"You have to take care of yourself": meeting with Julien Vasseur

There are times in a coaching journey when financial indicators, contracts, and growth metrics no longer matter. Julien Vasseur, head of coaching programs at La base entrepreneuriale – HEC Montréal, shares his experience: "The problem wasn't the business. The problem was the entrepreneur, who was no longer doing well."

When the urgency is not in the numbers

Julien recounts how one evening, an entrepreneur collapsed in front of him. Not because a contract had fallen through, nor because a client hadn't called back. But because the accumulated pressure had finally gotten the better of him. "I'm not a psychologist. I'm not a social worker," says Julien. "My job is just to tell him: you need to take care of yourself."

From there, everything becomes concrete: how can we ensure that this entrepreneur does not leave alone with his exhaustion?

The simple idea actively promoted by La base entrepreneuriale – HEC Montréal: a business thrives when its entrepreneur thrives.

This event did not remain isolated. It served as a catalyst for collective work that had already been undertaken by their team, initiated by Luis Cisneros, Robert Dutton, and others before them.

Their vision is clear: you cannot support a business if you ignore the state of the person running it.

From there, the entrepreneurial base multiplied its concrete actions.

Move, breathe, and break out of isolation: concrete actions

1. Being at the heart of the University of Montreal campus opens up opportunities. The base has negotiated access to CEPSUM, the university's sports center, for entrepreneurs receiving support.
2. A running club was born. Entrepreneurs climb the mountain every Wednesday. Even the internal team at La Base has joined in. Because running together also means breaking out of isolation.
3. Les défis Ludo, developed by a startup that emerged from their programs, is an app that encourages users to get moving, perform simple everyday activities, and motivate each other as a team. It's an effective way to get some exercise into days that are sometimes too busy.

Parapluie: a clear commitment

When the new Parapluie offer arrived, La base didn't hesitate. "If there's an offer to protect contractors' health, we've got to get on board."

Because ultimately, supporting a startup isn't just about helping to structure a value proposition or optimize a pitch. It's about making sure that the person behind the project stays on their feet.

So it was without hesitation that we invited Julien to share his experience and kindness loud and clear at the Parapluie launch event on November 11, 2025. These words are taken from his testimony during the meeting.