Own It

Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. 

Today, we’re talking to Jaime Ekman of the Stoltz Marketing Group. That agency was started by Ken Stoltz, Jaime’s father. So her path to ownership is a bit different than many agency owners.

But it’s even more complicated than just growing up in the agency world. Mr. Stoltz was diagnosed with brain cancer and Jaime came to the business from working elsewhere out of necessity to help manage the business. I think we can all imagine the difficulty of that transition, but after about six months into her taking over a leadership role, her father passed.

Jaime talks about taking over a team that wasn’t her own, building one that shared her vision and the success she is now experiencing after a five-year journey to reset the agency both differently from, and in honor of, her father. 

There are so many incredible lessons in this episode. Jaime is a true leader and inspiration. This is certainly an emotional conversation, but I feel so blessed to have had it. I know you will share in that once you listen.

Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Jaime's LinkedIn profile and the agency website for the Stoltz Marketing Group in our show notes at untilyouownit.com.

If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. 

Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.

Subscribe, rate and review wherever you found this podcast. For more, visit untilyouownit.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. 

I’m Christy Hiler, owner of Cornett and today, we’re talking to Kate Wight of KW Content and Strong Brand Social. Katie’s journey to ownership is as unique as they come. She landed her first job because she was an avid snowboarder and spoke French. She evolved through being a French language rider representative and landed on the marketing team at Burton Snowboards.

She started KW Content and eventually Strong Brand Social to help brands build better content for the ever-growing need for social media. Her firm is just over five years old and growing at a healthy pace. 

And listen close for her unique perspective to both work and self-care … Kate actually prefers to work from Europe, though most of her team is in the U.S. Listen for that insight. It’s quite interesting. 

Kate’s perspective on the industry and how we can make a difference in closing the gender gap in agency ownership are well worth hearing. I’m glad you’re here to listen.

Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. Find links to Kate Wight on LinkedIn and Strong Brand Social in our show notes at untilyouownit.com.

If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. 

Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.

Subscribe, rate and review wherever you found this podcast. For more, visit untilyouownit.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. 

Today, we’re talking to Caitlin Masingill of Full Swing Public Relations. She hails from Boise, Idaho, and wanted to be a broadway actress before she found the wonderful world of agency life. 

Now, her agency journey and insights about ownership and the main topic we discuss here of closing the gender gap in agency ownership is well worth hearing. But Caitlin’s path to being ready to own it is both incredible and inspirational. 

In 2012, she became the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Missoula, Montana city council after being frustrated with “no” votes for an anti-discrimination ordinance. That “first” status led to a role in a large public affairs firm. 

You just have to hear her tell the story. She is so brilliant and inspiring. I loved this conversation so much. I know you will, too.

Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Caitlin's LinkedIn profile and agency’s website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com.

If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. 

Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.

Subscribe, rate and review wherever you found this podcast. For more, visit untilyouownit.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. 

Today, we’re talking to Ashley Walters of Curiosity. She is another owner of a recent Ad Age Small Agency of the Year winner. Curiosity does such great work so I’m very excited to talk to her today.

Ashley and I talk about her journey to ownership, her path through the advertising industry. She was fortunate in her path to work for many great women in leadership positions, which we have discussed as being fundamental in inspiring future leaders. 

One interesting story Ashley tells today is her diversion through sales, where at first she wanted little to do with it, but it ultimately led to her owning Curiosity.

It’s so much fun being on this side of the mic learning from amazing women. This episode is certainly a highlight for me.

Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Ashley Walters of Curiosity. You can find links to her LinkedIn profile and Curiosity’s website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com.

If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. 

Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.

Subscribe, rate and review wherever you found this podcast. For more, visit untilyouownit.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. 

Today, we’re talking to Haley Hunter of Party Land. Her firm was named the Small Agency of the Year in 2021 by Ad Age and all of us at Cornett love their work. 

When Haley was in high school she was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up and her answer was to make ads. She started at a small agency, but shortly after left the business. But the agency life came calling again. 

Haley has handled a number of roles and responsibilities at places like Bartle Bogle Hegarty and Fallon. That diversity of experiences helped her see how to run the operations of a business, so she was ready when the opportunity to launch Party Land came to be.

I get energized talking to people with so much knowledge and passion for our business. You will too.

Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links Haley Hunter's LinkedIn profile and the Party Land website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com.

If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. 

Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.

Subscribe, rate and review wherever you found this podcast. For more, visit untilyouownit.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. 

Today, we’re talking to Elena Rivera-Cheek of Copy & Art. She came up through the copy side of that equation in the healthcare space thanks to a childhood expectation to become a doctor. But she followed the calling to Own It 11 years ago, and has built an outstanding agency. 

Like many women agency owners, Elena’s experience with motherhood influenced her decision to plant her own flag rather than work for someone else. 

Another thing I love about Elena is that she spends a lot of time exposing the advertising business to schools and students to ensure the industry reaches young people, particularly in underserved populations. 

So inspiring and such a delight to talk to.

Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Elena's LinkedIn profile and Copy & Art’s website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com.

If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. 

Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.

Subscribe, rate and review wherever you found this podcast. For more, visit untilyouownit.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. 

Today, we’re talking to Zihla Salinas of Conspiracy Theory. She is a self-proclaimed loud and disruptive personality who lets her full self shine. I love that so much and we talk about what that means.

Zihla started Conspiracy Theory just a little over a year ago. It is a minority-owned and woman-led independent agency network. While that’s a little different perspective than what we normally hear on Own it, as you can imagine, we have a lot in common to talk about.

Zihla spent many years in leadership at a number of great agencies until following her own path to ownership. Her approach to life and work is so inspiring and she shares wisdom we can all learn from.  

Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Zihla Salinas's LinkedIn profile and the Conspiracy Theory website in our show notes at untilyouownit.com.

If you’re enjoying Own It, please find it on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. 

Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.

Subscribe, rate and review wherever you found this podcast. For more, visit untilyouownit.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. 

Today, we’re talking to Laura Janness of Orchard. She is one of the agency owners that everyone I’ve talked to has said, “You need to have Laura on your show!” Well, today, we do!

Laura looks to art and poetry to inspire her creative side, and she’s in an appropriate place for that. She loves living in and exploring New York City.

Laura worked at some of the biggest and most successful ad agencies in the world. She lists Leo Burnett and Deutsch on her roster. She launched Orchard in 2019 and one year later, was named both the U.S. and Global Agency of the Year by Campaign. 

We talk about her journey, the variety of experiences she had and needed to own it, and her take on closing the gender gap in the ad agency business. 

This is a good one.

Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT. You can find links to Laura Janness of Orchard in our show notes at untilyouownit.com.

If you’re enjoying Own It, we have a slightly different request than normal. Please go to Own It on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. 

Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.

Subscribe, rate and review wherever you found this podcast. For more, visit untilyouownit.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. 

Today, we’re talking to Sophia Johnson of Alpha Business Images or ABI. Sophia calls herself a gatherer of people and is very focused on her family. But she extends that definition beyond her husband, children and relatives to the family around her business and clients.

She worked her way up through a financial services company, but was drawn to the marketing side of the business. She wound up managing the agency relationships and learned how to build a brand from that side of the aisle. 

I so love Sophia’s story and her family-centric approach to both life and business. I think you’ll see why today on the podcast. 

Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Sophia Johnson of ABI. You can find links to her agency and her LinkedIn profile as well in our show notes at untilyouownit.com.

If you’re enjoying Own It, we have a slightly different request than normal. Please go to Own It on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. 

Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.

Subscribe, rate and review wherever you found this podcast. For more, visit untilyouownit.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time. 

Today, we’re talking to Lauren Sweeney of Dotted Line. Her path to agency ownership is very different than most of us. She got started simply trying to help people grow their business. Her job before was a project manager at a financial institution. She even admitted she didn’t even know what an agency was, then started one. 

Her fresh perspective on marketing has been a boon for clients and those of us who have gotten to know her. 

She and I also have a few other things in common … we love the outdoors, are both rooted in our faith and our husbands are also entrepreneurs. As you can imagine, our talk was so wonderful. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

Thanks for listening to this episode of OWN IT with Lauren Sweeney of Dotted Line. You can find links to her agency and her LinkedIn profile as well in our show notes at untilyouownit.com.

If you’re enjoying Own It, we have a slightly different request than normal. Please go to Own It on your favorite podcast app and drop us a rating and review. Those help more people discover the show and join our community. 

Also, if you’re a female or non-binary agency owner, or you want to own an agency someday, join our growing community at that same address … untilyouownit.com.

Subscribe, rate and review wherever you found this podcast. For more, visit untilyouownit.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.