🎙️ In this episode of the Leverage for Growth Podcast, Jesse P. Gilmore sits down with Laura Szczes, founder of Double Z Media and host of the Paid Media Playbook. Laura shares how she left a 20+ year career in agency life to launch her own firm in early 2020 — right as the world shut down — and built a values-driven business that prioritizes work-life balance, culture, and results. Laura opens up about: ✅ What it was like to start an agency during the pandemic ✅ How she attracted her first clients and scaled sustainably ✅ Why building strong teams and culture is her #1 priority ✅ Common pitfalls in paid media — from attribution to measurement ✅ How podcasting became a powerful trust-building tool ✅ The truth about AI in marketing: where it helps, where it fails, and why human strategy still matters Whether you're an agency owner, marketing director, or entrepreneur navigating the fast-changing media landscape, this conversation is packed with insights on leadership, growth, and future-proofing your business.