My clients’ companies are creative services of all stripes - branding, advertising, interior design, architecture - but as a leadership advisor and strategist, I don’t get into the weeds of project work, so what I do is fairly discipline-agnostic! This work is also easily applicable to creative-adjacent companies such as PR, marketing, and events.

My clients tend to be founders and business owners who are masters of their craft (creative directors, interior designers, architects, etc.) but lack operator expertise and/or experience. For example, senior-level creatives who have climbed the corporate ladder at previous companies and leave to start their own businesses, without realizing building and running a company is an entirely different muscle.

In my experience, it’s less about the quantifiable agency metrics (headcount, revenue, years in business, etc.), and more about the operational setup and leadership’s mindset and openness to change.

For example, a studio of 30 people that is really 5 senior + 25 junior/mid-level employees could have the same pain points as a studio of 10 people made up of 8 seniors + 2 junior/mid-level.

Or, a $1MM agency of 15 people with a founder who is very hands-on vs. the same size agency with a founder who wants to be very hands-off will have entirely different challenges and strategies.

Not necessarily! Oftentimes an outside perspective is still needed to help reframe and refocus your team.

Additionally, the experts of their respective silos (CFO, CMO, etc.) are not always able to see the forest for the trees, and to support founders with holistic, strategic advice. As an informed outsider and objective insider, I can be the neutral, cross-functional voice of reason who can connect the dots clearly and impartially.

Yes and no! Technically speaking, I am not a certified coach. But functionally speaking, coaching is a large part of how I advise and guide clients.

No, but what I can help you with is translate and define the clearest possible brief for what your business needs so that you can find the best person for this role.