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The Marketing Agency Leadership Podcast

The Marketing Agency Leadership Podcast
Author: Kevin Hourigan
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© Copyright 2018-2022, Badgy LLC
Description
Conversations with Leaders and Founders of Marketing Agencies, sharing wisdom on how they built their company, lessons they wish they knew when they started, and marketing and agency strategies for the months and years ahead.
257 Episodes
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Ted DeBettencourt is Co-founder of Juvo Leads, a human-powered chat service company that helps law firms, home services, digital agencies, and local businesses convert leads through meaningful interactions. Under Ted’s leadership, the company evolved from a chat service into a comprehensive platform that integrates chat, call tracking, form tracking, and SMS, consistently driving up to 50% more leads for their customers. With a JD and MBA from Case Western Reserve University, Ted is known for his expertise in high-performance marketing, legal, and service-based industries, and his hands-on approach to client engagement.
Hikari Senju is the Founder and CEO of Omneky, a San Francisco-based company leveraging AI to generate, analyze, and optimize personalized advertising creatives at scale. Under his leadership, Omneky has pioneered advancements in AI-driven advertising, building on Hikari's expertise in computer science and AI technologies gained from Harvard University. A renowned Japanese-American entrepreneur, he co‑founded QuickHelp, an on‑demand tutoring app later acquired by Yup Technologies, where he served as Head of Growth. Hikari’s leadership at Omneky has earned him numerous recognitions, including being named “One of the Most Visionary Business Leaders to Watch in 2024” by Enterprise World.
Jacqueline Basulto is the Founder and CEO of SeedX, an eight-figure digital marketing and business consultancy that has helped its clients generate over $1 billion in revenue. With over eight years of industry experience, Jacqueline has been instrumental in shaping SeedX's success, driving initiatives from sales to fostering a vibrant company culture. A Columbia University graduate, she began her entrepreneurial journey during her senior year, leveraging freelance digital marketing work and co-founding a tutoring company, which laid the groundwork for SeedX. Jacqueline’s achievements earned her a spot on Forbes' 2021 30 Under 30 in marketing and advertising.
Gilad Bechar is the Founder and CEO of Moburst, a global mobile-first digital marketing agency established in 2013 to address the inefficiencies in mobile app marketing. Under his leadership, Moburst has expanded internationally, collaborating with major brands like Google, Samsung, and Uber, and has been recognized as one of Adweek’s fastest-growing agencies from 2022 to 2024. Before founding Moburst, Bechar held senior marketing roles at companies such as CallApp and Mobilano and served as a mentor at Microsoft Accelerator. He also contributed to academia as the Mobile Marketing Academic Director at Tel Aviv University, sharing his expertise with aspiring marketers.
Chris Shihadeh is the President of Skylab Digital, a performance marketing agency specializing in media buying and lead generation within the Medicare and insurance sectors. With over two decades of experience in digital marketing, Chris has helped scale numerous brands using data-driven strategies and proprietary tech platforms. Under his leadership, Skylab Digital has become a recognized leader in the digital advertising industry, generating over 7,500 inbound calls for major insurance companies.
Veronica Clerkin is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at AMZG Agency, a boutique, women-owned marketing and public relations firm. With over two decades of experience in the New York City media and advertising industry, she has held leadership roles at top organizations, including CBS, Fortune, and InStyle. Veronica is known for her strategic thinking, creative leadership, and commitment to supporting women-led brands. Her agency thrives on authentic client relationships, transparency, and delivering measurable results across social media, PR, and paid media.
Andy Crestodina is the CMO and Co-founder at Orbit Media Studios, an award-winning digital agency specializing in web design and development since 2001. With over two decades of experience, he has provided digital marketing guidance to more than a thousand businesses. Andy is also the author of Content Chemistry: The Illustrated Handbook for Content Marketing, now in its seventh edition. Beyond his writing, he is a top-rated keynote speaker, delivering up to 100 presentations annually at major marketing conferences.
Nick Musica is the Founder and CEO of Optics In LLC, a digital agency specializing in SEO strategy and execution for small businesses across various sectors, including finance and technology. With nearly two decades of in-house SEO leadership, Nick has driven impactful organic growth at companies such as High Point Insurance and Rocket Lawyer, significantly enhancing their online visibility. Now based in San Diego, he and his team offer a comprehensive suite of services, including SEO optimization, in-depth audits, link acquisition, long-form content creation, SEO coaching, and search engine marketing.
Cody C. Jensen is the CEO and Founder of Searchbloom, an award-winning search engine marketing firm specializing in local, national, and e-commerce SEO. Cody began his career at Google and later advanced through renowned digital marketing agencies, identifying a need for ethical, transparent strategies focused on ROI. Under his leadership, Searchbloom has built a reputation for delivering measurable results and maintaining a transparent, partner-centric approach. The agency’s commitment to excellence has earned numerous accolades, including recognition as one of Utah's fastest-growing companies by MountainWest Capital Network's Utah 100 in 2020.
Stewart Cohen is the Director and Photographer at SCPictures, a full-service production company catering to the advertising and marketing world. With a passion for the power of images and video in shaping brand identity, Stewart is known for capturing genuine moments from the viewer's perspective. Originally from Montreal, he pursued a career in photography and film after studying at the University of Texas in Austin. In 2019, Stewart expanded his creative reach by acquiring SuperStock, a media licensing house managing 25 million still and video assets, where he currently serves as CEO and Managing Partner.
Irina Papuc is Co-founder and Managing Partner of Galactic Fed, a growth marketing agency specializing in strategic growth solutions for companies of all sizes. A CERN physics researcher turned digital marketer, Irina co-founded Galactic Fed to bring a scientific approach to the marketing agency world. With a passion for fostering a remote-first company culture that values independent thought, she has been instrumental in expanding the agency to a team of 120 members. Irina previously led SEO operations at Toptal and is the President and Co-founder of Galactic Good Foundation, which provides free digital marketing services to 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
Biz Hennigan is a Partner and General Manager at Superdigital, a creative agency known for shaping brand identities and producing engaging content for notable clients like Microsoft Xbox. With over 15 years of experience, Biz has leveraged her deep understanding of consumer behavior to achieve significant growth for Superdigital, including leading the agency's efforts in managing Xbox's global TikTok channel. She is known for her unique “anti-agency” approach, which focuses on strategic insight, agile creativity, and exceptional client service.
Tim Kelsey is the Managing Director of Pronto Marketing, a web development and marketing agency specializing in building, supporting, and promoting WordPress websites for small businesses. Over his 14-year tenure at Pronto, he has grown from an entry-level role in SEO to now overseeing a diverse team of over 90 members spanning Central and South America and Southeast Asia. With experience in customer service, strategic planning, and executive leadership, Tim leads with a strong focus on company culture and a commitment to empowering team success.
Marcel Petitpas is the CEO and Co-founder of Parakeeto, a consultancy dedicated to optimizing agency profitability. With roles such as Head Strategic Coach at Dan Martell and former COO at Gold Front, he leverages his experience as a strategic coach and consultant to aid agencies and SaaS in operational and profitability optimization. As a sought-after thought leader and host of the Agency Profit Podcast, Marcel shares actionable insights on service business mastery.
Leeann Leahy is the CEO of The VIA Agency, an independent creative agency based in Portland, Maine. With a background in account planning and strategy, Leeann transitioned into agency leadership, championing creativity, fun, and strategic thinking in her approach to advertising. Her commitment to innovation and employee engagement has propelled VIA to the forefront of the creative agency landscape. Recognized for fostering a vibrant culture, driving brand value, and nurturing talents, the agency has earned numerous accolades, including Ad Age's Best Place to Work and 2019 Small Agency of the Year.
Jason Therrien is the Founder and CEO of thunder::tech, an integrated marketing agency specializing in digital marketing, brand strategy, and advertising. Since 1997, he has been an entrepreneurial force in the Great Lakes region, creating impact as an investor, board member, and civic volunteer. His dedication to problem-solving and value-driven relationships has led thunder::tech to thrive for over 25 years. A proud John Carroll University graduate, Jason is a sought-after speaker on marketing trends and an active community volunteer serving on the boards of multiple nonprofits.
Sharon Toerek is the Owner and Founder of Toerek Law, where she dedicates her practice to advising independent marketing and creative services agencies on protecting and monetizing their intellectual capital. A marketing law attorney with extensive experience in copyright, trademark, and content protection, Sharon offers strategic counsel on licensing, brand protection, social media, and advertising compliance. She is a sought-after speaker at top industry events, including INBOUND, Content Marketing World, and MAGNET Global Agency Network, empowering professionals to recognize legal risks and uphold their rights. Recognized for her contributions, Sharon was inducted into The American Advertising Federation (AAF) Cleveland Hall of Fame in 2019, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in legal advocacy and community leadership.
Jason Mitchell is the CEO and Co-founder of Movement Strategy, a forward-thinking social media marketing agency that began in his college dorm room. With expertise in emerging technologies and social platform trends, Jason guides his agency in leading social-centric branding initiatives for high-profile clients such as Netflix, Amazon, and Warner Brothers. Standout projects include branding for Yellowjackets and The Boys for Amazon Studios and the innovative launch of Looney Tunes on TikTok. Jason’s thought leadership extends to writing for prestigious publications such as Adweek and Ad Age, and he has been recognized as a top Metaverse advertising agency leader by Business Insider.
Luke Komiskey is the Founder and CEO of DataDrive, a consulting firm specializing in managed analytic services. With over a decade of experience, Luke has played a pivotal role in making data analytics more accessible to various businesses. Under his leadership, DataDrive has evolved into a global team of professionals supporting over 150 organizations, including healthcare, public education, manufacturing, and software. Luke’s approach emphasizes transforming data into actionable insights, helping organizations make faster and more informed decisions. His passion for simplifying complex data challenges has been central to DataDrive’s mission of fostering a data-informed society.
Jon Tsourakis is the Co-owner, President, and Chief Revenue Officer at Oyova, an agency offering integrated digital solutions such as app development, web design, and marketing to create efficient processes for company growth. Jon is a serial entrepreneur and marketing strategist whose continual study of brand identity, business communications, buyer behavior, sales conversion, and various digital marketing techniques keeps him astute to industry standards. His resumé includes executive positions with digital agencies including Innersight dZine Studio, REVOLT, and the Digital Mastermind Group, and his sales and leadership expertise led him to roles as Marketing Director and President for Astrum and CentralComp, respectively.