Potočnik began his career as an assistant at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, in the department of industrial engineering. He continued his career as a consultant to UNIDO enterprise, worked in at the time state's biggest consulting firm Produktivnost and continued as an independent consultant. 

He helped to establish and implement the first Slovenian state innovation agency, SIA. He is also the president of the branch association of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia for business services and management consulting. He was a director of several companies at a time of key changes and growth. In recent years, he has been active in leadership positions at CREA pro and EKWB.

In 1994, Potočnik founded BPMC, where he helps companies in their growth and internationalisation phases expand their teams, organize multi-level leadership structures as well as develop company sales and strategies.