Agency Bytes Podcast
Agency Bytes is a video podcast series that packs a ton of important agency information on one topic, from one expert into a 25-minute brief.
Why 25 minutes?
Because who has the attention span for much more these days, and you can squeeze in a listen between meetings with time for a bathroom break or coffee refill before your next meeting.
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Ep 149 – David Wain-Heapy, Prodigi – Remote-Ready Agencies Win: Systems Before Scale
In episode 149, I sit down with David Wain-Heapy, founder of Prodigy, a company that helps agencies and digital businesses build flexible, scalable remote teams through global talent sourcing.
David spent 14 years building and running a Magento-focused e-commerce agency out of central London before selling it to Brave Bison PLC. We talk through what that exit process actually looked like, why the right acquirer matters as much as the right offer, and how building systems independent of the founders made the transition possible.
From there, we get into the real substance of what David does now: helping agencies shift from an outsourcing mindset to an offshore hiring mindset. There's a difference, and it matters. Agency owners will come away with a clearer framework for when and how to integrate global talent, how to think about time zones, which roles translate well offshore, and what AI is actually doing — and not yet doing — to development teams in agencies right now.
Key Bytes
• Outsourcing and offshore hiring are not the same thing — one is a handoff, the other is a hire.
• The fix for a failed first attempt wasn't better talent, it was better integration — sprints, tools, and cadence.
• Building a business that runs independently of you isn't just good leadership, it's what makes you acquirable.
• The right acquirer matters as much as the right offer — alignment on team and culture is what made a six-month handoff possible.
• East Coast agencies fit well with Eastern European talent; West Coast agencies are better served by South and Central America.
• AI handles contained tasks well, but it still can't hold the context of an enterprise-scale project.
• The people who will thrive in an AI-augmented world are the ones who bring real creativity — the architects and problem-solvers, not just the executors.
Chapters
00:00 Why this conversation matters for agency owners right now
01:45 David's 14-year agency journey and building in a competitive London market
05:10 The first attempt at offshore talent and why it failed
08:30 Selling to Brave Bison: what the exit process actually looked like
13:15 Choosing the right acquirer and making a clean handoff
17:00 Outsourcing vs. offshore hiring: why the mindset shift changes everything
21:30 How to think about time zones when sourcing global talent
24:45 What systems agencies need before hiring offshore
28:00 Where AI is actually helping agency dev teams right now
33:20 Which roles work well offshore and which don't
37:50 Rapid fire: surfing in Bristol, letting go of control, and a risky bet that paid off
David Wain-Heapy is an experienced founder currently focused on building remote teams for digital businesses with Prodigi.
Having sold my digital agency to Brave Bison PLC, I am now working to provide a flexible and scalable solution that enables companies to take control of hiring by looking at a global talent pool.
I have many years experience building globally distributed teams of digital professionals and leading them to help great businesses win in the race for attention and accelerate their digital growth.
Contact David:
Ep 148 – Cameron Herold, COO Alliance – Work On the Business: The COO Mindset Agencies Need Now
In episode 148, I sit down with Cameron Herold, founder of COO Alliance and one of the most recognized voices in operational leadership, to talk about the mindset shift agency owners desperately need right now: stepping into the role of CEO and building a true COO mindset inside their business.
Cameron has helped scale companies like 1-800-GOT-JUNK and advised hundreds of growth-stage businesses, and in this conversation, we unpack what it really means to work on the business instead of being trapped inside it. We talk about the operator’s lens, how founders accidentally become bottlenecks, and why operational maturity is often the difference between a lifestyle business and a scalable asset.
If you’re an agency owner who feels stretched thin, stuck in delivery, or unsure how to elevate your leadership team, this one is a masterclass in stepping up and leveling up.
Key Bytes
• The CEO’s job is vision. The COO’s job is execution. Most agency owners are trying to do both — and burning out.
• Operational discipline isn’t about bureaucracy — it’s about freeing the founder from the day-to-day.
• If you’re still the glue holding everything together, you don’t have a scalable business — you have a dependency.
• Working on the business requires intentional systems, delegation maturity, and the courage to step back.
• Strong operators build companies that can grow, sell, or run without the founder in the weeds.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome & Cameron’s Scaling Background
04:12 The Difference Between a Founder and a CEO
09:48 Why Most Agencies Don’t Truly Work “On” the Business
16:35 The COO Mindset Explained
23:10 Founders as Bottlenecks
31:42 Building Operational Discipline Without Red Tape
40:18 Hiring & Developing Strong Operators
49:03 Scaling vs. Lifestyle Businesses
57:25 Final Advice for Agency Owners
Cameron Herold is the mastermind behind the exponential growth of hundreds of companies globally. Founder of the COO Alliance, and Invest In Your Leaders training. Cameron is known as the "CEO Whisperer", and is also the former COO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, where he engineered the company's spectacular growth from $2 million to $106 million in revenue in just six years.
The publisher of Forbes magazine, Rich Karlgaard, stated "Cameron Herold is the best speaker I've ever heard...he hits grand slams”. Cameron is
the host of the Second In Command podcast, author of 6 bestselling books, including The Second In Command, Vivid Vision, Meetings Suck, Free PR, Double Double, and The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs.
Cameron is a top-rated international speaker and has been paid to speak in 26 countries and on all 7 continents, including Antarctica in early 2022.
www.cooalliance.com
www.cameronherold.com
https://www.instagram.com/cameron_herold_cooalliance
https://www.facebook.com/COOAlliance/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronherold
https://www.linkedin.com/company/coo-alliance/
https://twitter.com/cooalliance
https://www.youtube.com/@CameronHerold?sub_confirmation=1
https://cooalliance.com/vivid-vision/
Ep 140 – Michael Janda, More Creative Academy – The Creative’s Guide to Growing Up: From Portfolio to Profits to Peace of Mind
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY IGNITION. START YOUR FREE 14 DAY TRIAL ignitionapp.info/agencybytes-trial Use Code OUTSIGHT25 to save 50% off!
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
Ep 139 – Melanie Chandruang, We Consult – Agency Ops that Actually Scale: Financials, Workflows, and AI That Works
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY IGNITION. START YOUR FREE 14 DAY TRIAL ignitionapp.info/agencybytes-trial Use Code OUTSIGHT25 to save 50% off!
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.
Ep 138 – Jordan Snider, Token Creative – The impact of integrating Ignition App
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.
ignitionapp.info/agencybytes-trial
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Ep 136 – JP Holecka, Power Shifter Digital – Building the AI-Driven Agency: Lessons from Power Shifter’s Evolution
Ep 136 – JP Holecka, Power Shifter Digital – Building the AI-Driven Agency: Lessons from Power Shifter’s Evolution
In episode 136, I sit down with JP Holecka, founder and CEO of Power Shifter Digital, a Vancouver-based agency leading the shift toward AI-driven digital products and content creation. With over 30 years of experience in design, film, and technology, JP has guided multiple teams through successful AI rollouts—transforming workflows, scaling creativity, and redefining how digital agencies deliver value.
We talk about what it really takes to evolve your agency for the AI era, how to navigate the culture shift that comes with automation, and why embracing AI is less about replacing people and more about amplifying what they’re capable of.
KEY BYTES
• AI isn’t replacing creativity—it’s amplifying it
• True transformation starts with changing workflows, not job titles
• The most successful AI rollouts start with internal adoption before client delivery
• Leadership has to model curiosity and experimentation
• Agencies that treat AI as a tool, not a threat, are finding their competitive edge
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
02:01 JP’s background and the evolution of Power Shifter
06:32 The first AI experiments that changed everything
10:45 Getting team buy-in and overcoming initial skepticism
14:58 Building processes around AI rather than forcing it in
20:10 Human creativity in the age of automation
25:36 How AI has changed client expectations
31:12 Leadership lessons from scaling an AI-driven agency
36:45 The next frontier of digital work
40:30 JP’s advice for agency founders starting their AI journey
43:00 Rapid Fire Questions
JP Holecka is the founder and CEO of Power Shifter Digital, a Vancouver-based agency leading the shift toward AI-driven digital products and content creation. With over 30 years of experience in design, film, and technology, JP has guided multiple agencies through successful AI rollouts—transforming workflows, scaling creativity, and redefining how teams collaborate with generative tools.
https://www.powershifter.com/studio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpholecka/
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Ep 135 – Drew McLellan, AMI – The Owner’s Actual Job: Vision, Profit, and a Pipeline That Isn’t You
In episode 135, I sit down with Drew McLellan, CEO of Agency Management Institute and host of the Build a Better Agency podcast. Drew’s been in the business for over 30 years and has coached thousands of agencies on how to grow profitably, attract better clients, and actually enjoy the perks of ownership.
In this conversation, we unpack what the real job of an agency owner is — and how easy it is to get lost in the weeds doing everyone else’s. Drew shares how founders can move from day-to-day chaos to the higher-level work of vision, leadership, and building a pipeline that doesn’t depend on them. We also talk about the mental shift from “founder hustle” to “CEO clarity,” and what it really means to build an agency that serves your life, not the other way around.
Key Bytes
• The three things only the owner can and should do
• Why your agency’s profit tells the truth about your leadership
• Building a self-sustaining pipeline that runs without you
• How to structure your week around the owner’s actual job
• The difference between running an agency and owning a business
• What makes an agency truly “sellable”
• Common traps that keep founders stuck in the weeds
• How to get your time back without losing control
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Drew’s background
04:12 The evolution from founder to true agency owner
09:45 What the “owner’s actual job” really is
14:58 Why agency profit is a mirror of leadership
20:17 Building systems and pipelines that aren’t you
26:04 The importance of clarity and delegation
31:42 Common mistakes that limit scalability
38:27 How to build an agency that can thrive without you
44:10 Preparing for eventual sale or succession
49:22 Drew’s advice for new and seasoned agency owners
Drew McLellan has worked in advertising for 30+ years and started his own agency, McLellan Marketing Group in 1995 after a five-year stint at Y&R and still actively runs the agency.
He spends the lion’s share of his time running Agency Management Institute (AMI), which he also co-owns/runs with his wife Danyel.
AMI serves thousands of agencies small to mid-sized agencies (advertising, digital, marketing, media and PR) every year, so they can increase their AGI, attract better clients and employees, mitigate the risks of being self-employed in a such volatile business and best of all — let the agency owner actually enjoy the perks of agency ownership.
AMI is the only agency network that is run by an active agency owner. It offers:
Public workshops for agency owners, leaders and account service staff
Owner peer networks (like a Vistage group or 4A’s forums)
Private coaching/consulting for agency owners
Annual primary research with CMOs and client decision makers about their work with agencies
The highly praised podcast Build A Better Agency
The only conference built for small to mid-sized agencies – the Build A Better Agency Summit
Drew often appears in publications like Entrepreneur Magazine, New York Times, Washington Post, Forbes, AdAge, CNN, BusinessWeek, and many others. The Wall Street Journal calls him “one of 10 bloggers every entrepreneur should read.”
He’s also written several books, the most recent being Sell with Authority (January 2020). The latest book has garnered rave reviews and has been the guidebook for agency growth and business development in today’s world.
Drew also speaks at leading agency and marketing conferences like Inbound, Content Marketing World and MAICON and is often cited in agency centric content for his expertise in the industry.
When he’s not hanging out with clients or agency owners and their staff, Drew spends time with his wife, their blended family and following his beloved Dodgers.
http://agencymanagementinstitute.com
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Ep 133 – Kirstin Russ, Practical Edge AI – AI Adoption for Agencies: From Internal Automation to Sellable Services
In episode 133, I dive into the real-world path of AI adoption for agencies with guest Kirstin Russ, founder of Principal Edge AI and Mountains to Sea Media. We unpack the four “zones” of adoption (from denial to productized services), why most AI projects fail without structure and change management, and how to turn internal automations into billable client solutions. We also hit on junior-talent pipelines in an AI world, the risk of “robot-trained-by-robots” content, pricing when you’re still learning, and the discovery discipline required to make automations actually stick.
Key Bytes
• The winning agencies move from “dabbling in automations” to selling AI-powered solutions that solve specific client problems.
• 95% of AI projects fail because of missing structure, messy data, and zero change management — fix those first.
• AI should elevate people to higher-value work; train juniors to work with AI, not to be replaced by it.
• Don’t chase every shiny tool; build repeatable agent patterns and a stable stack you trust.
• Discovery is everything: a “15-step” flow usually hides 30 more steps — price and scope accordingly.
• Monetization starts with ops pain: map ugly manual workflows, then automate the “swivel-chair” steps.
• Thought leadership beats generic AI copy: capture founder audio, codify brand voice + ICPs, then assist with AI.
• Profit vs. quality is a real tension — set guardrails so efficiency never erodes outcomes.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Kirstin’s two businesses
00:57 Why an outsource-first agency model
03:07 Year of deep AI study and first tools “in the wild”
04:43 The four zones of agency AI adoption
06:14 From “getting ahead” to “survive”: disruption hits marketing
09:01 Why AI projects fail: structure, data, and change management
11:00 Practical internal automations (transcripts → CRM, follow-ups, etc.)
12:58 Junior talent in an AI era & the content quality dilemma
15:18 Building an AI content assist system (voice, ICP, research)
18:48 Tool sprawl vs. foundations; avoiding shiny-object traps
20:40 Can clients DIY? Positioning & selling AI services
21:08 Case studies: Square inventory workflow & quote tool
24:38 Pricing while you’re learning; managing expectations
27:18 Aha moments: you can’t do it all; systemize & delegate
29:14 Theme songs, imposter syndrome, and wrap up
Kirstin Russ is a seasoned business strategist with 30 years of cross-industry experience who brings a unique dual approach to business growth. As the founder of Practical Edge AI, she helps businesses leverage artificial intelligence to automate growth, reduce manual workload, and improve profitability—often delivering measurable results within the first week.
Simultaneously, as the driving force behind Mountains to Sea Media, a Western North Carolina-based digital marketing agency, Kirstin helps businesses amplify their online presence through strategic internet marketing, data analytics, and performance-focused web design.
Kirstin's superpower lies in her holistic approach to business analysis, understanding how systems interconnect and where AI can enhance traditional & digital marketing strategies. By combining cutting-edge AI solutions with proven digital marketing expertise, she creates integrated growth pathways that optimize both operations and customer acquisition.
With an approachable style and commitment to practical results, Kirstin transforms business challenges into opportunities. Her guiding question remains: "If you could wave a magic wand and change anything about your business, what would it be?"
https://mountainstoseamedia.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/practical-edge-ai/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mountains-to-sea-media/
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Ep 132 – Leah Leaves, Alderaan Operations Solutions – Break the Bottleneck: How Operators Reduce Burnout and Unlock Scale
In episode 132, I talk with Leah Leaves, founder of Alderaan Operations Solutions, where she helps remote digital agencies grow without the grind. Known for her no-fluff, systems-first approach, Leah and her team embed expert operations managers directly into agencies to break bottlenecks, reduce burnout, and build businesses that can scale without the founder in every decision.
We dig into what causes owners to become the bottleneck, the difference between goals, systems, and team accountability, and how every agency—no matter the size—can start building a foundation that prevents burnout and supports growth. Leah also shares how to identify when it’s time to bring in an operator, how to delegate effectively, and why even the best creative agencies need structure to thrive. We wrap by exploring how AI fits into internal operations and why every agency needs an AI Ops roadmap, even if it’s just six months ahead.
Key Bytes
• Burnout often begins with unclear goals and missing systems; clarity is the antidote.
• Leah outlines four agency owner archetypes—the Trusting Optimist, Firefighting Founder, Reluctant Gatekeeper, and Visionary Leader—and how operators help each evolve.
• Delegation isn’t dumping tasks; it’s empowering your team with context and ownership.
• Documenting the “why” behind your systems drives consistency and accountability.
• Operators create the scaffolding for scale—allowing founders to focus on vision, not firefighting.
• Every agency, regardless of size, benefits from an AI Ops roadmap to guide internal efficiency.
• Start with what you already have—processes, checklists, or recurring workflows—and build from there.
• Systems don’t kill creativity; they protect it by removing chaos and decision fatigue.
Chapters
00:00 Intro and welcome with guest Leah Leaves, founder of Alderaan Operations Solutions
02:00 The Star Wars origin of “Alderaan” and Leah’s path from journalism to operations
05:30 From creative to systems thinker: finding flow in operations
08:00 How unclear goals and missing systems cause bottlenecks
10:00 Guardrails vs. micromanagement: empowering the team without overengineering
13:00 The burnout cycle and why delegation is a creative act
15:00 The four types of agency owners and their operational challenges
20:00 Shifting from bottleneck to visionary: the operator’s role in scaling
23:30 Why every agency needs an AI ops roadmap
26:30 Putting “robots” in the org chart and making automation work
29:00 Low-hanging AI wins: onboarding, recruiting, and workflow automation
32:00 Rapid-fire Q&A: distilling systems, theme songs, and unexpected client wins
34:45 Closing thoughts and where to find Leah
Leah Leaves is the Founder of Alderaan Operations Solutions, where she helps remote digital marketing agencies grow without the grind. Known for her no-fluff, systems-first approach, she and her team embed expert Operations Managers directly into agencies to break bottlenecks, reduce burnout, and build businesses that can scale without the founder in every decision.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/1eah1eaves/
https://alderaanenterprise.com/
http://agencyownerquiz.com/
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Ep 131 – Maiya Holliday, Mangrove – Mission > Marketing: B Corp as Operating System, Not a Sales Tactic
In episode 131, I sit down with Maiya Holliday, founder and CEO of Mangrove Web Development, a Certified B Corp agency that’s been building websites for change-makers since 2009.
Maiya shares her evolution from self-taught coder to agency leader, how she built Mangrove into a values-driven, fully remote team long before it was trendy, and why B Corp certification serves as an operating system rather than a marketing badge.
We dive into the realities of serving nonprofits and purpose-led organizations, how to balance mission and margin, and how AI is reshaping collaboration between designers and developers. Maiya’s insights are both grounding and inspiring for anyone building a business around impact and intention.
Key Bytes
• B Corp certification can provide structure for how an agency operates—not just a label to display.
• Nonprofit clients aren’t “low budget” if you help them tie digital to their mission, revenue, and reach.
• AI is changing agency workflows fast, but curiosity, ethics, and experimentation keep it human.
• Merging two purpose-driven teams isn’t about scale—it’s about shared values and vision.
Mangrove’s evolution shows that you can stay small, focused, and deeply impactful.
Chapters
00:00 Intro: From coder to CEO
01:00 The origin story of Mangrove Web
03:30 Becoming a Certified B Corp
06:00 Lessons from the certification process
09:00 Staying accountable to B Corp principles
11:00 How competition has evolved in the B Corp space
14:30 Why Mangrove focuses on nonprofits & foundations
17:30 Pricing and positioning in the nonprofit world
20:00 The role of AI in Mangrove’s workflow
23:00 How design and dev are converging
27:30 Internal AI tooling vs. client-facing tools
30:00 Building trust as a strategic digital advisor
32:20 Rapid fire: remote work, creative parenting, and common myths
34:50 Closing thoughts
Maiya Holliday, CEO and Founder of Mangrove Web Development is a creative leader and collaborator who crafts digital solutions to augment the impact of changemakers. She is a self-taught coder with over a decade of hands-on experience. Maiya aligns folks toward actionable goals that help articulate and communicate their organization’s purpose and impact on the web, with people, planet, purpose and equity at the core. She has led over 200 website projects for changemakers and purpose-driven organizations.
Maiya led Mangrove to become a Certified B Corp in 2016 and has since championed the cause of socially and environmentally conscious businesses deepening their impact. She values working alongside a diverse team of talented people who are passionate about what they do.
A Bay Area native, Maiya now lives in the mountains of Truckee, CA with her husband Shaun and little humans Terner and Miles. You might also find her in Oakland or Australia, where she tends to show up a regular basis.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maiyaholliday/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mangrove-web/
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Ep 130 – Peter Lang, Digital Agency Business – Buy, Don’t Build! Using M&A to Scale Your Agency
In episode 130, I sit down with Peter Lang—co-founder of Digital Agency Business and AVA, and longtime agency acquirer—to unpack how agency owners can use M&A as a growth superpower. Peter shares the seven-day deal that doubled his agency’s revenue, the due-diligence signals that actually matter (talent, client stickiness, and contracts), why most M&A fails on culture not math, and how AI is reshaping hiring and service models. We also get into founder identity after the sale, what “professional maturity” looks like, and why many owners are really capital allocators in the making.
Key Bytes
• M&A can compress years of organic growth into months—if you underwrite people, clients, and terms before the numbers.
• Culture fit and integration planning beat fancy spreadsheets; most failed deals are value misalignment, not valuation.
• AI is wiping out entry-level tasks first; the winners redeploy A-players and teach clients how to use AI, not hide from it.
• Founder-led sales can’t be the only engine; build repeatable sales capacity that survives distractions.
• You already “work for” whoever pays you—selling changes the customer, not your agency DNA.
• Treat time like capital: budget it, forecast it, and review it like an effective executive.
Chapters
00:00 Cold open, quick re-intro
01:08 The seven-day deal that doubled revenue
03:32 Doing three deals in 90 days during COVID
06:36 Common seller misconceptions and Peter’s deal lens
09:19 Endurance mindset, calendars, and operating like an athlete
13:46 What buyers actually look for beyond the numbers
17:43 AI’s impact on talent, delivery, and survival to 2027
22:10 Life after the sale and “professional maturity”
24:51 Rapid fire: celebrating wins, the race that changed him, dream acquisition
27:45 Where to learn more (digitalagencybusiness.com)
Resources mentioned
• Effective Executive by Peter Drucker (time tracking and retrospective)
• GrowthHackers community (context on Peter’s portfolio)
• digitalagencybusiness.com (Peter’s M&A training and upcoming book)
Peter Lang is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with over 15 years of experience building, buying, and selling companies across online publishing, media, advertising, e-commerce, and consulting. He’s the co-founder and Chief M&A Officer at AVA, a fast-growing digital agency holding company acquiring businesses in the $1–10 million range.
Peter also runs Digital Agency Business (DAB), an e-learning company that trains entrepreneurs to launch and scale their own agencies. A former CEO of Uhuru Network and advisor to multiple companies, Peter’s passion lies in using mergers and acquisitions to accelerate growth. An endurance athlete and family man, he lives by the belief that anything is achievable with hard work.
Contact Peter:
Ep 124 – Joe Rojas, Start Grow Manage – Building a Freedom-First Business
In episode 124, I sit down with Joe Rojas, founder of Start Grow Manage and author of How Entrepreneurs Thrive. Joe has built and sold multiple MSPs, each time leveraging the power of deep niching to accelerate growth. We talk about the pivotal inflection points in a business’s lifecycle, why niching works across any industry, and how systems and values create businesses that can run—and grow—without the owner. Joe shares his framework for moving from “job” to “business,” the core values that drive his work, and how agencies can increase profitability by solving real business problems for clients. We also discuss the parallels between MSPs and agencies when it comes to client retention, lifetime value, and building a life you actually want to live.
Key Bytes
• Niching accelerates growth because it clarifies your offer and your audience
• The difference between a lifestyle job and a lifestyle business is scale and delegation
• Core values must be discovered, not invented—and hiring should be based on them
• Profitability can start with your existing clients, not just new ones
• Long-term success comes from solving clients’ business problems, not just delivering services
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and guest intro
01:06 Joe’s journey from the Army to building and selling MSPs
03:18 Understanding the “Start, Grow, Manage” stages
05:03 Why Joe wrote How Entrepreneurs Thrive
06:33 The $1M inflection point and profitability mindset
08:16 Helping clients reclaim their time and freedom
12:20 Building core values that drive the business
16:46 Hiring for abundance mindset and cultural fit
21:07 How Joe’s book applies to agencies today
24:07 Why technology changes but strategy doesn’t
26:08 Expanding accounts by solving deeper problems
28:37 Mapping the client journey for better results
30:21 Rapid fire questions and closing thoughts
Joe is the Founder at Start Grow Manage, based in New York, and author of How Entrepreneurs Thrive. He empowers Managed Service Providers and entrepreneurs to overcome the challenges of business formation to create profitable, growing businesses. As a serial entrepreneur himself, he has faced the challenge of making new and growing businesses work. His career started in the military, where he became an expert in information technology, eventually forming his own managed services company. Through that experience, he discovered the formula for businesses and learned that entrepreneurs are good at what they do but struggle to build a business.
Ep 123 – Jenny Plant, Account Management Skills – The Secret to Growing Client Accounts Without “Selling”
In episode 123, I sit down with Jenny Plant, founder of Account Management Skills, to talk about why strong account management is the secret weapon for agency growth. Drawing on over 25 years of experience on both the agency and client side, Jenny shares how she helps account managers develop the skills, confidence, and mindset to grow accounts without feeling “salesy.” We discuss the challenges of hybrid AM/PM roles, how to spot rising account management stars, and why curiosity and relationship skills often outweigh industry knowledge. Jenny also dives into her “Four P’s” of AI for account managers—Productivity, Personalization, Prescribe, and Predict—showing how technology can boost proactivity and client value. We wrap with insights on setting growth targets, charging for account management, and building a culture that celebrates account wins as much as new business.
Key Bytes
• Account growth starts with training AMs to be proactive, not just reactive service providers
• Hybrid AM/PM roles often fail to drive growth because delivery takes priority over development
• Curiosity and relationship skills can be more valuable than industry expertise
• AI can help AMs be more productive, personalize interactions, prescribe solutions, and predict client needs
• Co-creating growth targets with AMs boosts buy-in and accuracy
• Celebrating account growth fosters a culture where client retention and expansion matter as much as net new business
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Jenny Plant & Account Management Skills
02:20 Why sales training is vital for account managers
04:16 The challenge of hybrid AM/PM roles in driving growth
08:58 Traits of successful account managers
11:32 Hiring AMs from outside the agency world
13:14 Jenny’s Four P’s of AI for account managers
18:19 Proactivity and presenting ideas to clients
20:38 Co-creating account growth targets
22:55 Charging for account management services
24:36 How many accounts can one AM manage effectively?
28:15 Creating a culture that celebrates account growth
Jenny Plant is the founder of Account Management Skills a training company helping agency account managers retain client relationships and grow accounts.
Jenny has over 25 years in agency account management and has also worked client-side in marketing for an international airline and pharmaceutical company.
Her account management training programmes blend proven client growth methodologies with the integration of AI tools, helping agencies stay relevant, efficient, and proactive.
She also hosts the Creative Agency Account Manager Podcast, where she shares insights and interviews to elevate the agency-client relationship management standards across the industry.
Ep 122 – Arielle Cohen, Business 411 – Building Scalable Systems for a Multi-Seven Figure Agency
Ep 122 – Arielle Cohen, Business 411 – Building Scalable Systems for a Multi-Seven Figure Agency
In episode 122, I sit down with Ariel Cohn, founder of Marketing 411 and CMO of Business 401, to talk about how she scaled a multi–seven figure agency by going all-in on the roofing niche. Ariel shares why niching transformed their operations, how they built scalable systems and sister companies to serve the industry, and why embracing AI and virtual teams has been key to their growth. We also dive into the mindset shifts required to build an agency that supports your lifestyle — instead of running you into the ground.
Key Bytes
• Niching down creates clarity, repeatable systems, and faster scaling opportunities
• A sister company approach can build trust and open new revenue streams
• Retainer-based models help stabilize cash flow and increase profitability
• Virtual teams and offshore talent can boost efficiency without sacrificing quality
• Embracing AI is no longer optional — it’s essential for agency survival and growth
Chapters
00:01 Intro and Ariel’s background in roofing marketing
01:12 From generalist to roofing specialist: why niching was key
04:44 Myths about niching and lessons from going all-in
07:32 Defining the ideal client profile and setting minimums
09:00 Early challenges and focusing on revenue first
12:34 Building two complementary companies for growth
16:22 Leveraging virtual teams, overseas talent, and AI for scale
19:07 Retainer models vs. one-off projects for stable growth
20:29 Staying hungry and setting bigger goals
23:18 Embracing AI and adapting to industry change
25:10 Rapid fire: worst advice, daily habits, and explaining her job to a 5-year-old
Arielle Cohen is the Co-Founder of Marketing 411 and CMO of Business 411. With over a decade of experience in marketing, she has mastered the art of growing a Multi 7 Figure Agency through building a scalable and efficient operation. As the company grows, her focus has shifted to optimizing her time and building a dream company that supports her vision and lifestyle—without letting the business take over.
Social: @arielleCEO
Ep 121 – Shawn Johnston, Forge & Smith – Profitable by Design: Streamlining Dev Without Cutting Corners
Ep 121 – Shawn Johnston, Forge and Smith – Profitable by Design: Streamlining Dev Without Cutting Corners
In episode 121, I sit down with Shawn Johnston, founder of Forge and Smith and creator of Refoundry—a low-code WordPress platform that’s transforming how agencies build and deliver websites. We talk about how Shawn cut delivery time by 70%, turned profit margins around using the Profit First method, and transitioned his agency toward a scalable, productized model. He shares insights on navigating developer pushback, balancing client empowerment with agency control, and preparing for evolving tech shifts like AI in web development. Whether you’re struggling with project bottlenecks, shrinking budgets, or scaling challenges, Shawn’s story offers a clear path forward for building smarter, more profitable systems.
Key Bytes• Refoundry cut Forge and Smith’s development time by 70%, transforming profitability.
• Adopting Profit First changed their approach to pricing and overhead limits.
• Client empowerment through low-code builds loyalty and drives referrals.
• Transitioning leadership allowed Shawn’s team to grow into bigger roles.
• Technological shifts (like Webflow and AI) demand constant agency adaptation.
• Productizing an internal tool opened new revenue streams beyond services.
• Balancing developer pride with client needs is critical for successful adoption.
• Early lessons in print taught Shawn to anticipate and embrace industry change.
Chapters00:01 Introduction to Shawn Johnston and Forge and Smith
02:11 Moving from freelance to full agency and early challenges
04:39 Implementing Profit First and shifting to scalable systems
06:38 Why Refoundry: Bringing low-code to WordPress
08:22 Cutting development time and improving project profitability
11:23 Developer pushback and prioritizing client empowerment
14:44 Evolving Refoundry into a product for other agencies
17:03 Transitioning leadership and building team collaboration
24:17 Preparing for tech shifts like AI and staying nimble in delivery
28:30 Rapid fire questions and final reflections
Shawn Johnston is the founder of Forge and Smith, a digital agency that’s launched over 500 websites in the past 13 years. After hitting the usual delivery bottlenecks and burnout cycles, he built Refoundry—a low-code platform for WordPress that helped his team cut build times by 70% and scale without sacrificing quality. Now he’s on a mission to help other agencies streamline delivery, boost margins, and build systems that actually work.
Contact Shawn:
Ep 120 – Greg Bellinger, White Rabbit – What Happens When You Niche Hard and Go All In
In episode 120, I sit down with Greg Bellinger, co-founder and CEO of White Rabbit, a web and mobile development agency with nearly 100 in-house employees spread across Colombia, India, and the U.S. Greg shares his journey from frontend developer to visionary CEO and breaks down how White Rabbit scaled by staying focused on one niche—supporting other agencies.
We explore why White Rabbit only hires full-time employees, how niching into agency delivery gave them a competitive edge, and the strategic thinking behind launching their own internal project financial software. Greg also talks about his passion for creation, not just in code but in culture, leadership, and future products. This one’s full of takeaways for agency owners looking to scale with purpose.
Key Bytes
• Greg shares why they only hire full-time employees and the cultural benefits that come with it
• He explains how niching into working with agencies helped them scale more efficiently
• Greg reflects on stepping away from product management and letting his leadership team shine
• He talks about the challenges of managing across three countries and how they keep their culture unified
• Greg reveals details about their custom-built project management and financial tool
• He offers insight into people management, tough conversations, and protecting your energy
• He shares his personal philosophy of “create,” from coding to building culture
• Greg discusses what entrepreneurship means to him and how it’s been part of his DNA from the start
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and guest intro
01:00 The origin of White Rabbit and its full-time hiring philosophy
02:30 Transitioning out of coding and project management
06:00 Working exclusively with agencies vs. going direct
07:15 Niching and its impact on growth and clarity
10:00 Scaling globally: why Colombia, India, and the U.S.
12:00 Uniting culture across three countries
14:00 Vision for the future: stepping back, launching products
16:30 Building internal software for project and financial management
19:00 Lessons in people management and entrepreneurship
25:00 Rapid fire: guilty pleasures, two-word advice, and dream hire
Greg Bellinger is the Co-Founder and CEO of White Rabbit Group, a web and mobile development agency with a fully in-house team of nearly 100 employees across three countries. His passion for technology began in childhood, leading him to hand-code his first websites in 2008. In 2016, he co-founded White Rabbit Group, building it into a trusted development partner for world-class agencies and creatives. Under his leadership, the company has earned a reputation for delivering high-quality digital solutions while fostering a close culture of technical experts.
Contact Greg:
Ep 119 – Jessica Malnik – Building Your B2B Content Moat
In episode 119, I sit down with Jessica Malnik, a B2B messaging strategist who’s helped over 75 founders and lean marketing teams craft content that actually gets read—and drives results. We talk about the risks of over-commoditized content in the age of AI and why a flood of “cheap” output isn’t a strategy. Jessica walks me through her signature framework, the Marketing MOAT, which focuses on Messaging, Distribution, and Content Efficiency.
She also shares practical, low-lift ways agencies can build content machines, maximize existing assets, and stay consistent without burning out. We even talk about content imposter syndrome, the curse of knowledge, and why you don’t have to be totally unique—you just need to show up as yourself.
If you’ve ever struggled with creating content that converts (and keeps converting), this episode is packed with clarity, systems, and smart takes that’ll help you raise your signal-to-noise ratio.
Key Bytes
• Messaging without a unique perspective leads to content that gets ignored
• AI-only content creation can dilute your brand and commoditize your services
• Her “Marketing MOAT” framework focuses on messaging, distribution, and content efficiency
• Distribution must be built into strategy from the beginning, not as an afterthought
• Agencies should reuse and repurpose evergreen content instead of always creating new
• Consistency (3x/week on LinkedIn) matters more than frequency spikes
• Authenticity in content doesn’t mean oversharing—it means resonance
• Set goals based on team size, budget, and business stage, then reverse engineer your strategy
Chapters
00:01 Welcome and intro to Jessica Malnik
01:46 Common agency messaging mistakes
03:26 Why AI-only content is risky for agencies
05:14 Jessica’s Marketing MOAT framework explained
07:21 How to develop “spiky” messaging and content positioning
10:34 Distribution strategy: where your audience actually is
14:04 Own your content—don’t rely only on social algorithms
15:09 Content efficiency and repurposing systems
19:00 Best practices for publishing frequency
21:16 Balancing personal and professional content
22:28 Reverse engineering content strategy based on goals
23:41 Rapid Fire Q&A with Jessica
Jessica Malnik has helped over 75 B2B founders and lean marketing teams fix their positioning and craft messaging people actually read and respond to.
I’ve spoken at half a dozen in-person conferences in the U.S., Australia, and Thailand, as well as dozens of virtual webinars, workshops, and podcast guest appearances.
I’ve also been featured in WSJ, The Next Web, MicroConf, Wynter, SXSW, and MSN UK, among many others.
Contact Jessica:
Ep 118 – Jamie Brindle – From Freelancer to Entrelancer: Building a Business That Scales
Ep 118 – Jamie Brindle – From Freelancer to Entrelancer: Building a Business That Scales
In episode 118, I’m joined by Jamie Brindle—a freelancer, strategist, and creator who’s built a half-million-strong audience around helping creative solopreneurs build sustainable, scalable freelance businesses. In this conversation, Jamie breaks down what it means to be an “Entrelancer”—a hybrid of entrepreneur and freelancer—and why the traditional view of freelancing is overdue for a reboot.
We talk about why having an audience builds instant trust, how freelancers can evolve into business owners without employees, and the myths around websites and portfolios that keep too many creatives stuck in planning mode instead of taking action. Jamie also shares a powerful framework for moving strangers into long-term client relationships—and why every freelancer should be thinking like a strategist, not just a task-taker.
Whether you’re freelancing, running an agency, or somewhere in between, this one’s packed with fresh thinking.
Key Bytes
• Jamie shares the origin of the term “Entrelancer”—and how it reflects a more modern, business-minded freelancer.
• He explains how their TikTok content (originally not for clients) unexpectedly opened doors to Fortune 100 opportunities.
• We dig into the importance of digital products, productized services, and building systems to support time freedom.
• Jamie outlines the four stages of the customer journey: Stranger → Lead → Client → Client for Life.
• He gives a masterclass in how to manufacture delight, over-deliver, and secure repeat work.
• We challenge the sacred cows of freelancer websites and portfolios—and why Jamie believes they’re massive time-wasters.
• Sales anxiety? Jamie offers a grounded, simple mindset shift that removes pressure and focuses on being helpful.
• He explains how positioning yourself as a solution—not a task-taker—is the unlock to charging more and building authority.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Intro to Jamie Brindle
01:00 The accidental power of TikTok and building trust
04:30 Redefining success as a freelancer
07:00 “Entrelancer” vs. freelancer: What’s the difference?
11:40 Scaling without employees: Productized and digital offers
13:00 Pivoting from video work to social media consulting
15:25 Lessons from shifting services and getting back in the field
19:30 Jamie’s four stages of the customer journey
24:00 Reframing sales: It’s just solving a problem
28:00 Positioning yourself as a strategic partner
34:00 Why portfolios and websites are the biggest time wasters
37:00 Final thoughts and closing
Jamie Brindle is a freelancer who gives advice to over half a million other creatives on social media about building a scalable and sustainable freelance business.
Contact Jamie:
@thejamiebrindle on all socials
Ep 117 – Wanda Allen, Follow Up Sales – Overcoming the Fear of Follow-Up
In episode 117, I sit down with Wanda Allen, international speaker, coach, and author of Follow Up Sales Strategies. With 25 years in the corporate world and a background in business banking, Wanda developed a systemized approach to sales follow-up that now helps business owners and sales professionals increase their close rates.
We dive into the psychology behind why so many people avoid follow-up, the fears that hold them back (hint: it’s not really about time), and how a simple shift in mindset and process can transform your sales pipeline. Wanda shares data-backed insights, actionable tips for improving follow-up cadence, and even debunks myths about being “pushy.” Whether you’re in active outreach or avoiding the phone like the plague, this episode will motivate you to reframe your follow-up game—and pick up the phone with purpose.
We also talk about her book-writing journey, the importance of believing in the value you bring, and a bucket-list dream that has her heading south of the border.
Key Bytes:
• 98% of sales don’t happen on the first contact—follow-up is essential.
• Fear of being “pushy” and fear of rejection are the top two mindset blocks around follow-up.
• 80% of sales happen between the 5th and 12th contact—most people quit after 2.
• Follow-up is a form of service, not pressure—it shows interest and professionalism.
• The phone is the most efficient tool in sales, yet it’s the most underused.
• You can’t build trust without consistent, committed follow-up.
• Stop assuming silence means disinterest—prospects are often just busy.
• Confidence in your pricing comes from believing in your value.
Chapters
00:01 – Introducing Wanda Allen and the importance of follow-up
01:04 – From corporate banking to follow-up systems expert
03:35 – Writing two books and why her first was retired
06:07 – The real reason people don’t follow up: mindset and fear
07:59 – How to prioritize follow-up and overcome procrastination
11:00 – Why consistent follow-up beats your competition
14:12 – Action over anxiety: staying out of your head during follow-up
16:18 – The forgotten power of the phone in today’s sales world
Wanda Allen is an international speaker, coach and corporate trainer. She's also the author of Follow Up Savvy and Follow Up Sales Strategies. Wanda had a 25 year corporate career where she held the position of Senior Vice President for 15 years. She has a strong skill set for developing systems and applied this skill to the follow up process. She's an expert in helping entrepreneurs, business owners and sales professionals increase pipelines, improve sales performance and strengthen relationships by developing strong follow up skills.
Contact Wanda:
https://www.followupsalesstrategies.com/
Ep 116 – Clara Stedman and Ben Engvall, Palmer Advisors – The Dynamics of Agency M&A
In episode 116, I sit down with Clara Stedman and Ben Engvall, founding partners of Palmer Advisors, a boutique M&A firm focused on marketing, media, and tech agencies in the lower to middle market. Clara and Ben break down what agency owners need to understand about selling their business, navigating deal structures, and preparing for acquisition—even if an exit isn’t on the immediate horizon.
We talk about why Palmer was founded, the major shifts in deal terms over the last few years, and why so many agency founders are choosing to stay on post-acquisition. They also share candid insights into common red flags that signal an agency isn’t ready to sell—and what to do about it. We dive into how niching (especially by industry) impacts valuation, what kinds of agencies are in high demand, and how AI and proprietary tools may influence future multiples.
Whether you’re dreaming of an exit, fielding buyer interest, or just want to understand how your agency is valued, this episode pulls back the curtain on the M&A process and what today’s buyers really want.
Key Bytes
• Palmer Advisors focuses on M&A for service-based businesses.
• The agency market is evolving with new deal structures.
• Cultural fit is crucial in agency acquisitions.
• Founders should not exit at their peak performance.
• Timing is key when going to market for an exit.
• Having a strong leadership team is essential for agency sales.
• Niche agencies are more attractive to buyers.
• Understanding EBITDA is vital for agency owners.
• Deal structures can be creative and flexible.
• The future of M&A looks promising with technology advancements.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Agency Bites
01:47 The Formation of Palmer Advisors
03:35 Reflections on the First Year
05:32 Understanding Agency M&A Dynamics
09:23 Identifying Readiness for Exit
13:28 The Importance of Owner Involvement
16:02 The Value of Niching in M&A
19:09 Demystifying M&A Terminology
23:19 Future Trends in M&A
25:11 The Role of IP and Technology in Valuation
28:34 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts
Clara Stedman and Ben Engvall are the founding partners of Palmer Advisors, a boutique M&A advisory firm built specifically for founders of service-based businesses. With a focus on marketing, media, and tech agencies in the lower to middle market (typically $1–10M in EBITDA), Clara and Ben bring a modern, founder-first approach to buying, selling, and valuing businesses. They’ve quickly built a reputation for their strategic deal-making, brutally honest readiness assessments, and commitment to crafting win-win outcomes that align both financial and cultural goals. Clara leads as CEO, bringing a background in corporate retail and fitness, while Ben heads up M&A with a traditional finance foundation. Together, they’re reshaping what agency exits can—and should—look like.
Contact Palmer Advisors:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clara-stedman-palmer-advisors/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-engvall-palmer-advisors/