Claim OwnershipAn Agency Story
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First hand interviews of creative, digital, advertising, and marketing agency owners that have walked the talk of running an agency business. These are riveting stories of the thrill of starting up, hardships faced, and the keys to a successful business from agency owners around the world.
183 Episodes
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Building an well run agency often relies on mastering fundamentals that many can easily overlook. In this episode, Melanie Querry shares how she built Beyond Spots & Dots by focusing on transparency, operational discipline, and intentional growth. Key Takeaways Culture is preserved through clear processes, shared standards, and consistent communication Educating clients builds trust, speeds up execution, and reduces costly rework Strong fundamentals like listen...
What does it take to build an agency that lasts decades and still love it? In this episode, Russel Dubree sits down with David Neff, founder of Neff, to explore the mindset behind a long, successful agency career. From relentless hustle to building powerful media relationships, David shares how creativity, persistence, and finding the "sexy" in every client account creates endless passion for his agency business. Key Takeaways David shares how relentless outreach and creativity helped him ope...
What do you do after losing your job at a coffee shop? If you’re Evan Johnson, you start a marketing agency the very next day. In this episode, Evan shares the unconventional story behind Stay Calm Industries, from landing his first clients as a barista to building a creative team and signing contracts in Iceland. It’s a candid conversation about leadership, hiring, and the “unearned confidence” that often fuels entrepreneurs at the start. Key Takeaways Why “unearned confidence” can be a powe...
Company: Legal + Creative Guest: Sharon Toerek Year Started: 2014 Employees: 1-10 In this episode, Sharon Toerek of Legal + Creative reframes how agency owners should think about legal. Instead of treating it like a sunk cost, she explains how contracts, IP, and insurance can actively protect margins, increase leverage, and even create new revenue streams. If you’ve ever ignored a contract, overlooked your IP, or treated legal like a necessary evil, this conversation just might change how you...
Company: Adsquire Guest: Anthony Higman Year Started: 2021 Employees: 1-10 What happens when a mailroom clerk discovers Google Ads and turns it into a multimillion-dollar advantage? In this episode, Anthony Higman shares his journey from corporate frustration to building Adsquire, a digital marketing agency for law firms. You’ll learn what it really takes to bet on yourself, build a high-performing team from scratch, and create momentum through bold, unconventional moves. Key Takeaways How ...
Company: Ladybugz Guest: Lysa Miller Year Started: 2002 Employees: 11-25 What happens when a founder stops chasing growth and starts building with intention? In this episode, Lysa Miller, Founder of Ladybugz, shares how she rebuilt her agency around simplicity, empathy, and clarity. From sprint-based web design to a mindset shift that changed everything, this conversation explores the invisible work behind building an agency you actually want to run. Key Takeaways You’re not just selling serv...
Company: Briteweb Guest: Jill de Chavez Year Started: 2011 Employees: 11-25 What does it really feel like to go from employee to agency owner, especially when the pressure hits fast? In this episode, Jill de Chavez shares her journey of stepping into ownership at Briteweb and what it taught her about leadership, transparency, and building a people-first agency that aligns with values and numbers. Episode Highlights: Developing future leaders through trust, transparency, and shared owner...
Company: Elysium Marketing Group Guest: Elyse Lupin Year Started: 2015 Employees: 11-25 Starting an agency is hard. Starting one with a baby at home is even harder. In this episode, Elyse Lupin, Founder of Elysium Marketing Group, shares the real story behind building a food and franchise agency through uncertainty, motherhood, and constant industry change. Key Takeaways Why Elyse launched her agency with a nine-month-oldThe fear of narrowing your positioning and finding the right balance of ...
Company: Essjay Guest: Sarah Patterson Year Started: 2011 Employees: 1-10 Money clarity changes everything. In this episode, fractional CFO Sarah Patterson breaks down how agency owners can stop guessing and start making confident financial decisions using 7 simple, repeatable habits. You’ll learn how to turn financials into a practical tool for direction, focus, and smarter leadership. Key Takeaways Why clean books alone aren’t enough, and what most agencies are missing beyond accountingA ...
Company: Help.Agency Guest: John Balauat Year Started: 2020 Employees: 11-25 Growth doesn’t usually fail because of effort, it fails because of friction. In this episode, Russel sits down with John Balauat of Help.Agency to unpack why forcing outcomes creates pressure, bad decisions, and stalled momentum, and how the discipline of reducing friction leads to clearer sales, better partnerships, and healthier agencies. Key Takeaways Why forcing growth often creates more problems than progressHow...
Company: Brolik Guest: Jason Brewer Year Started: 2004 Employees: 11-25 You can never underestimate the ability to measure your business. In this episode, Russel sits down with Jason Brewer of Brolik to unpack what 22 years of agency ownership actually teaches you about predictable revenue, leadership, and long-term decision-making. Key Takeaways The mindset shift required to invest in growth before results show upHow “being your own best client” creates consistency and confidenceThe di...
Company: 30|90 Marketing Guest: Rachel Ledet Year Started: 2018 Employees: 1-10 Clarity in business doesn’t arrive all at once, it’s built through decisions, experience, and commitment. In this first ever "Where are they now?" episode, Russel reconnects with Rachel Ledet, Founder of 30|90 Marketing, to explore how her agency evolved over the past few years and what changed once she fully committed to a clear focus. This episode is a candid look at confidence earned over time, the hard tradeof...
Company: Smart Sites Guest: Alex Melen Year Started: 2011 Employees: 100+ What does it really take to build a large agency without chaos, investors, or burning out your team? In this episode, Alex Melen, Co-Founder of SmartSites, shares how starting a business at 13 shaped his long-term mindset and how disciplined measurement and intentional growth decisions helped SmartSites become a 450-person agency. Key Takeaways Why agency growth helps the talent gameHow accurate measurement protects you...
Company: North Strett Guest: Tom Conlon Year Started: 2010 Employees: 1-10 In this episode, Russel sits down with Tom Conlin of North Street to unpack how an unexpectedly narrow offer became a mechanism for opening doors, reducing stress, and creating better opportunities across the business. Key Takeaways How a narrowly defined offer can become a powerful door-opener for bigger workWhat it really means to “see the machinery of the business” and why it changes decision-makingThe difference be...
Company: Digital HQ Guest: Hillary Applegate Year Started: 2020 Employees: 11-25 What if the key to improving your agency is stepping away from your business? In this conversation, Hillary Applegate, founder of Digital HQ, shares how distance reshaped her leadership, clarified what actually matters, and strengthened the way her team operates. Listeners will walk away with a fresh perspective on agency ownership, boundaries, and letting go. Key Takeaways Why stepping away can reveal blind spot...
Company: An Agency Story Guest: Russel Dubree Year Started: 2022 Employees: 1-10 Most agency owners underestimate the most powerful differentiator they have, their personal story. In this episode, Russel breaks down why your authentic “why” matters and how sharing it can deepen connection with your team, attract the right clients, and clarify your purpose. Key Takeaways Why your personal story is the strongest positioning tool you’re not usingHow authenticity creates instant connection and bu...
Company: Scott Social Guest: Chelsea Flower Year Started: 2018 Employees: 1-10 What does it take to turn a disconnected, overwhelmed team into a unified, creative powerhouse? In this episode, Chelsea Flower, Founder of Scott Social, shares the pivotal mindset shifts, leadership breakthroughs, and culture changes that doubled her agency’s clients and transformed her team from stressed and siloed to connected and thriving. Key Takeaways Why investing time, not just money, into your team leads t...
Company: Neon Moth Guest: Lisa and Jason Cerezo Year Started: 2011 Employees: 1-10 What happens when a laid-off marketer, a former music teacher, and a chance meeting lead to a design and web agency? In this episode, Jason and Lisa Cerezo share how Neon Moth was built through partnership, necessity, and a deep commitment to serving small businesses well. You’ll hear how they grew from $300 websites to a dependable agency built on clarity, communication, and care. Key Takeaways Their first cli...
Company: My1Brand Guest: Benjamin Behrooz Year Started: 2008 Employees: 11-25 Doing hard things isn’t optional in entrepreneurship, it’s the requirement. In this episode, Benjamin Behrooz, Founder of My1Brand, reveals why discomfort is the doorway to better leadership, stronger teams, and real creative excellence. You’ll hear how hardship shaped his career, how he builds empowered teams, and why great agencies must invest in doing things the right way instead of the easy way. Key Takeaw...
Company: White Canvas & Loop3 Guest: Nico Pisani Year Started: 2015 Employees: 11-25 What happens when you pack a bag, buy a ticket, and bet everything on yourself? In this episode, Nico Pisani, founder of White Canvas and Loop3, shares how one bold month in New York transformed his mindset, business, and approach to risk. From humble beginnings in Argentina to building two successful agencies, Nico’s story is a testament to action over perfection and the lessons that only failure a...
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