Rachel Zorel gave notice the day after a single coffee conversation and never looked back. Two decades later, Seven Layer Studio is a tight team of five with clients who stay for ten years. In this episode, we talk about culture, honesty, and why staying a generalist is a choice she makes on purpose.

What do you do when you keep hitting the same growth ceiling? Albert Banks merged with a peer agency, became a more mature business almost overnight, and later sold to a six-thousand-person global firm. In episode 167, he shares what that journey taught him about integration, partnership, and the life he actually wanted.

Execution has never been cheaper, and that is exactly why so many agencies feel fragile right now. Audrey Joy Kwan joins me to talk about what separates a replaceable agency from a resilient one. We get into niching, real relationships, and why collaboration beats competition. If you have been putting off the hard positioning decisions, this conversation is a gentle push.

David J. Ebner traces his storytelling career back to childhood dinners in a small Ohio town, stretching the truth just to get an emotional reaction out of his mom. Now, as president of Content Workshop, he helps B2B tech brands find the human story buried inside their most technical products. In this conversation, we get into why AI is flooding the market with sameness, why some clients leave for AI tools and come right back, and why the agencies winning right now are the ones willing to zag.

Every solopreneur hits a ceiling — the question is whether you know it's there. In episode 160, David Shriner-Cahn of Smashing the Plateau joins me to talk about why expertise-based businesses stall out, and how a trusted peer group can show you the blind spot you can't see for yourself. We get into pricing fear, the discipline of ninety-day objectives, and why a weekly cadence might be the most underrated growth lever you're not using.

Courtney Spritzer built SocialFly from a bootstrapped side hustle into an agency worth acquiring, then walked away from it entirely. In this episode, she breaks down what it actually takes to prepare an agency for a sale years before you're ready to sell, and why owner dependency kills more deals than anything else. She also shares how Entreprenista grew from a podcast into a 3,700-member community for women founders. It's a candid look at building a business that can run without you.

Matt Dean set a goal at 19 to own an agency by 30. Five years after launching Dean & Co. with his wife Jackie, he's built one of the most in-demand branding studios in commercial real estate, working across seventeen states, by refusing to be a generalist and refusing to be called a vendor.

Zach Rosenberg, founder and CEO of Cortex, joins me to unpack why nearly 90% of video content is mis-categorized and how that skews the data brands rely on. We talk about why buying intent shows up in what people watch long before it hits a search bar, and why AI should support creative instincts rather than replace them.

Jessica Rhodes launched the world's first podcast booking agency in 2013 and has since booked over 50,000 interviews. In this episode, she breaks down why relationship-driven guesting beats AI spam, when to start your own show, and how agency owners can turn a single interview into referrals, repurposed content, and clients who show up ready to buy.

Scale gets thrown around like a vanity metric, but Juliana reframes it as something quieter and more powerful: the freedom to choose what you do with your day. Her SCALE framework walks owners from seeing what's actually happening in the business all the way to designing an exit — on their own terms, whether they ever sell or not.

Mike Perry, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Tavern, joins Agency Bytes to unpack "modern heritage" — building timeless brands by mining the past instead of chasing trends. Steve and Mike dig into real niching, staying hands-on as a founder, launching your own product brand, and why this is fundamentally a relationship business above all else.

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In episode 142, I sit down with Amy Maxwell, founder and creative director of Maxwell Design, to talk about the real tension small creative shops face: how do you grow without sacrificing the craft that made you successful in the first place?

We dig into what it looks like to evolve from “hands-on designer” to “agency leader,” how to protect quality as you add capacity, and how to make smart choices about clients, process, and scope so growth doesn’t turn into chaos. If you want to scale with intention (and still love the work), this one’s for you.

Key Bytes

• Scaling doesn’t have to mean sacrificing creative quality

• Your process is what protects the craft as you grow

• “Better clients” often solves what “more clients” can’t

• You can stay hands-on without being the bottleneck

• The right constraints create consistency, not limitation

• Hiring should reduce friction, not add management drag

• Clear scope and boundaries prevent quiet burnout

Chapters

00:00 Intro: scaling without losing the craft

02:10 Amy’s origin story and building Maxwell Design

06:20 The “stay small” choice and what it protects

11:05 When growth starts to strain quality (warning signs)

16:10 Processes that keep creative standards high

22:30 Team structure: support roles vs creative roles

28:40 Client fit, boundaries, and saying “no” earlier

34:15 Staying fulfilled while the business grows

40:20 Rapid-fire questions and wrap-up

Amy—Creative Director + Founder of Maxwell Design—has spent the last two decades helping businesses look their best. She’s an award-winning designer with a knack for reading minds and creating delightful visual experiences. Her solution-focused approach makes her someone you’ll want in any room. And her small (but mighty) team comes with some major design chops.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwelldesignco/

http://maxwelldesignco.com/

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In episode 141, I sit down with Melissa and Meredith, the hosts of the Agency Darlings podcast and longtime agency operators, to unpack why so many agency owners feel burned out, stuck, or disillusioned by the traditional agency growth advice that’s been circulating for decades.

We talk candidly about the “bro playbook” — hustle culture, ego-driven leadership, top-down decision making, and growth at all costs — and why it often leads to unhealthy teams, poor margins, and miserable owners. Melissa and Meredith share what they’ve learned from years inside agencies about what actually drives sustainable growth: emotional intelligence, clear communication, strong operations, and leadership that prioritizes people alongside profit.

This episode is a refreshing, grounded look at agency leadership through a more human lens — one that challenges outdated norms and offers agency owners permission to build businesses that align with who they actually are.

Key Bytes

• Why the traditional agency “bro playbook” is failing modern agencies• The hidden cost of hustle culture on owners and teams• How emotional intelligence impacts agency growth and retention• What healthier leadership looks like inside agencies• Redefining success beyond revenue and headcount

Chapters

00:00 Why the traditional agency playbook feels broken05:12 The origins of hustle culture in agencies11:04 Masculine-driven leadership norms and their impact17:32 Emotional intelligence as a growth lever23:58 Building healthier agency cultures30:41 Operator-led leadership vs. ego-led leadership37:10 Sustainable growth without burnout43:26 Redefining success as an agency owner49:12 Advice for owners ready to do things differently

Each with over 15 years of experience in the agency space and deep-rooted connections within the industry, Melissa and Meredith bring actionable insights, expert advice, and candid conversations that challenge the conventional, masculine-driven approaches to agency growth.

Contact Meredith & Melissa:www.agencydarlings.comhttps://bit.ly/MWDarlingshttps://waverlyave.comhttps://instagram.com/waverlyave.cohttps://www.lecheile.co/contacthttps://www.instagram.com/lecheile.co/

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In episode 140, I sit down with Michael Janda—agency founder, bestselling author, and one of the most respected voices helping creatives master the business side of creativity. Michael built and sold Riser, worked with giants like Disney and Google, and later led creative teams at Fox before dedicating his career to teaching creatives how to price, position, and run their businesses without burning out.

We dig into the mental and operational “growing up” that every creative eventually faces: getting past portfolio thinking, charging confidently, understanding value, eliminating chaos, and building a more peaceful (and profitable) creative life. Michael’s straight-talk wisdom hits every agency owner exactly where they need it—no fluff, no ego, just clarity.

Key Bytes

• Why creatives struggle with pricing — and how to fix it

• The mindset shift from freelancer to business owner

• How Michael positioned his agency to win massive clients

• The surprising relationship between process, profit, and peace

• What creatives get wrong about value

• Why “portfolio thinking” holds owners back

• How to build a business that supports your life, not the other way around

Chapters

00:01 Welcome + Michael’s background and agency journey

04:12 From creative chaos to building processes that scale

09:45 Why pricing is emotional—and how to make it objective

14:30 Portfolio vs. business owner mindset

19:58 Finding ideal clients and positioning that works

25:21 How Michael sold his agency and what he learned

31:44 The psychology of creative profitability

38:10 Achieving peace of mind as an owner

44:22 Michael’s advice for creatives who feel “stuck”

Michael Janda is an award-winning creative director, agency founder, and bestselling author.

He built the creative agency Riser with clients like Disney, Google, Warner Bros., and ABC, then sold the business after 13 successful years. Before that, he served as a creative director at Fox. Michael

is the author of Burn Your Portfolio and The Psychology of Graphic Design Pricing. Today, he shares practical, no-fluff strategies to help creative professionals master business, pricing, and growth.

Community: https://morecreativeacademy.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/morejanda

YouTube: https://youtube.com/morejanda

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/morejanda

Website: https://michaeljanda.com

Courses: https://morejanda.teachable.com

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Ep 139 – Melanie Chandruang, We Consult – Agency Ops that Actually Scale: Financials, Workflows, and AI That Works

In episode 139, I sit down with Melanie Chandruang, founder of WeConsult and a strategic operations partner for creative agencies. Melanie has spent the last seven years helping agencies tighten up their financials, streamline workflows, and build stronger leadership teams—while also navigating two maternity leaves, a cross-country move, and re-entering the industry in one of its toughest seasons.

We dig into how she rebuilt WeConsult after stepping away to have kids, what’s changed in the agency landscape since 2023, and why she’s now staying higher-level as a fractional ops leader instead of getting buried in implementation. Melanie breaks down what healthy leadership actually looks like, why so many founders remain the bottleneck even after hiring “senior” people, and how clear ownership, scorecards, and trust change everything.

We also get tactical: what she looks for first in the financials, the operational metrics that matter most, and why agencies without documented processes are struggling the most with AI adoption. We wrap by talking about leading through uncertainty, avoiding burnout, and the simple practice Melanie uses to remind herself of the value she’s creating—plus her very 90s go-to karaoke song.

Key Bytes
• Clean financials and clear reporting are the true foundation of scalable ops

• Workflow ownership matters — if it’s nobody’s job, it’s nobody’s job

• Founders stay bottlenecks when leadership has no autonomy or scorecards

• Agencies with documented systems adopt AI faster (and with fewer messes)

• Strong leadership = trust, clarity, and shared problem-solving

• Self-care and boundaries are essential for sustainable agency ownership

Chapters

00:01 Intro and how Melanie rebuilt WeConsult after kids and a cross-country move

02:48 Stepping away from client work, losing momentum, and clawing back into a changed industry

05:36 Why Melanie now stays high-level and pushes implementation to internal teams and automation

07:42 Founders as bottlenecks and what a truly strong leadership team looks like

11:15 Ego, scale, and the operational shifts required for owners to get out of the way

15:36 Where Melanie starts operationally: financials, workflows, and clear ownership

18:07 The agency financial metrics that actually matter (profitability, cash, utilization, and more)

22:03 Why documented systems are the key to successful AI adoption (and how messy it gets without them)

26:00 Leading through uncertainty, rebuilding a business, and protecting your own wellbeing

28:38 AI note-takers, imposter syndrome, and Melanie’s “value” practice

31:36 Melanie’s 90s karaoke pick and where to learn more about WeConsult

Melanie Chandruang is the Founder of WeConsult and a Strategic Operations Partner for creative agencies. With over 15 years in the industry, she helps agency owners boost profits, streamline operations, and move big initiatives forward so they can focus on growth and what matters most.

https://weconsult.io/

Ep 138 – Jordan Snider, Token Creative – The impact of integrating Ignition App

In episode 138, I sit down with Jordan Snider, co-founder and CTO of Token Creative Services, to break down the real impact of integrating Ignition App into their agency operations. Jordan shares how Token went from scattered proposals, manual invoices, and nearly $40k in aging AR to a streamlined, single-system workflow that clients actually appreciated.

We dig into the operational before/after: centralized proposals and agreements, automated billing, faster close rates, clearer scope definition, easier upsells and renewals, and the elimination of unbilled “mystery hours.” Jordan also talks about forecasting clarity — and why dashboards that tie proposals, renewals, and revenue projections together are a game changer for decision-making.

This episode is a grounded look at what happens when an agency stops tolerating a duct-taped sales and billing process and finally upgrades the operational spine of the business.

Key Bytes

• Token’s breaking point was nearly $40k in aging AR — a clear sign the proposal and billing process was broken.

• Clients were confused by multiple proposal versions, scattered contracts, and manual payments; consolidating everything through Ignition simplified the entire client experience.

• The biggest financial lift came from capturing previously unbilled variable hours and out-of-scope work.

• Automated reminders and stored payment methods dramatically reduced AR and manual follow-up.

• Forecasting became easier with visible open proposals, renewal pipelines, and year-over-year revenue projections.

• Simplifying the tech stack cut both software cost and constant integration maintenance.

• Ignition enabled Token to shift from hourly pricing to value-driven retainers because operations finally supported it.

• Jordan’s advice: delaying this overhaul guarantees regret — proactively fixing it avoids the forced crisis moment.

Chapters

00:00 Intro and why Token’s Ignition story matters

02:05 Token’s early days and “brute force” agency ops

03:10 The $40k AR wake-up call

05:10 What was broken in their proposal + onboarding workflow

06:55 Client reactions after switching to Ignition

07:50 Close rates, renewals, and handling scope creep

09:40 Capturing unbilled work and shrinking AR

11:55 Forecasting and metrics that changed decision-making

14:00 Simplifying the tech stack and ditching integrations

16:40 How clarity improved both scope and service delivery

23:40 Productizing services and shifting to retainers

25:05 Jordan’s advice for agencies resisting the overhaul

26:50 Rapid fire and wrap-up

Jordan Snider is the Co-Founder and CTOof Token Creative Services, a full-service digital marketing and creative agency based in Kitchener-Waterloo. With a background in full-stack software engineering, Jordan bridges the gap between technical development and creative marketing. He has contributed personal reflections to platforms supporting victims of family violence, discussing the unique stressors faced by newcomers and the importance of community support systems.

His work reflects a blend of technical precision and a commitment to social impact, aligning with Token Creative’s mission to support businesses making positive environmental or social changes.

token.ca

ignitionapp.info/agencybytes-trial

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In episode 128, I sit down with Logan Lyles, founder of DemandShift and longtime B2B sales and marketing pro. Logan’s career has spanned brand side, agency side, and now his own consultancy—giving him a unique perspective on what it really takes to grow pipeline.

We unpack his journey from scaling Sweet Fish Media to Inc. 5000 status, building the Agency Life series at Teamwork, and leading growth at Business Builders. Most importantly, Logan shares how he turned disappointing webinar results into a repeatable framework that consistently converts registrations into booked sales calls.

If you’ve ever run a webinar that felt like a win… until the dreaded “conversion cliff,” this episode gives you the practical, step-by-step fixes to turn those views into revenue.

Key Bytes

• Logan explains how most agencies fall into the “conversion cliff” trap—lots of registrants, little pipeline—and the two-part fix that changed everything.

• He shares the importance of packaging your expertise into a clear framework that creates a natural next step.

• We break down his two-step registration process that boosted webinar conversions by 5–10x.

• We compare free vs. paid events, what impacts show-up rates, and which strategy works best for agencies.

• We talk about how webinars double as content engines for thought leadership and trust building.

• Logan shares why solopreneurs and 20-person agencies alike can adapt this strategy with the right tech stack.

• He opens up about lessons learned in sales—why not every “yes” is worth chasing.

Chapters

00:02 Intro to Logan Lyles and Demand Shift

01:14 Logan’s meandering career path from journalism to sales to agency life

03:09 Lessons from scaling Sweet Fish Media and leading growth at Business Builders

06:44 Why referrals aren’t enough for agencies anymore

07:28 The “conversion cliff” of webinars and how Logan fixed it

09:48 The two-step registration process that boosted conversions 5–10x

12:59 Free vs. paid webinars: show rates, signups, and strategy

15:57 Webinars as thought-leadership engines and content machines

19:11 Blending demand gen with brand building for faster sales cycles

23:02 Rethinking webinars: live podcasts, polls, and engagement tactics

27:08 Sales lessons: why not every yes is worth chasing

27:50 Wrap-up and where to find Logan (demandshift.co)

Logan Lyles has spent 17 years in B2B sales & marketing, drawing on his journalism background & working both agency- and brand-side in various roles. He has helped multiple agencies scale, including helping lead Sweet Fish Media onto the Inc 5,000 List 2 years in a row & increasing Business Builders monthly email list growth by 580% in 2024.

Logan is the founder of DemandShift, a webinar-as-a-service agency, the co-host of the weekly podcast: The Marketing Max Show & a LinkedIn Top Voice.

http://demandshift.co

http://linkedin.com/in/loganlyles

In episode 127, I talk with Kelly Schuknecht, founder of Two Mile High Marketing and host of the Beyond the Best Seller podcast. Kelly shares her journey from being laid off to launching her agency, how she quickly built a team, and why she’s focused on helping agency owners and CEOs grow through thought leadership platforms. We dig into what I call The Agency Owner’s Visibility Plan—a repeatable system of podcasts, stages, and LinkedIn that helps agencies build authority, stay top-of-mind, and consistently attract clients.

Key Bytes

• The Agency Owner’s Visibility Plan comes down to visibility, credibility, and consistency.

• Trusting yourself to leap without a safety net accelerates growth.

• Niching disqualifies the wrong buyers while pulling in the right ones.

• Visibility means showing up where your audience already is.

• Credibility is built in a snap judgment—package your proof.

• Consistency matters more than volume—set a realistic cadence.

• Every podcast interview can fuel a month’s worth of content.

• Delegating early unlocks owner time for actual growth work.

• In-person events still beat virtual for relationship building.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Kelly and the story behind “Two Mile High”

03:30 From acquisition layoff to launching an agency

06:45 Why she pivoted away from “fractional CMO”

09:55 The challenge and power of niching down

13:50 Hiring early and delegating with trust

16:20 The Visibility–Credibility–Consistency framework

19:55 A realistic cadence for LinkedIn, podcasts, and speaking

24:10 In-person vs. virtual events and AI’s limitations

26:45 Rapid Fire: superpowers, lessons learned, and marketing myths

Kelly Schuknecht is the founder of Two Mile High Marketing, where she partners with agency owners and business leaders to build powerful thought leadership platforms. With over 15 years of marketing experience and a track record of elevating brands from behind the scenes, Kelly now helps experts step into the spotlight through strategic content, visibility tactics, and authentic personal branding. She’s the host of Beyond the Bestseller, a podcast featuring women who use their stories to lead.

www.twomilehighmarketing.com

www.kellyschuknecht.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyschuknecht/

In episode 126, I sit down with Meeky Hwang, CEO and partner at Endeavor, a WordPress development agency powering digital platforms for major media and enterprise brands like Bloomberg, Forbes, and Sony. With over two decades of experience in development and DevOps, Meeky has built Endeavor into a trusted name in the WordPress ecosystem while also paving the way as a female leader in tech.

We talk about her accidental journey into agency ownership, what it’s like leading in an industry where women are still underrepresented, and how Endeavor built its three-pillar framework for resilient platforms. Meeky shares candid insights on navigating partnerships, the challenges of “over-engineering” with headless CMS, and the importance of masterminds and community for entrepreneurs.

Key Bytes

• Meeky shares how an “accidental” freelance project led to a decade-long partnership and agency.

• She discusses the importance of having clear role delineation with her co-founder to avoid missteps.

• Endeavor’s three-pillar framework (audience experience, editorial experience, developer experience) keeps their platforms resilient.

• She explains why many publishers are moving away from over-engineered headless CMS solutions back to WordPress.

• As a female leader in tech, she reflects on mentorship, representation, and inspiring others by simply “being the first.”

• She stresses the value of mastermind groups for growth and support, something she wishes she’d pursued earlier.

• Endeavor is exploring AI to streamline workflows and even testing new content tools for clients.

• Her advice for organizations: implement proper version control and CI/CD to avoid preventable tech mistakes.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Meeky Hwang

03:00 Becoming an “accidental” agency founder

07:00 Women in tech and leadership representation

11:00 Why Endeavor niched into WordPress and media

12:30 The three-pillar framework for resilient platforms

15:00 Headless CMS pitfalls and returning to WordPress

18:00 Navigating co-founder roles and partnerships

23:00 AI, internal tools, and what’s next for Endeavor

25:00 The power of masterminds for entrepreneurs

27:00 Rapid fire: karaoke, hobbies, and tech stack fixes

Meeky Hwang is the CEO & Partner at Ndevr, a WordPress development agency trusted by leading digital media and enterprise companies. With 20+ years of experience in web development, open-source technology, and DevOps, she specializes in optimizing complex digital ecosystems, streamlining editorial workflows, and aligning technology with business goals.

Meeky has helped major brands like PMC, Hearst, Bloomberg, Forbes, and Sony build scalable, high-performing digital platforms. A champion for women in tech, she is passionate about fostering opportunities for the next generation of leaders.

Contact Meeky on their website: ndevr.io

In episode 125, I sit down with Dolores Hirschmann, investor, strategist, and founder of Masters in Clarity. Dolores has built, scaled, and sold businesses—including one to Pete Vargas and Grant Cardone after growing it to eight figures. A former TEDx organizer, she now helps service professionals and thought leaders clarify their message, craft high-converting signature talks, and get booked on stages that drive real business results. We explore her journey from early internet marketing in Argentina to launching an outbound speaker agency, and she shares her framework for creating talks that convert, practical tips for pitching event organizers, and why thought leadership is still one of the most powerful growth levers for agencies.

Key Bytes

• Thought leadership isn’t about celebrity—it’s about clarity and consistency

• A great talk is less about what you say and more about what your audience walks away with

• Don’t pitch event organizers with long bios—open the door with a simple yes/no question

• The best call-to-action from stage isn’t a free consultation, it’s a free resource tied to your talk

• A signature talk framework can be applied to any presentation—keynote, workshop, or boardroom update

• Speaking is one of the most scalable ways to build trust, demonstrate expertise, and generate new business

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Dolores Hirschmann

01:18 Early internet marketing and human-to-human relationships

04:58 Moving to the U.S. and pioneering online learning platforms

06:26 From serial entrepreneur to coach and strategist

08:19 Organizing TEDx and developing the signature talk framework

11:26 Building and scaling a speaker agency to $20M+

14:29 Why agencies need to lean into speaking and thought leadership

15:44 Practical steps to land more speaking opportunities

20:07 The seven steps of a high-converting talk

23:24 How to craft calls-to-action that drive leads from stage

25:23 Using QR codes and free resources to capture audience interest

26:25 Masters in Clarity workshops and software for speakers

27:02 Rapid fire: tap dancing, gut instincts, and buying businesses

Dolores Hirschmann is an investor, strategist, speaker, and founder of Masters in Clarity, a strategy and business coaching firm. She helps service professionals grow their businesses and establish thought leadership. A former TEDx organizer, she specializes in positioning experts, authors, consultants, and coaches for success.

Dolores recently sold a company to Pete Vargas and Grant Cardone, supporting its growth to multiple 8 figures in four years. She built a software platform to help speakers get placed on stages and advises businesses on preparing for profitable exits. Masters in Clarity provides fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) services to help companies design and execute marketing initiatives and set up automated marketing systems. As an investor, Dolores acquires and scales small businesses, ensuring their legacy and long-term success.

www.mastersinclarity.com