An Agency Story
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.
Episodes
The Secret to a Smarter, Stronger Team? Build a Learning Culture
What if the best agency investment isn’t more tech or tighter processes, but more learning? In this episode, Dylan Steven of 118Group shares how embedding education and autonomy into his team’s DNA has elevated their work and strengthened their connection. He unpacks how letting go of control actually led to better outcomes and why systems should support people, ...
When your brand is an extension of who you are, the work becomes deeply personal and powerful. In this episode, Cara Chatellier, founder of Bubbly Creative, shares how she built a values-driven agency that puts relationships first and strives to deliver marketing that actually connects. If you're tired of generic content and ready to build something more authentic, this one's for you.
Episode Highlights
- Why saying yes t...
What if building your agency meant more boundaries, not more burnout? In this episode, Alison Gardner, Founder of Perspektiiv Design Co, shares how she transformed her solo design practice into a collaborative agency without sacrificing her creativity, identity, or personal life. You'll hear how she built a system that supports her, even through major life changes like motherhood.
Key Takeaways
- Why documenting and delegating...
Company: Mad Mind Studios
Guests: Omid Mousaei
Year Started: 2008
Employees: 11-25
What does it take to build a creative agency from nothing…without connections, experience, or a safety net? In this episode, Omid Mousaei of Mad Mind Studios shares how his journey from immigrant to agency founder shaped the values, mindset, and grit behind his business. If you've ever faced setbacks or felt alone in the chaos of agency life, this e...
Company: Upswept Creative
Guests: Sarah Giffrow
Year Started: 2011
Employees: 1-10
What if staying un-niched was your more niche than you think? In this episode, Sarah Giffrow of Upswept Creative shares why she chose variety over specialization, and how it’s helped her build a values-driven agency that aligns with who she is. From helping mission-focused clients to overcoming the challenge of marketing her own business, Sarah offers ho...
Company: 108 Degrees Digital Marketing
Guests: MaryAnn Pfeiffer
Year Started: 2001
Employees: 1-10
What happens when an agency owner stops doing it all and decides to go all in on what truly works? In this episode, Maryann Pfeiffer of 108 Degrees shares how becoming a recognized expert, through years of focused effort, transformed her agency’s positioning, visibility, and lead generation. You'll hear a candid take on the real inve...
Company: Market Mentors
Guests: Michelle Abdow
Year Started: 2003
Employees: 11-25
From Seatmate Stranger to Business Catalyst
Launching a business while raising twins? That’s just the start of Michelle Abdow’s remarkable journey. In this episode, she shares how a chance encounter on a flight led to a game-changing client and why building a resilient, feedback-driven culture has helped her agency thrive through decades of change.
Company: Trio Solutions
Guests: Jessica Munday
Year Started: 2001
Employees: 11-25
How Employee Turnover is a Growth Strategy
Letting go of great team members may feel like a setback, but what if it’s the key to long-term growth? In this episode, Jessica Munday, founder of Trio Solutions, shares how she’s built a thriving agency by empowering her team, embracing turnover, and creating opportunities beyond the walls of her business.
Insid...
Company: Twelve Legs Marketing
Guests: Ralitsa Carter
Year Started: 2018
Employees: 11-25
What do ice cream, spreadsheets, and an Emmy have in common? In this episode, Ralitsa Carter, Co-Founder of Twelve Legs Marketing, shares how financial discipline, intentional growth, and creativity built her agency from the ground up. If you're an agency owner chasing sustainable success, this episode is your speed.
Key Takeaways
- The ...
Company: Musimack Marketing
Guests: Stacey McCormack
Year Started: 2013
Employees: 1-10
The Ballad of the Reluctant Owner
What if the path to entrepreneurship wasn’t planned, but pushed?
In this episode, Stacey McCormack, founder of Musimack Marketing, shares how a layoff, a government grant, and a deep desire to help others led her from corporate life to agency ownership. If you’ve ever felt uncertain about your journey, Stace...
Company: aStash Web Design & Marketing
Guests: Kateryna Quinn
Year Started: 2018
Employees: 1-10
From Ukraine to Colorado: Building a Family-First Agency Against All Odds
When rejection closes doors, grit builds new ones. In this episode, Kateryna Quinn, founder of aStash Web Design & Marketing, shares her inspiring journey from aspiring tennis pro in Ukraine to running a thriving digital agency in the U.S. You'll hear how ...
Company: Faceted Media
Guests: Kimberly Hogate
Year Started: 2000
Employees: 25-50
What if losing everything was exactly what you needed to build something better? In this episode, Kimberly Hogate, founder of Faceted Media, shares the raw truth about starting over after being fired from the law firm she helped built from the ground up and how that moment became the catalyst for a 10+ year agency journey.
She opens up about the realities...
Company: Moxie Sozo
Guests: Derek Springston
Year Started: 2000
Employees: 25-50
From Unpaid Intern to Owner: The Moxie Sozo Journey
What happens when you bet on yourself, move across the country, and work for free. All just for a shot at doing meaningful work? In this episode, Derek Springston, Partner at Moxie Sozo, shares how that bet paid off, leading him from an unpaid intern to co-owner of a 25-year-old agency. You’ll hear what it...
Company: Local Image
Guests: Holly Bruns and Amber McDonald
Year Started: 2019
Employees: 11-25
When Hope Meets Strategy
What happens when you leap before you’re ready and figure out the strategy later? In this episode, Holly Bruns and Amber McDonald, founders of Local Image, share how daring moves, deep faith, and smart planning fueled their agency’s successful trajectory. If you're weighing risk and reward, this conversation will...
Company: Growth Marketing Werks
Guest: Suzanne Coriell
Year Started: 2011
Employees: 1-10
What happens when you build an agency around energy, intentionality, and a deep sense of why? Suzanne Coriell, Founder of Growth Marketing Werks, shares her journey from Chicago’s ad scene to Colorado’s mountaintops where a single ski lift conversation sparked the creation of a mission-driven media agency. This episode is packed with fresh perspec...
Company: BubbleUp
Guest: Lee Totten
Year Started: 2004
Employees: 50-99
Working with rockstars sounds glamorous but behind the scenes is a high-stakes, high-pressure world where websites crash, fans demand instant support, and one missed detail can derail a global livestream. In this episode, Lee Totten, co-founder of BubbleUp, shares how his agency became the digital backbone for artists like Jimmy Buffett, Foo Fighters, and The Lumin...
Company: Mountaintop Web Design
Owners: Josiah Bussing
Year Started: 2013
Employees: 1-10
Ever felt like you accidentally backed into entrepreneurship? That’s exactly how Josiah Bussing’s journey began. In this episode, he shares how helping his dad fix a website sparked a passion that became Mountaintop Web Design and how he plans to grow his agency while staying rooted in value, ethics, and continuous improvement.
Inside this episode:...
Company: Trace Brand Building
Owners: Tracey Felicidade Jones
Year Started: 2022
Employees: 1-10
What do a cross-country road trip in an old ambulance and global brand strategy have in common? Tracey Felicidade Jones, founder of Trace Brand Building, shares her wild entrepreneurial journey from escaping danger in South Africa to building a purpose-driven agency in the U.S.
Inside this episode:
- How Tracey built an international agency...
Company: LFG Media Group
Owners: Jonathan Daniele
Year Started: 2022
Employees: 1-10
What happens when you stop playing it safe and go all-in on performance? In this episode, Jonathan Daniele, founder of LFG Media Group, shares how he built a $2M+ agency in under two years by shifting from monthly retainers to a bold pay-per-call model.
From call center grit to entrepreneurial growth, Jonathan opens up about the risks, rewards, and...
Company: The James Agency
Owners: Veronique James
Year Started: 2005
Employees: 50 – 99
What happens when life throws you a massive financial setback before your career even starts?
Veronique James didn’t just overcome adversity, she used it as fuel to build The James Agency, a powerhouse of creativity and strategy. In this episode, she shares her journey from early struggles to scaling a successful agency, her leadership philosophy, a...
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