Alain Sabathier ran La Voix du Client for 40 years before passing it on to his employees. 40 years navigating market shifts and economic crises.
How do you hold on for that long?
His answer fits in one image: surf theory. Rather than fighting the wave, Alain prefers to surf it. That is, trying to use its force to move forward.
Alain has never been surprised by anything. Not because he predicts the future, but because he constantly explores possible futures.
In this interview, he shares his major pivots: the shift from what could be seen as a self-employed practice to being a company CEO, the move from phone surveys to the web, and the conquest of public-sector markets.
He also talks about what he had to unlearn, the culture of the right to make mistakes that he established, and this handover prepared ten years in advance.
A rare testimony from an entrepreneur who managed to stay curious, anticipate without freezing up, and pass the torch with serenity.