On the series finale of THRIVE, Fereshta Ramsey talks with Kelly about their forthcoming book, HEAL to LEAD, and how our emotional history impacts the way we show up as leaders. Fereshta Ramsey and I cover these points and more: Reflecting on the end of the podcast and creating space for future opportunities; The need for willingness and courage in…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Kyle Prinsloo of FreelanceFam discuss the challenges of growing a business as a freelancer and how a community can make all the difference. Kyle Prinsloo and I cover these points and more: Our initial journeys into freelancing and how it worked for us; The importance of connecting wi…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Alyson Caffrey discuss the critical nature of rest and time off for strategic agency growth. Alyson Caffrey and I cover these points and more: Recognizing the signs of burnout in agency owners; Implementing breaks to set boundaries and prioritize self-care; The importance of intentio…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Claire Hutchings discuss an innovative way to market your agency in 2024. Claire Hutchings and I cover these points and more: What agencies get wrong when they think about their own marketing; How to avoid the spikes and drops in content by having a strategic plan; Creating a “hero m…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Ben Guttmann discuss how we may be making our messaging unnecessarily complicated for our audience and how to address that. Ben Guttmann and I cover these points and more: How we experience fluency in messaging as consumers; The difference between complicated and complex; Five design…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Josh Irons discuss the power of story to differentiate your agency from its competitors. Josh Irons and I cover these points and more: How to extract differentiating factors for clients; The importance of focusing on your strengths as an agency leader; How outsourcing and partnership…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Nate Freedman discuss collaborating with your so-called competition to increase referrals, business growth, and relationships. Nate Freedman and I cover these points and more: Why we should lean into collaborating with competitors; The power of connecting with competitors to refer bu…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Adrian Koehler discuss the roles that self-leadership and healing play in helping agency owners become better leaders. Adrian Koehler and I cover these points and more: Why taking responsibility is important in self-leadership; How ego plays into our survival, and how we can overcome…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Nikki Rausch discuss how the art of selling is fundamentally about developing mutually beneficial relationships. Nikki Rausch and I cover these points and more: How sales is a collaborative conversation with another person; What NLP is and how it’s used in business development; A ste…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Dante Pannell discuss what it means to prioritize a healthy, disciplined mindset so you can show up as an authentic leader. Dante Pannell and I cover these points and more: How discipline can be a gateway to freedom; Understanding the through-line between your values and how you oper…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Kat Kennan unpack the importance of trauma-informed marketing and discuss practical ways to start thinking differently about your clients’ creative campaigns. Kat Kennan and I cover these points and more: What is trauma-informed marketing, and why is it important?; Clear examples of …

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Kristy Yoder discuss how leaders can delegate tasks effectively by empowering new or existing team members and setting them up for success. Kristy Yoder and I cover these points and more: Why agency leaders talk themselves out of delegation; How to start delegating if you’re unfamili…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Jeffrey Shaw discuss how personal development strategies help us to increase our capacity to grow our creative agencies. Jeffrey Shaw and I cover these points and more: How personal development work increases our capacity; The difference between following your passions versus doing w…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Jarrett Thomas discuss the level of intention and authenticity needed to create reciprocal business relationships. Jarrett Thomas and I cover these points and more: Why outdated sales tactics and methods no longer work; Creating connections with people to generate more revenue; The b…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Marquis discuss how agencies can build culture through efficiency instead of feeling like they are at odds with one another. Marquis Murray and I cover these points and more: What we miss out on by thinking of culture and efficiency as competing options; How to notice moving back tow…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Martin Palethorpe discuss how agency leaders can go deeper on their journey toward more conscious leadership. Martin Palethorpe and I cover these points and more: What “conscious leadership” means, and how it influences many aspects of our lives; How agency leaders can practice consc…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Lola Bakare discuss what is actually at the core of responsible marketing for agency leaders today. Lola Bakare and I cover these points and more: Creating a positive ripple effect with responsible marketing that lives on past the event; Realizing the opportunity we have as marketers…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Brad Williams of North Node Consulting explore how astrology can play a role in helping leaders ground into their innate gifts and better harness the wisdom of their teams. Brad Williams and I cover these points and more: How astrology makes sense of the order and chaos in our lives;…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Lisa Bragg discuss how being even more authentic leads to magnetizing the right connections and attracting ideal clients. Lisa and I cover these points and more: Realizing that there are multiple ways to grow an agency authentically; The importance of self-advocacy when talking to yo…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Chris Bantock discuss extracting agency owners from their firms to create more space for leader independence. Chris Bantock and I cover these points and more: Why people fall into the trap of being in the day-to-day of running an agency; How to transition from founder to agency owner…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Gretchen Pisano of pLink, discuss the complex journey of leadership and how agency leaders can accelerate positive change among their teams. Gretchen Pisano and I cover these points and more: Why leaders, as high achievers, tend to get in their own way; How to create positive change …

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Corey Quinn discuss how saying no to non-ideal prospects is a business development strategy that allows you to scale your agency responsibly. Corey Quinn and I cover these points and more: How agencies can better serve their clients when they specialize; What to do when current clien…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Nicole Lewis-Keeber discuss how past big “T” and small “t” trauma impacts how we lead our agencies. Free Masterclass - How Hidden Trauma Can Affect Your Business, Profits and Your Peace of Mind. Nicole Lewis-Keeber and I cover these points and more: Why leaders’ reactionary behavior …

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Melissa Morris discuss the operational issues that can lead to overwhelm for agency owners and how they can be addressed. Melissa Morris and I cover these points and more: How burnout in business can impact your clients, team, and the growth of your agency; The bottleneck that happen…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Rhoan Morgan discuss fear around economic downturn, the nuances of business development, and why transparency in agency revenue makes a big difference. Rhoan Morgan and I cover these points and more: How to show up in a sales conversation with integrity; The importance in being comfo…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by E2M Solutions— Kelly and Khushbu Doshi discuss how creative, media and tech agencies can improve client retention with an aligned account services team. Khushbu Doshi and I cover these points and more: The importance of account managers and project managers working side by side; How empathy can actually impr…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Khalil Stultz discuss the process of selling or acquiring an agency, and how to communicate to your team. Khalil Stultz and I cover these points and more: Focusing on growth through strategic partnerships to catapult business growth; The things acquirers look for when vetting an agency …

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Caleb Clark of Hook and Ladder dive into the pragmatism of a people-first approach to agency leadership. Caleb Clark and I cover these points and more: The power of creating collaboration within your team and the teams you work with; How core values can have an impact on the team, when …

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Jason Debiak of Paper Tiger discuss the journey of becoming the Chief Creative Officer at your agency, as well as the self-awareness you can develop and impact you can make as a leader. Jason Debiak and I cover these points and more: His career evolution as co-founder and lead designer …

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Marko Pavicic of Unity Method discuss how agency growth can be linked directly to neuroscience. Marko Pavicic and I cover these points and more: Why many agency owners believe that the market isn’t big enough for them; Translating energetic magnetism into business growth; What happens o…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Erik Kockum, co-founder of SNASK discuss what’s required for true creativity within agencies, and how your values and culture directly influence creative output. Erik and I cover these points and more: The two inherent components of creativity that guide agency growth; How empathy and v…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Nate Shalev discuss the importance of understanding the identities of your employees as part of an inclusive agency culture. Nate and I cover these points and more: The importance of matching your values and mission with your actions as a leader; How pronouns can be used to affirm someo…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Flory Wilson discuss how agencies can ensure that they are providing truly equitable benefits for reproductive health for all of their employees. Flory Wilson and I cover these points and more: How companies can support their employees around reproductive health care; Data that supports…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Stephan discuss how deliberate practice is the secret to sustained behavioral change and how that drives agency growth. Stephan and I cover these points and more: Our perception, or understanding, of our people as agency leaders; Questions we can ask ourselves in order to be better lead…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Amanda discuss how agencies can be changemakers for inclusivity in the world. Amanda and I cover these points and more: Dispelling the myth that accessibility is a niche market; The three things agencies can do to be more accessible; Solutions available for agencies to create more acces…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Tony Cope of Myriad discuss creativity as a force for good, and how surviving traumatic events in life have impacted his agency’s work. Tony and I cover these points and more: How Tony’s active shooter event experiences altered his work in the world; Why the projects we do at our agenci…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Julia McLaughlin discuss the positive impact that review management services can create for digital agencies. Julia McLaughlin and I cover these points and more: The difference between running an agency and founding a SaaS platform; The direct result your clients can see when they get p…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Arthur Woods discuss best practices in hiring for diversity, starting with the goal-setting measures and the strategy that ensures successful outcomes. Arthur and I cover these points and more: Where to start if your goal is to hire more diverse humans; Why organizations need a DEI stra…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly is joined by Dan Englander to discuss leveraging human connection in your outbound sales strategy in order to create trust. Dan and I cover these points and more: The two different mindsets to sales and why it’s important to distinguish between them; How to merge both old and new mindsets i…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Shawne Mitchell talk about how to surrender as a leader, as well as how accessing states of transcendence can be a gamechanger for your leadership style. Shawne and I cover these points and more: The new model of transcendental leadership and how it works; The role that connection to na…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Trenton Moss talk about how to cultivate more meaningful interactions between the people within your agency. Trenton Moss and I cover these points and more: How Trenton nearly went bankrupt in business, and how he emerged stronger; The value in how you make people feel, and how that ben…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Galen Low talk about what agency leaders can learn about servant leadership from their digital project managers. Galen Low and I cover these points and more: Defining servant leadership within an agency setting; Why most agency leaders fail to see their DPMs as leaders; Some of the perc…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Rhodes Perry discuss how each agency leader can transform their culture into one of belonging and inclusion over time. Rhodes Perry and I cover these points and more: How Rhodes felt the challenges he faced in the beginning of his career led to his work; Why self-actualization is so pow…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and LaTonya Wilkins discuss how to lead by building psychologically safe relationships within your agency. LaTonya Wilkins and I cover these points and more: The dominant leadership standards in traditional workplace environments; Toxic and Surface leaders, and how each exhibit and perform;…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Massimo Backus discuss emotional awareness in order to mindfully ride the waves of high-highs and low-lows in agency leadership. Massimo Backus and I cover these points and more: What self-compassion looks like in business management and leadership; The most common reason why people fal…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Dorie Clark discuss the power in saying no to things that don’t make sense for you, and how to strategically position yourself as a long game thinker for the benefit of your agency. Dorie Clark and I cover these points and more: How saying yes to everything means being average at everyt…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Melanie Chandruang discuss both the connection and distinction between the people within our agency and our operational strategy. Melanie Chandruang and I cover these points and more: Why agencies struggle to understand and fully grasp what “operations” means; The top operational challe…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Michael Anthony discuss how it is both imperative and paradoxical to unravel past coping mechanisms in order to be good leaders. Michael and I cover these points and more: How trauma is the theft of identity, not the experiences we have; How Michael discovered agency through a look in t…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Manish Dudharejia discuss the continuous need for additional agency resources and the benefits of a white label partnership solution. Manish and I cover these points and more: The skepticism agencies often have around outsourcing; The benefits of working with a white label team you trus…

On this episode of THRIVE — sponsored by accessiBe — Kelly and Rachel Roberts Mattox discuss how an agency leader’s self-development work can significantly change culture and business trajectory. Rachel and I cover these points and more: How some of us hide behind long work hours as a means of distraction from ourselves; The veneer of hustle and ac…