This interview is with David Fastuca, CEO & Co-Founder at Growth Forum.

David Fastuca, CEO & Co-Founder, Growth Forum

David, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey to becoming an entrepreneur?

Absolutely. My journey into entrepreneurship started young—I launched my first design agency at just 14. I’ve always been driven by creativity and problem-solving, which led me to co-found Locomote, a travel tech company that grew to 180+ employees across 18 countries before we exited to Travelport.

Along the way, I’ve built and invested in multiple businesses, learning firsthand the highs and lows of scaling, branding, and leadership. Every venture, whether a success or failure, has reinforced my belief that execution and adaptability are the keys to long-term success.

What pivotal moments in your career led you to focus on the intersection of work-life balance and scaling a business?

One of the biggest wake-up calls came during the peak of scaling Locomote. I was working 90+ hour weeks, juggling rapid growth, investor expectations, and a growing team. The stress took a toll—I gained weight, my health suffered, and I felt constantly drained. Another pivotal moment was after exiting Locomote.

Suddenly, the relentless pace slowed, and I realized I had spent years building a successful business at the cost of personal well-being. That’s when it hit me—scaling a company shouldn’t mean sacrificing health, relationships, or sanity. Since then, I’ve been intentional about building businesses that thrive without burnout. I focus on delegation, systems, and leveraging tech to create efficiency. My approach now is about scaling smarter, not harder—so growth happens without it consuming your life.

You've mentioned the challenges of 90-hour weeks. What was a turning point that made you realize the importance of work-life balance, especially during periods of rapid growth?

The turning point came when I looked in the mirror and barely recognized myself—physically and mentally. During Locomote’s rapid growth, I was pushing 90-hour weeks, constantly traveling, and running on fumes. I had gained over 15 kg, was always exhausted, and felt disconnected from everything outside of work. But the real wake-up call? Missing key moments with my family. I had spent so much time building a company that I was barely present for the people I was doing it for.

That realization forced me to rethink everything. From that moment on, I made a commitment to scale smarter, not harder. I focused on building systems, hiring the right people, and trusting my team—so the business could grow without me burning out. Now, my approach to work-life balance isn’t just about working less; it’s about working better.

Many entrepreneurs struggle with letting go of control as their business grows. How did you find a balance between staying involved and avoiding burnout while delegating tasks?

Letting go of control was one of the hardest, but most important, lessons I had to learn. In the early days of Locomote, I was involved in everything—sales, marketing, product development—you name it. But as we scaled, I realized that holding on to everything wasn’t just unsustainable; it was stunting growth. The turning point was when I hit complete exhaustion. I knew something had to change. The first step was documenting processes—making sure tasks were repeatable and easy to delegate.

Then, I focused on hiring people I could trust and empowering them to own their roles. Instead of micromanaging, I shifted to outcome-based leadership—setting clear goals and letting my team figure out the how. My advice? Start small. Delegate one task at a time, trust your team, and focus on the areas where you bring the most value. Growth happens when you step out of the weeds and start leading from a higher level.

Building on your experience with delegation, what strategies did you implement to create a sustainable work environment for yourself and your team?

Creating a sustainable work environment started with shifting from working harder to working smarter. At Locomote, I realized that constant hustle wasn’t a badge of honor—it was a fast-track to burnout for both me and my team. Here’s what made the biggest impact:

Clear Processes & Systems – We documented workflows so tasks weren’t reliant on any one person. If something could be repeated, it could be delegated.

Outcome-Based Leadership – Instead of micromanaging, I focused on setting clear goals and trusted my team to execute in their own way.

Workload Balancing – We encouraged team members to prioritize high-impact tasks and eliminate unnecessary busywork. More productivity, less burnout.

Asynchronous Communication – Reducing unnecessary meetings and shifting to tools like Slack and Loom created more flexibility and deep work time.

Culture of Ownership – Everyone had the freedom to make decisions in their role, which built accountability and reduced bottlenecks.

The result? A business that could scale without me being the bottleneck and a team that worked efficiently without feeling overwhelmed. Sustainable growth isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing better.

You've emphasized the importance of clear systems and documentation. How did you prioritize these elements while managing the demands of a fast-growing business?

In the middle of fast growth, it’s easy to push systems and documentation to the back burner—but that’s exactly when they matter most. I learned the hard way that without clear processes, scaling just creates chaos at scale. To prioritize systems while managing daily demands, I followed three key principles:

Build While You Scale – Instead of waiting for things to slow down (because they never do), we documented processes as we went. Every time a task was repeated, we created a simple step-by-step guide for it.

Delegate Documentation – I didn’t do it all myself. I empowered my team to document their workflows, making sure knowledge didn’t live in just one person’s head.

Automate Where Possible – We identified repetitive tasks and leveraged automation tools to streamline them, freeing up time for higher-impact work. By embedding systems into our daily operations early, we avoided hitting a wall later. My advice? If a task is done more than twice, document it. Your future self (and your team) will thank you.

You've had significant success leveraging LinkedIn for business growth. How did you balance using this platform effectively while maintaining healthy boundaries between your work and personal life?

LinkedIn became a massive growth engine for me, but like any tool, it can take over your life if you’re not intentional. I had to find a balance between leveraging it for business and not letting it consume every waking moment. Here’s what worked:

Batching Content Creation – Instead of posting daily in real-time, I dedicated specific time blocks to create and schedule content in advance. This kept me active without being always on.

Setting Engagement Limits – I gave myself a set time each day to engage—responding to comments, DMs, and networking. But, once that time was up, I moved on.

Separating Work & Personal Life – I kept LinkedIn for professional content and connections, making sure it didn’t bleed into personal downtime. No scrolling before bed!

Focusing on ROI, Not Vanity Metrics – I measured success based on business impact (leads, partnerships, brand authority) rather than just likes and comments. This helped me stay strategic instead of chasing dopamine hits.

The key was treating LinkedIn as a business tool, not a time-sucking distraction. By setting clear boundaries, I made it work for me—not the other way around.

Beyond the tools and strategies, what mindset shifts were essential for you to maintain well-being while scaling your business?

The biggest mindset shift was realizing that more hours didn’t equal more success. In the early days, I thought working harder was the only way to grow. But after hitting exhaustion, I learned that scaling isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things.

Here are the mindset shifts that made the biggest impact:

From Hustle to Leverage – Instead of wearing busyness as a badge of honor, I focused on building systems, delegating, and working on the business, not just in it.

From Control to Trust – Letting go was tough, but I realized the more I empowered my team, the more the business could grow without me being a bottleneck.

From Short-Term to Sustainable Growth – I stopped chasing quick wins and started making decisions that would support long-term success without burnout.

From Reactive to Intentional – Instead of always putting out fires, I structured my days around deep work, strategic thinking, and personal well-being.

The real breakthrough? Understanding that a thriving business means nothing if you are running on empty. Scaling isn’t just about revenue—it’s about designing a business that grows while allowing you to live a life you actually enjoy.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who are passionate about their work but also value a balanced life?

My advice? Build a business that works for you, not one that runs you into the ground. Passion is powerful, but if you’re not careful, it can lead to burnout instead of success.

Here’s what I’d tell any entrepreneur who wants both growth and balance:

Work Smart, Not Just Hard – Long hours don’t equal success. Focus on high-impact work and automate or delegate the rest.

Set Boundaries Early – If you don’t control your schedule, your business will. Block personal time just like you do meetings—non-negotiable.

Leverage Systems & People – Scaling isn’t about doing more yourself; it’s about creating repeatable processes and trusting the right team.

Prioritize Health & Relationships – Your business thrives when you do. Take care of yourself so you can bring your best to everything you do.

Define Success on Your Terms – Don’t chase someone else’s version of success. Build a business that supports the life you want, not just revenue goals.

Growth and balance can coexist—you just have to design your business with both in mind from the start.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I’d just say this—success isn’t just about how much you build; it’s about how you build it. A business should give you freedom, not just another job you can’t escape from. Prioritize what actually matters—smart systems, the right people, and a vision that aligns with the life you want, not just revenue goals.

Growth is important, but so is enjoying the process. And finally, no one has it all figured out. We’re all learning, adapting, and evolving. The key is to stay curious, stay open, and build on your terms.