On 26 January, the startups incubated at NEOMA Startup Lab were given the opportunity to attend a unique presentation by Doctolib Sales Director, Thibault Aliadiere.

A successful sales strategy

The sales manager of this well-known French start-up and unicorn, which hit the headlines during the health crisis, spoke to the School’s fledgling entrepreneurs about his inspirational career path and passed on some sound advice on setting up a successful sales strategy.

“We were a team of four when I joined Doctolib four years ago, but today I manage 350 people,” says Thibault Aliadiere. “Such growth is always very stimulating, but if wrongly managed can be a source of problems. I am thrilled to share our own experience with future start-up leaders who – like us – could experience very strong growth and will need to make the right decisions.”

As such, Thibault Aliadiere spoke about his experience and gave tips for managing, recruiting and driving team performance during this conference on sales strategy. He also gave our incubated and accelerated entrepreneurs his invaluable insight into a diverse range of topics connected to launching a business: is it the right decision to recruit an experienced sales person from the outset? How do you successfully recruit for sales positions? Which hard and soft skills make the difference between two candidates? How do you maintain synergy and motivation in your sales team?

The three cornerstones of success

He also shared his vision of success founded on “Happiness, Training, Results”, pointing out that it is a lack these three cornerstones that push employees to leave a company.

“This was a fantastic opportunity for an exchange full of simplicity, humility and advice between Thibault Aliadiere, Sales Director at Doctolib, and the start-ups we provide support for,” points out Safir Hanafi, NEOMA Incubator Manager in Rouen. “Thibault Aliadiere is certainly one of the best in his sector, heading a sales force of 350! He has the essential qualities of a manager, combining empathy, coaching skills and the desire to improve performance.”