Culinary Expertise Meets Business Strategy | Lawrence Martineau of Fischer Forward Consulting

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Welcome to today’s episode of Pathmonk Presents. Today we are joined by Lawrence Martineau, the Director of Business Development at Fisher Forward Consulting. Lawrence, welcome to the show.

Lawrence Martineau: Thank you. I appreciate it, Rick.

Rick: Of course. It’s good to have you here. Why don’t we just get into it, Lawrence? I want to talk about Fisher Forward Consulting a bit. If you could tell us what you’re all about—how would you describe your company to someone new?

Lawrence Martineau: Absolutely. Fisher Forward Consulting is summarized by three words: strategy, encouragement, and consistency. Myself and Christian Fisher, the owner of the company, came out of the culinary world. We were born in the high-pressure systems of commercial kitchens. Together we have over 50 years of culinary experience.

So what does that mean in the business world? There are a lot of transferable skills that chefs bring from the kitchen into business. We work with food companies, beverage companies, and food tech companies that want to disrupt the industry. We bring our chef mindset to business—strategic planning, mentorship, and strong communication.

We don’t see ourselves as vendors. We see ourselves as partners, and we share in the success of our clients.

Rick: That’s great, especially with such extensive experience in the culinary industry. You’re now mentoring these companies and founders that come to you for help.

And just offline, we were talking about your culinary past—was it “Sauce Boss” that was your nickname?

Lawrence Martineau: Yeah, that was my nickname in the kitchen.

Rick: That’s awesome. I’m curious—what’s the core problem you help companies solve? And more generally, what can they expect when they work with you?

Lawrence Martineau: Great question. Our mindset is: you’re only as good as the last plate of food you served. We apply that to business—you’re only as good as your last customer communication.

We help businesses improve consistency and quality in communication—whether it’s phone calls, emails, or chatbots. We create systems and processes that enable that consistent, high-value customer experience—just like a chef would do with food prep in a kitchen.

Clients can expect us to be friendly, open communicators, and great listeners. We don’t just hand them a plan—we help implement it, train their teams, and encourage them along the way. That’s what sets us apart.

Rick: That really resonates. Communication is such a vital skill. Being able to teach and foster that in your clients’ teams is incredibly valuable.

Speaking of communication, what role does your website play in attracting new clients? Are there any standout strengths or areas to improve?

Lawrence Martineau: There’s always room for improvement. That’s why I’m interested in your service—improving conversions. One strength we have is promoting the person behind the company—Christian Fisher.

He has an impressive background. At just 23, Nestlé bought out three of his restaurants, and he became their worldwide high-end consultant for 18 years, working with the military and hospitals. That credibility is what differentiates us.

We try to communicate that we come from the high-pressure kitchen and bring those same values to business. That’s the story our website tells.

Rick: So Christian’s brand and background are helping build trust and credibility. And that messaging—that authenticity—is what likely helps the website convert.

Lawrence Martineau: Yes. One thing we can improve is emphasizing open communication. For example, we often offer a complimentary 30-minute discovery call—but it frequently turns into 90 minutes. And sometimes, at the end, we tell them they’re not ready for us yet.

Instead, we give them advice on where to invest now, and invite them to come back in six months. We’re not here to just make money—we want to genuinely help.

That approach—prioritizing productive conversations over pushing sales—is key to our brand. Our website and marketing try to set the tone for those conversations. We want people to know that we care and that we’ve walked the same path of building something from scratch.

Rick: I really like that. Even if a prospect isn’t ready today, you help them move forward—and maybe they’ll return when the time is right. That long-term mindset builds trust and reputation.

Switching gears—what does your day-to-day look like as Director of Business Development? What hats are you wearing?

Lawrence Martineau: I’m up by 6:00 AM, reviewing goals and journaling. By 7:00 AM, I’m on Zoom calls—often with partners in Italy. I’m in mastermind groups, attending live events, learning and networking.

It’s not just prospecting—I’m also working with our digital marketing team, building campaign workflows, writing automation sequences (we use GoHighLevel), and producing our podcast, The Disruptive Chef. We line up guests, mentor our own business mastermind group, and do a lot of outreach.

If I had to sum it up in one word: fun. I’m doing what I love. By 3 PM, I’m in the kitchen making dinner for my family.

Rick: That does sound awesome. Like a recipe—many moving parts, but one great outcome: a fun, fulfilling day.

Let’s move into our rapid-fire segment now. Short and concise answers if possible. Ready?

Lawrence Martineau: Yep.

Rick: What’s the last book you read?

Lawrence Martineau: The Wilderness: The Gateway to the Soul by Scott Stillman. I love books about nature and backpacking—nature teaches you how to work with people. Lots of life lessons there.

Rick: That’s going on my list. What’s one thing your company is most focused on right now?

Lawrence Martineau: Partnering with companies that are disrupting the culinary industry—especially in food tech and plant-based products. One client, Beanstock, is making big moves in the vegan space.

Rick: If there were no tech boundaries, what would you want fixed in your role?

Lawrence Martineau: I’d want tech that integrates all my campaign platforms seamlessly. One place to build workflows, content, and distribution—no duplication, no redundancy. Ideally with content suggestions too.

Rick: Yes—if someone builds that, let us know!

What’s one repetitive task you’d automate?

Lawrence Martineau: Coordinating workflows across channels. I want one unified setup to push content and manage automation without manual syncing.

Rick: Last question—what advice would you give yourself if restarting your sales journey?

Lawrence Martineau: Be more consultative. Early on, I focused too much on numbers—not enough on listening. I’d focus on understanding personal goals, not just business ones. If you can help someone move forward in life, they’ll see more value in your solution.

Rick: So it’s about connecting with the person, not just the business. I love that. And I appreciate you sharing that insight.

Final word—if someone forgets everything else, what’s one thing they should remember about the work you do?

Lawrence Martineau: Strategies that provide encouraging growth—for both the business and the people implementing the strategy. That human element is everything to us. We bring that from our chef background.

Rick: Amazing. And how can people get in touch?

Lawrence Martineau: Visit fisherforwardconsulting.com. Or email me at lawrencejmartineau @ gmail.com—it’s easier to remember. I’ll make sure they get what they need.

Rick: Awesome. We’ll include that. Lawrence, thanks again. Great conversation. Hope to see you again soon.

Lawrence Martineau: Absolutely. Thank you, Rick. I appreciate your time.

Rick: Of course. Have a good one. Bye everyone.