the REMODE leadership framework, and trusted coach to 7–8 figure eCommerce founders across Europe. Leon has spent years helping DTC leaders escape “founder mode,” implement clarity-driven systems, and build companies that thrive independent of their constant oversight.
Leon’s approach isn’t about more hustle—it’s about deploying a proven four-pillar framework that activates intrinsic motivation, sets meaningful goals, creates crystal-clear accountability, and operationalizes high-leverage execution. Whether you’re battling burnout, stagnant growth, or struggling to build an A-player team culture, this episode gives you the roadmap to transform complexity into lasting growth.
What You’ll Learn
✅ Why 7-figure founders hit growth ceilings – The hidden leadership mistakes and operational chaos that trap successful brands in “founder mode”
✅ Leon’s proven 4-pillar REMODE framework – How to build self-managing teams through intrinsic motivation, meaningful goals, lean execution systems, and crystal-clear accountability
✅ The $8,000/hour founder mindset shift – A game-changing method to calculate your true hourly value and ruthlessly delegate low-leverage tasks
✅ Hiring A-players who actually stick – Why culture-first hiring beats resume chasing and delivers 4x better retention rates
✅ Smart AI adoption without the chaos – How to leverage automation while avoiding shiny-object syndrome and maintaining strong leadership foundations
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Episode Summary
Leon and I unpacked the operational chaos suffocating fast-growing DTC brands—with founders working longer hours, feeling like bottlenecks, and watching growth stall after 15+ employees. Leon broke down the leadership mistakes most make, the real costs of hustle culture, and the physical and mental health consequences of failing to delegate and systematize.
We explored Leon’s REMODE framework: starting with intrinsic motivation, building out mission/vision/values, creating meaningful goals tied to company purpose, operationalizing with lean execution and OKRs, and clarifying ownership/accountability using the RASI model. Leon explained why self-managing teams are the only sustainable path past $5M–$20M+ and gave playbooks for both hiring values-driven talent and weathering turbulent markets.
Our discussion turned tactical: how to calculate the true hourly value of a founder’s time, why to delegate low-leverage tasks (yesterday), and how changing operational systems in Q4 is a recipe for disaster. For those prepping for the holiday season, Leon recommends doubling down on proven processes for Q4 while queuing major organizational upgrades for early 2026.
Strategic Takeaways
- Stop micromanaging, start systematizing – Operational clarity and delegation free up cognitive energy for high-impact strategic work
- Hire hearts, then skills – Values-aligned team members outperform high-skill cultural misfits every time
- Build recession-proof systems now – Strong leadership frameworks help weather rising ad costs, margin pressure, and market turbulence
- Calculate your founder hourly rate – If a task doesn’t justify your €8,000+ per hour value, delegate it immediately
- Time your transformations wisely – Save major operational changes for post-Q4; double down on what works during peak season
- Audit for organizational “bucket holes” – Use structured assessments to identify where complexity is draining resources and growth potential
Guest Spotlight
Leon van der Laan
Founder, Remode Company
Leon isn’t your typical business coach. With 20+ years leading teams from 5 to 3,500+ people (starting his first leadership role at just 17!), he’s lived through every scaling challenge firsthand. After experiencing multiple burnouts as a young leader, Leon developed the REMODE framework to help 7-8 figure DTC founders escape the “founder mode” trap.
His superpower? Transforming chaotic, founder-dependent businesses into self-managing organizations where teams drive results independently. Leon combines practical systems thinking with what he calls “leader-mind coaching” – because as he puts it, you can only transform your organization if you’re willing to transform yourself first.
Guest Information
Connect with Leon:
- Website: Remode Company
- LinkedIn: Leon van der Laan
- Email: [email protected]
Ready to audit your organization? Leon offers a comprehensive leadership and organizational audit for 7-figure founders with 15+ team members. It’s a deep-dive assessment across 36 key areas to identify where you have friction vs. flow in your business.
Links & Resources
Thanks for Supporting the Pod!
Over the past eight seasons, I’ve been incredibly lucky to chat with some of the brightest founders in ecommerce building remarkable Shopify brands and partners shaping the app and marketing ecosystem. Honestly, every conversation has taught me something new, and I’m grateful for the chance to learn alongside you.
What matters most is that this podcast helps you solve real challenges and unlock new growth for your business. Your support, feedback, and stories have made this journey truly special. Thanks for tuning in, sharing your wins, losses, and being part of the eCommerce Fastlane community.
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