An Agency Story

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, an...

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 bef...

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...

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 a...

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 work What it reall...

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 ag...

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...

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...

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 website...

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 g...

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 agencie...

Company: RicketyRoo Guest: Blake Denman Year Started: 2009 Employees: 11-25 Some stories start with ambition, this one starts with a crash. In this episode, Blake Denman, founder of RicketyRoo, shares how a near-fatal accident and a long recovery reshaped his perspective on business, leadership, and life.  Key Takeaways How trauma can transform the way you lead and make decisions The “User Guide”...

Company: Nopio Guest: Piotr Nowak Year Started: 2010 Employees: 11-25 What happens when a lifelong developer decides to step out from behind the code and build something of his own? In this episode, Piotr Nowak, founder of Nopio, shares his journey from being fired from a comfortable job to creating an international digital agency based in Poland. He reveals how embracing simplicity, culture, and...

Company: X Agency Guest: Darwin Liu Year Started: 2016 Employees: 1-10 Most people avoid embarrassment and failure, Darwin Liu trained for it. In this episode, he reveals how doing the uncomfortable on purpose helped him build a multimillion-dollar agency and stay sharp in an industry that's rapidly changing. You'll hear the mindset behind pushing limits, hiring struggles, and why boredo...

Company: Dapper Codes Guest: Kelly Gordon Year Started: 2007 Employees: 1-10 Most agency owners don’t realize how long they’ve been operating in survival mode, it becomes default. In this episode, Kelly Gordon of Dapper Codes shares what it really took to move from reacting to everything to leading with intention. You’ll hear the turning points, the mindset shifts, and the cost of staying in “hard...

Company: Norbella Guest: Stephanie Noris Year Started: 2009 Employees: 1-10 Running an agency means solving problems every day, but what if one lesson could make most of them easier? In this episode, Stephanie Norris of Norbella shares how mastering tough conversations, focusing on people, and tackling root challenges have shaped her 16-year journey in business. Key Takeaways Why learning to have...

Company: Visible Logic Guest: Emily Brackett Year Started: 2001 Employees: 1-10 Financial Clarity and the Creative Journey with Emily Brackett  In this episode Emily Brackett, founder of Visible Logic and Branding Compass, shares how a pivotal moment reshaped the way she runs her business. From building a branding agency rooted in clarity to developing a software tool that helps businesses define...

Company: Comet Fuel Guest: Jarod Spiewak Year Started: 2018 Employees: 1-10 In this episode, Jarod Spiewak, founder of Comet Fuel, shares his unconventional journey, the pivotal shifts in his business model, and the hard-earned lessons behind building a system of value.  Key Takeaways Why saying “yes” strategically can unlock bigger client opportunities Ensuring you have R&D happening in your...

Company: Inovāt Guest: Doug Logan Year Started: 2006 Employees: 1-10 What happens when a 14-year-old builds an agency and later finds himself running a burrito shop on the side? In this episode, Doug Logan of Inovat shares his journey from teenage entrepreneur to seasoned agency owner, offering candid lessons on leadership, letting go, and staying in love with the work. Key Takeaways Why imposter...

Company: Enleaf Guest: Adam Chronister Year Started: 2009 Employees: 1-10 Adam Chronister took his time on his path to entrepreneurship. Struggling in school and unsure of his future, he took the long road—gaining experience, building a side hustle, and creating financial runway before finally making the leap. In this episode, Adam shares how that deliberate approach shaped the ethos of Enleaf, wh...

Company: Bytes.c o  Guest: Jason Di Vece Year Started: 2010 Employees: 26-50 What happens when you walk away from security and take the leap into the unknown? In this episode, Jason Di Vece, Co-Founder of Bytes.co, shares how selling everything to move abroad reshaped his mindset and set him on the path to building a 25-person agency serving hundreds of clients.  Key Takeaways The risky move that...

Company: Scratch Media + Marketing Guests : Ryan Ellis Year Started: 2009 Employees: 26-50 What happens when an agency depends too much on its founder? In this episode, Lora Kratchounova, Founder of Scratch Marketing and Media, shares how she built a 40-person B2B tech agency by shifting from founder-dependence to team empowerment. From mastering positioning to embracing deep tech and climate tech...

Company: Red Egg Marketing Guests : Ryan Ellis Year Started: 2011 Employees: 11-25 Growing an agency doesn’t always come from chasing the newest trends, it often comes from mastering the basics. In this episode, Ryan Ellis, Founder of Red Egg Marketing, shares how focusing on client relationships, intentional growth, and sticking to fundamentals helped him build a business that lasts.   Key Takeaw...

Company: AOR Guests : Alyssa Ash Year Started: 2011 Employees: 25-50 What if your journey to owning an agency started without you even knowing it? In this episode, Alyssa Ash, Partner at AOR, shares how she went from junior designer to co-owner of a leading creative and digital agency. You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes story of a years-long leadership transition, the lessons learned along the way,...

Company: Cro Metrics Guests : Gwen Hammes Year Started: 2011 Employees: 50-100 Gwen Hammes, Co-CEO of Cro Metrics, shares her journey of taking over leadership, not by replicating the past, but by evolving it. In this episode, Gwen shares what happens when you step into a founder’s shoes and choose to grow the team before the business. Key Takeaways The biggest risk in leadership transitions Why g...