Episode #507 - From a £10 Startup to Strategic Growth: The Orange Notebook Journey - with Corina Calugaru and Alina Stancu

In this episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent is joined by Corina Calugaru and Alina Stancu, the dynamic duo behind The Orange Notebook – a business that started during the pandemic with just £10 in the bank and a whole lot of passion. From a modest marketing agency, it has evolved into a strategy-led consultancy offering business coaching, outsourced marketing, and rebranding services.

We delve into how they turned an idea sketched in an orange notebook into a thriving business, and the insights they’ve gained helping other entrepreneurs scale.

The conversation is structured in three parts:

1. Their business journey, including the pivotal shift from marketing to executive coaching and strategy
2. The recurring challenges their clients face in scaling – especially around leadership transitions, team alignment, and clarity of vision
3. Some quickfire insights and reflections, from time management hacks to overcoming self-doubt and staying aligned as co-founders

The One Key Thing:
To scale successfully, founders must evolve from doing everything themselves to leading with clarity, culture, and confidence – and that often means redefining their own identity.

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For now, continue listening for the full story from Corina and Alina.

 

Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.

If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:

https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin

You can get in touch with Kevin here:

[email protected]

 

Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!

Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.

More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/

 

Corina & Alina can be found here:

https://theorangenotebook.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-stancu/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/corina-cristina-calugaru-mba/

 

Resources:

Traction: Get A Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/traction-get-a-grip-on-your-business-gino-wickman/3561744?ean=9781936661831

The E-Myth Revisted by Michael Gerber - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-e-myth-revisited-why-most-small-businesses-don-t-work-and-what-to-do-about-it-michael-e-gerber/82114?ean=9780887307287

Super Communicators by Charles Duhigg - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/supercommunicators-how-to-unlock-the-secret-language-of-connection-charles-duhigg/7579843?ean=9781847943644

Riverside - https://riverside.fm/

Opus Clip - https://www.opus.pro/