The First Customer - The Importance of Taking Risks and Making Mistakes with CEO Leopold van Oosten

The First Customer

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Leopold van Oosten, the CEO and Founder of Amsterdam Standard.
Leopold recounts his entrepreneurial journey, which began in a small, unremarkable town in the Netherlands. Initially studying hotel management with aspirations of entering the hospitality industry, his path took a dramatic turn during an internship in London in 2001. There, he was exposed to the potential of online services, particularly the burgeoning online ticketing industry. Inspired by the innovation he witnessed in London, Leopold and his friend launched the first local online ticket service in the Netherlands. This venture, while successful, eventually led Leopold into the world of digital agencies, where he found his niche in building platforms and solutions, marking the beginning of Amsterdam Standard.
Leopold shares the challenges of running an agency, especially in a highly competitive industry. He notes that after 19 years of relatively smooth operations, the past year has been particularly tough due to various global crises impacting the IT sector. This forced Amsterdam Standard to rethink its marketing strategy, leading them to adopt a new approach inspired by Donald Miller's "How to Build a StoryBrand." Despite the difficulties, Leopold remains passionate about his work, particularly in helping SaaS companies scale their operations.
Let's explore into the canals of Amsterdam and uncover the secrets behind Leopold van Oosten's 19-year digital legacy on The First Customer!
Guest Info:
Amsterdam Standard
https://www.amsterdamstandard.com
Leopold van Oosten's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leopoldvanoosten/
Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/