#107 The Art of Client Relationships (ft. Great Things Studios)

In this episode of Creatives Grab Coffee, Dario Nouri sits down with N’tchidjè Doumbia, founder and creative director of Great Things Studios, a Montreal-based video production company known for its cinematic commercial and corporate work.

N’tchidjè shares his journey from music videos to full-scale agency operations, the growing pains of scaling, and how his company maintains creative quality while managing client expectations and large-scale productions. The conversation digs into leadership, team culture, and how the best studios evolve from purely creative shops into strategic, relationship-driven businesses.

Topics Covered:

00:00 – Intro & background of Great Things Studios

05:00 – The shift from creative to strategic production work

09:00 – Managing big clients and keeping creative control

14:00 – Why relationships drive long-term agency success

19:00 – How to scale a team without losing culture

25:00 – Leadership lessons and defining your company vision

33:00 – Balancing artistry with operational systems

41:00 – Reinvesting profits into talent and technology

46:00 – The creative risk of saying “no” to bad projects

50:00 – Montreal’s evolving production landscape

Key Takeaways:

• Building a scalable studio requires structure, not just creativity.
• Strong client relationships are your most valuable business asset.
• Leadership means trusting your team and protecting creative integrity.
• Knowing when to say no is crucial for brand longevity.
• The Montreal video scene is diversifying fast, offering global opportunity.

🎥 Guest:

N’tchidjè Doumbia – Founder & Creative Director, Great Things Studios

📍 Based in Montreal, Canada

🎧 Hosts:

Dario Nouri & Kyrill Lazarov — Lapse Productions, Toronto

https://www.lapseproductions.com

🎙️ About Creatives Grab Coffee:

Creatives Grab Coffee dives into the business of video production, featuring candid conversations with production company founders and filmmakers across the globe about scaling, leadership, and creative strategy.

👇 Follow & Subscribe:

Website – https://creativesgrabcoffee.com

Instagram – https://instagram.com/creativesgrabcoffee

LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/company/lapseproductions

SPONSORS:

Canada Film Equipment: www.CanadaFilmEquipment.com

Audio Process: www.Audioprocess.ca

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