Creative leaders who miss being creative.
(Who I work with)
Services-Focused.
Discipline-Agnostic.
I work with founders and senior leaders of boutique agencies and design studios across the creative services spectrum. There’s no fixed criteria that defines who I partner with, but here are a few ways to gauge if we might work well together.
ON PAPER
If your organization looks a little like this:
Small enough to be nimble, large enough to need structure Headcount is not important, but you’re likely to have 5 or so employees; 10-15 people is often where the growing pains start
3-5 years in business: You might have decades of working experience, but as a founder, owner, and key stakeholder, this side of leadership is still new to you
10+ years in business: You’ve already had the business for awhile, but are at a key inflection point or critical crossroads
Revenue in the high 6-figures: Exact figures don’t matter, but chances are you have a good working financial foundation and some degree of pipeline momentum.
IN YOUR HEAD
If your inner monologue sounds a little like this:
Decision Fatigue ➡️ Stagnation Overwhelmed by the day-to-day, underwhelmed by the intel you have available
Operational Misalignment You’ve outgrown an old way of working, the business got away from you, you’re disconnected from the work and the team
Articulation Frustration You know what you want but you can’t quite put it into words; your team isn’t picking up what you’re putting down
Siloed & Solitary Leadership is lonely. You wish you had an objective sounding board, thought partner, and trusted confidante to who has your best interests at heart.
In Good Company
(Some folks I’ve worked with)
“Working with Lynn was such a gift. She is deeply thoughtful, highly detailed, and approaches every challenge with calm practicality. She was the experienced, grounded voice I truly needed during some of my most challenging moments.”
— Roanne Adams, Founder & Chief Creative Director, RoAndCo
CASE STUDY
Audit before Action
To hire or not to hire: advising the C-Suite on a critical hiring conundrum.
THE SCENARIO
Faced with an impending CMO departure, the C-Suite was unclear about how or who to fill the role, if at all. With a rapidly evolving growth strategy and shifting business goalposts, it felt risky to jump headfirst into investing for an unknown need. The leadership team needed a hiring strategy, an objective analysis of the staffing need, scope, and implications, and answers to the questions, “Could we get by with a less senior role?” • “Do we need new roles to build out the team?”
THE WORK
Facilitated a series of Strategic Workshops to identify short-term needs vs. long-term goals, what "marketing" meant to them and why; Produced Audit & Recommendations: findings, scenario planning, and implementation strategy.
THE IMPACT
Clarity & Conviction The process clarified + validated concerns they were unable to articulate, helping to reframe their marketing needs and priorities.
New Role Budget was ultimately reallocated to create an entirely new role which had immediate positive impact on their bottom line.
CASE STUDY
Storytelling into Strategy
Shaping and defining new services and best practices for a growing multidisciplinary design studio.
THE SCENARIO
After years of "making it work," an award-winning interior designer/architect needed to better define their strategy capabilities, bolster the studio's branding department, and have a toolkit with which to better onboard and empower the team. I was brought in to define the following: “What does "strategy" means for our studio and clients, our purpose and process?” • “How can we standardize brand design scopes, fees, and deliverables?” • “How do we better codify all adjacent services to alleviate our Founder’s time?”
THE WORK
Created a comprehensive playbook outlining context + content for:
New Services (research, experience + brand strategy, brand design)
Glossary of Terms to redefine and align process + nomenclature
In-depth Scoping Matrix to inform business development.
THE IMPACT
Alignment: With the team now on the same page, collaboration is strengthened with consistency
Clarity → Efficiency: The team feels better informed and equipped to speak to the work, scope accurately, and deliver more effectively.
CASE STUDY
Cross-Functional Co-Pilot
Helping a creative founder navigate from status quo success to future-forward evolution.
THE SCENARIO
A renowned branding firm was at a crossroads, with a longtime solo founder reconciling the grueling demands of the ever-changing design industry and a deeply personal need for a shift. What started as a more tactical need—plugging in as a Fractional COO to bring stability and business rigor to the studio—became a trusted partnership supporting the Founder through a significant business model overhaul + restructure.
THE WORK
As a trusted sounding board and bridge between the Founder and the team, I supported the Founder through several transitions via:
Leadership Advisory
Agency Restructure: org design, scenario planning + strategy
Strategic Planning: financial analysis, quarterly roadmaps
People Ops: comp analysis, hiring strategy, performance & terminations
THE IMPACT
Working alongside the Founder and orchestrating all change management—from org design and financial analysis through business development and people ops—I shepherded them through to the other side where they found deeper alignment, purpose, and renewed energy in this next iteration of the business.
