SCALING A PRODUCTION BUSINESS AS AN ENTREPRENEUR

As an entrepreneur in the production industry, one of the most important questions you’ll eventually face is this: do you want to remain a one-person show, or are you ready to let go of control and scale?

For many founders, the business begins with a craft. In my case, it started as a videographer on an island in Thailand, Phuket. Being behind the camera was where the passion first took shape, capturing moments, telling stories, and falling in love with the process of production itself — being in the now.

As Fat Mango Studios grew, another lesson emerged: understanding the difference between what I personally loved doing and what the company needed to grow. Those two things don’t always align. Learning how to balance creative passion with business responsibility became just as important as learning the technical side of production.

Scaling a production company requires strong systems and clear processes. Putting the right people in the right departments allows projects to move forward without the founder being involved in every detail. Strong department leads create trust, consistency, and room for the business to operate independently.

Letting go of control is especially difficult when your identity is closely tied to the creative work. But growth doesn’t mean abandoning your passion — it means allowing it to evolve. Stepping back from the camera created space to build a team, shape the culture, and guide the company in a way that supports both creativity and sustainability.

Balancing growth and passion isn’t about choosing one over the other. It’s about recognising when to lead from behind the scenes — and trusting the people and processes you’ve put in place.