The Space Between

Morten Wendelbo is a behavioural economist, data scientist, and strategic advisor who helps organisations make better decisions at the intersection of business strategy, organisational development, data, and technology. Working across complex enterprises, Morten specialises in helping leadership teams understand how their systems, structures, and data shape the way their businesses operate and grow.

In this episode of The Space Between, Morten joins Debbie Richardson and Seth Hawthorne to explore why AI is often solving the wrong problems inside organisations. They unpack the hidden risks of poor business architecture, the dangers of building technology on fragmented data, and why many companies are unknowingly creating complexity that limits growth and innovation. From "digital concrete" and spaghetti systems to single sources of truth and strategic decision-making, it's a fascinating conversation about the foundations businesses need before AI can deliver on its promise.

Robin Bonn is the founder of Co:definery and author of the international bestseller Market of One. Over the past decade, Robin has helped more than 150 agencies sharpen their positioning, escape commoditisation, and build businesses clients genuinely value.

In this episode of The Space Between, Robin joins Seth Hawthorne and Debbie Richardson to explore why most agencies don’t suffer from oversupply, but under-differentiation. They unpack the impact of AI on pricing, talent, and agency confidence, why “taste and judgement” are becoming the new strategic battleground, and how agencies can move beyond generic positioning to build a true market of one. It’s a candid conversation about optimism, strategic clarity, and why the future belongs to agencies willing to do the hard work of becoming genuinely distinct.

Manish Kapur is the creator of the AgencyOS™ framework and a specialist in agency operations, helping agencies improve efficiency, delivery, and profitability. With a career spanning studio management through to executive operations leadership, Manish now works with agencies to diagnose what’s holding them back and unlock sustainable growth.

In this episode of The Space Between, Manish joins Debbie Richardson and Seth Hawthorne to explore why growing agencies often become less profitable, how operational inefficiencies quietly stall progress, and why confidence - not capability - is often the real barrier to becoming a strategic partner. They unpack the impact of AI on talent, pricing, and delivery, and why the future belongs to agencies that move beyond execution and lead with thinking. It’s a candid conversation about discipline, value, and what it really takes to build an agency that works.

Dan Reeves is a co-founder of Subject.ai, a platform helping brands remain visible in the rapidly shifting world of AI-driven search. With a background in semantic search and digital publishing, Dan focuses on how organisations structure and surface their knowledge so both humans and machines can understand it.

In this episode of The Space Between, Dan joins Ben Slater and Seth Hawthorne to explore how the rise of AI answer engines is fundamentally changing how brands are discovered online. They unpack the shift from keyword search to topic and entity-based discovery, why third-party signals and reputation now matter more than backlinks, and what brands must do to ensure their expertise is visible in a world of probabilistic AI search. It’s a candid conversation about credibility, content quality, and why the brands that win will be the ones that adapt while staying focused on the value they deliver.

Tom Salmon is the co-founder of Agency by Agency, a consultancy that helps agencies grow through sharper positioning, stronger commercial thinking, and more valuable client relationships.

In this episode of The Space Between, Tom joins Ben Slater and Seth Hawthorne to explore the pressures reshaping modern agencies - from the commoditisation of creative services to the increasing expectation for strategic value.

Emma Kelly is the Global Head of Consulting at Verity RI, a consultancy dedicated to unlocking the commercial power of relationships. With over 20 years of client satisfaction data and a global team of consultants, Emma works with agencies and brands to turn feedback into action, helping organisations grow through stronger, smarter partnerships.

In this episode of The Space Between, Emma joins Debbie Richardson and Seth Hawthorne to explore how agency–client relationships have shifted since Covid, why “transactional drag” is quietly undermining strategic partnerships, and what separates relationships that are fit for today from those built for tomorrow. From juniorisation and psychological safety to future fitness, talent experience, and relational intelligence in an AI-driven world, this is a candid look at how agencies can balance product innovation with human connection to unlock sustainable growth.

Ben Flintoff has worked across banking, finance, food, and franchising, with hands-on experience on both the franchisee and franchisor side of global brands. He brings an operator’s lens to marketing, loyalty, and customer experience, shaped by years spent on the ground rather than just in theory.

Filmed just before the 2025 Christmas break, in this episode of The Space Between, Ben joins Ben Slater to explore how global brands navigate local culture, why constant innovation can sometimes weaken strong brands, and what really drives loyalty in a world of apps, discounts, and digital noise. From food pricing and franchise execution to AI, self-ordering kiosks, and the widening gap between marketing and operations, it’s a practical, candid conversation about where value is created - and where it quietly leaks away.

Connect with Ben at https://www.linkedin.com/in/benflintoff/

Remeny Armitage is the founder of Brilliant and Human, an insights consultancy helping agencies strengthen client relationships by listening to what clients don’t always say.

In this episode of The Space Between, Remeny joins Debbie Richardson and Seth Hawthorne to explore why agencies often undervalue their strategic capability, how honest client feedback can unlock growth, and why listening with intent is one of the most commercial skills an agency can develop. It’s a candid conversation about courage, clarity, and the value hidden in the space between agency and client.

Aaron Hutchinson is the founder of The Hutch Consultancy and EMEA Training Director for Win Without Pitching, helping creative businesses refine how they position, pitch, and price their expertise. A former Managing Director at Across the Pond, Aaron now teaches agencies how to show up as experts, win better clients, and charge what they’re truly worth.

In this episode of The Space Between, Aaron joins Debbie Richardson and Seth Hawthorne to unpack why agencies must stop thinking like suppliers and start behaving like specialists. He shares how to replace “winging it” with process, why the best agencies sell through listening, and how one question - “Three years from now, what’s happened to make you happy?” - can reframe any client relationship.

Learn More
https://form.thehutch.co/training
https://www.thehutch.co

Roy Murphy is the co-founder of G3NR8, a strategic AI implementation partner for agencies. With extensive experience in both large and boutique agencies, Roy helps businesses navigate the evolving landscape of AI and marketing.

In this episode of The Space Between, Roy joins Ben Slater to discuss the provocative notion that agencies might face extinction within 18 months. Also on the table for discussion is the democratisation of creativity, the importance of agencies embracing AI, and how collaboration between agencies and clients is more crucial than ever.

Learn more and connect with Roy here:
https://lnkd.in/gMP9auPj

Sales and Marketing AI Playbook
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