Agency Bytes

Ep 132 – Leah Leaves, Alderaan Operations Solutions – Break the Bottleneck: How Operators Reduce Burnout and Unlock Scale

Featuring: Leah Leaves, Alderaan Operations Solutions

In episode 132, I talk with Leah Leaves, founder of Alderaan Operations Solutions, where she helps remote digital agencies grow without the grind. Known for her no-fluff, systems-first approach, Leah and her team embed expert operations managers directly into agencies to break bottlenecks, reduce burnout, and build businesses that can scale without the founder in every decision.

We dig into what causes owners to become the bottleneck, the difference between goals, systems, and team accountability, and how every agency—no matter the size—can start building a foundation that prevents burnout and supports growth. Leah also shares how to identify when it’s time to bring in an operator, how to delegate effectively, and why even the best creative agencies need structure to thrive. We wrap by exploring how AI fits into internal operations and why every agency needs an AI Ops roadmap, even if it’s just six months ahead.

Key Bytes

• Burnout often begins with unclear goals and missing systems; clarity is the antidote.
• Leah outlines four agency owner archetypes—the Trusting Optimist, Firefighting Founder, Reluctant Gatekeeper, and Visionary Leader—and how operators help each evolve.
• Delegation isn’t dumping tasks; it’s empowering your team with context and ownership.
• Documenting the “why” behind your systems drives consistency and accountability.
• Operators create the scaffolding for scale—allowing founders to focus on vision, not firefighting.
• Every agency, regardless of size, benefits from an AI Ops roadmap to guide internal efficiency.
• Start with what you already have—processes, checklists, or recurring workflows—and build from there.
• Systems don’t kill creativity; they protect it by removing chaos and decision fatigue.

Chapters

00:00 Intro and welcome with guest Leah Leaves, founder of Alderaan Operations Solutions
02:00 The Star Wars origin of “Alderaan” and Leah’s path from journalism to operations
05:30 From creative to systems thinker: finding flow in operations
08:00 How unclear goals and missing systems cause bottlenecks
10:00 Guardrails vs. micromanagement: empowering the team without overengineering
13:00 The burnout cycle and why delegation is a creative act
15:00 The four types of agency owners and their operational challenges
20:00 Shifting from bottleneck to visionary: the operator’s role in scaling
23:30 Why every agency needs an AI ops roadmap
26:30 Putting “robots” in the org chart and making automation work
29:00 Low-hanging AI wins: onboarding, recruiting, and workflow automation
32:00 Rapid-fire Q&A: distilling systems, theme songs, and unexpected client wins
34:45 Closing thoughts and where to find Leah

Leah Leaves is the Founder of Alderaan Operations Solutions, where she helps remote digital marketing agencies grow without the grind. Known for her no-fluff, systems-first approach, she and her team embed expert Operations Managers directly into agencies to break bottlenecks, reduce burnout, and build businesses that can scale without the founder in every decision.

Contact Leah on LinkedIn, on the Alderaan website, or take their Agency Owner Quiz.

Ep 131 – Maiya Holliday, Mangrove – Mission > Marketing: B Corp as Operating System, Not a Sales Tactic

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Featuring: Maiya Holliday, Mangrove

In episode 131, I sit down with Maiya Holliday, founder and CEO of Mangrove Web Development, a Certified B Corp agency that’s been building websites for change-makers since 2009.

Maiya shares her evolution from self-taught coder to agency leader, how she built Mangrove into a values-driven, fully remote team long before it was trendy, and why B Corp certification serves as an operating system rather than a marketing badge.

We dive into the realities of serving nonprofits and purpose-led organizations, how to balance mission and margin, and how AI is reshaping collaboration between designers and developers. Maiya’s insights are both grounding and inspiring for anyone building a business around impact and intention.

Key Bytes

• B Corp certification can provide structure for how an agency operates—not just a label to display.
• Nonprofit clients aren’t “low budget” if you help them tie digital to their mission, revenue, and reach.
• AI is changing agency workflows fast, but curiosity, ethics, and experimentation keep it human.
• Merging two purpose-driven teams isn’t about scale—it’s about shared values and vision.
• Mangrove’s evolution shows that you can stay small, focused, and deeply impactful.

Chapters

00:00 Intro: From coder to CEO
01:00 The origin story of Mangrove Web
03:30 Becoming a Certified B Corp
06:00 Lessons from the certification process
09:00 Staying accountable to B Corp principles
11:00 How competition has evolved in the B Corp space
14:30 Why Mangrove focuses on nonprofits & foundations
17:30 Pricing and positioning in the nonprofit world
20:00 The role of AI in Mangrove’s workflow
23:00 How design and dev are converging
27:30 Internal AI tooling vs. client-facing tools
30:00 Building trust as a strategic digital advisor
32:20 Rapid fire: remote work, creative parenting, and common myths
34:50 Closing thoughts

Resources Mentioned

https://www.ai4np.org/

Maiya Holliday, CEO and Founder of Mangrove Web Development, is a creative leader and collaborator who crafts digital solutions to augment the impact of changemakers. She is a self-taught coder with over a decade of hands-on experience. Maiya aligns folks toward actionable goals that help articulate and communicate their organization’s purpose and impact on the web, with people, planet, purpose, and equity at the core. She has led over 200 website projects for changemakers and purpose-driven organizations.

Maiya led Mangrove to become a Certified B Corp in 2016 and has since championed the cause of socially and environmentally conscious businesses, deepening their impact. She values working alongside a diverse team of talented people who are passionate about what they do.

A Bay Area native, Maiya now lives in the mountains of Truckee, CA, with her husband Shaun and little humans Terner and Miles. You might also find her in Oakland or Australia, where she tends to show up on a regular basis.

Contact Maiya on LinkedIn, the company's LinkedIn page, or their website.

Ep 130 – Peter Lang, Digital Agency Business – Buy, Don’t Build! Using M&A to Scale Your Agency

Featuring: Peter Lang, Digital Agency Business

In episode 130, I sit down with Peter Lang—co-founder of Digital Agency Business and AVA, and longtime agency acquirer—to unpack how agency owners can use M&A as a growth superpower. Peter shares the seven-day deal that doubled his agency’s revenue, the due-diligence signals that actually matter (talent, client stickiness, and contracts), why most M&A fails on culture not math, and how AI is reshaping hiring and service models. We also get into founder identity after the sale, what “professional maturity” looks like, and why many owners are really capital allocators in the making.

Key Bytes

• M&A can compress years of organic growth into months—if you underwrite people, clients, and terms before the numbers.
• Culture fit and integration planning beat fancy spreadsheets; most failed deals are value misalignment, not valuation.
• AI is wiping out entry-level tasks first; the winners redeploy A-players and teach clients how to use AI, not hide from it.
• Founder-led sales can’t be the only engine; build repeatable sales capacity that survives distractions.
• You already “work for” whoever pays you—selling changes the customer, not your agency DNA.
• Treat time like capital: budget it, forecast it, and review it like an effective executive.

Chapters

00:00 Cold open, quick re-intro
01:08 The seven-day deal that doubled revenue
03:32 Doing three deals in 90 days during COVID
06:36 Common seller misconceptions and Peter’s deal lens
09:19 Endurance mindset, calendars, and operating like an athlete
13:46 What buyers actually look for beyond the numbers
17:43 AI’s impact on talent, delivery, and survival to 2027
22:10 Life after the sale and “professional maturity”
24:51 Rapid fire: celebrating wins, the race that changed him, dream acquisition
27:45 Where to learn more (digitalagencybusiness.com)

Resources Mentioned

• Effective Executive by Peter Drucker (time tracking and retrospective)
• GrowthHackers community (context on Peter’s portfolio)
• digitalagencybusiness.com (Peter’s M&A training and upcoming book)

Peter Lang is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with over 15 years of experience building, buying, and selling companies across online publishing, media, advertising, e-commerce, and consulting. He’s the co-founder and Chief M&A Officer at AVA, a fast-growing digital agency holding company acquiring businesses in the $1–10 million range.

Peter also runs Digital Agency Business (DAB), an e-learning company that trains entrepreneurs to launch and scale their own agencies. A former CEO of Uhuru Network and advisor to multiple companies, Peter’s passion lies in using mergers and acquisitions to accelerate growth. An endurance athlete and family man, he lives by the belief that anything is achievable with hard work.

Contact Peter on LinkedIn or his website.

Ep 129 - Natasha Golinsky, On Purpose Projects – Mindset Matters: The Key to Entrepreneurial Success

Featuring: Natasha Golinsky, On Purpose Projects

In episode 129, I talk with Natasha Golinski, founder of On Purpose Projects, a custom web and e-commerce dev agency. Natasha is a three-time Canada Women of Influence nominee, a mom of three, and a breast cancer survivor—and she’s built her business around the belief that mindset is everything.

We dig into how she went from “accidental agency owner” to leading a zero-meeting, all-contractor team for over a decade, and why journaling, EFT (tapping), and surrounding yourself with the right people are critical to surviving the entrepreneurial rollercoaster. Natasha also shares how a cancer diagnosis forced her to hire ops support—and ultimately led to one of her agency’s biggest months ever.

This episode is a masterclass in grit, leadership, and the mental game of entrepreneurship.

Key Bytes

• Mindset is the job. Natasha starts most days with journaling and EFT to reset anxiety and focus.
• Zero meetings, high loyalty. A culture of respect, gratitude, and no drama keeps her contractor team thriving.
• Protect your people. Leadership means absorbing the stress and passing the praise.
• Say no early. Guardrails in discovery protect the team from toxic clients.
• Crisis as catalyst. Cancer forced Natasha to let go of ops—and it unlocked growth.
• Community matters. No one is self-made—surround yourself with peers who lift you up.
• Focus sharpens delivery. On Purpose Projects does dev only—like a food truck that just serves crepes.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome & Natasha’s background
02:12 Accidental agency beginnings
04:45 Mindset, marketing, and money: her founder lane
07:30 Morning pages & EFT as daily reset tools
11:05 Cancer diagnosis, hiring ops, and a breakthrough month
15:20 Building loyalty in a zero-meeting contractor culture
20:22 Client red flags & protecting your team
23:50 Why no one is self-made: the role of community
26:30 Rapid-fire fun: karaoke, first impressions, food truck metaphor
28:55 Closing thoughts

Natasha Golinsky is the founder of an award-winning web development and ecommerce agency, a three-time nominee for the Canada Women of Influence® Award, and a tireless champion of female agency owners. Natasha’s also a mom of three and a breast cancer survivor who brings grit, heart, and a deep sense of purpose to everything she does. I’m thrilled to dig into her journey, her mission, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Natasha, welcome to the show.

Award-winning web development & ecommerce agency founder | Champion & connector of female agency owners | 3x nominee Canada Women of Influence® Award | Breast Cancer Butt-Kicker | Mom x 3

Contact Natasha on their website or on LinkedIn.

Ep 128 – Logan Lyles, DemandShift – Build a Thought-Leadership Engine that Sells

Featuring: Logan Lyles, DemandShift

In episode 128, I sit down with Logan Lyles, founder of DemandShift and longtime B2B sales and marketing pro. Logan’s career has spanned brand side, agency side, and now his own consultancy—giving him a unique perspective on what it really takes to grow pipeline.

We unpack his journey from scaling Sweet Fish Media to Inc. 5000 status, building the Agency Life series at Teamwork, and leading growth at Business Builders. Most importantly, Logan shares how he turned disappointing webinar results into a repeatable framework that consistently converts registrations into booked sales calls.

If you’ve ever run a webinar that felt like a win… until the dreaded “conversion cliff,” this episode gives you the practical, step-by-step fixes to turn those views into revenue.

Key Bytes

• Logan explains how most agencies fall into the “conversion cliff” trap—lots of registrants, little pipeline—and the two-part fix that changed everything.
• He shares the importance of packaging your expertise into a clear framework that creates a natural next step.
• We break down his two-step registration process that boosted webinar conversions by 5–10x.
• We compare free vs. paid events, what impacts show-up rates, and which strategy works best for agencies.|
• We talk about how webinars double as content engines for thought leadership and trust building.
• Logan shares why solopreneurs and 20-person agencies alike can adapt this strategy with the right tech stack.
• He opens up about lessons learned in sales—why not every “yes” is worth chasing.

Chapters

00:02 Intro to Logan Lyles and Demand Shift
01:14 Logan’s meandering career path from journalism to sales to agency life
03:09 Lessons from scaling Sweet Fish Media and leading growth at Business Builders
06:44 Why referrals aren’t enough for agencies anymore
07:28 The “conversion cliff” of webinars and how Logan fixed it
09:48 The two-step registration process that boosted conversions 5–10x
12:59 Free vs. paid webinars: show rates, signups, and strategy
15:57 Webinars as thought-leadership engines and content machines
19:11 Blending demand gen with brand building for faster sales cycles
23:02 Rethinking webinars: live podcasts, polls, and engagement tactics
27:08 Sales lessons: why not every yes is worth chasing
27:50 Wrap-up and where to find Logan (demandshift.co)

Logan Lyles has spent 17 years in B2B sales & marketing, drawing on his journalism background & working both agency- and brand-side in various roles. He has helped multiple agencies scale, including helping lead Sweet Fish Media onto the Inc 5,000 List 2 years in a row & increasing Business Builders monthly email list growth by 580% in 2024.

Logan is the founder of DemandShift, a webinar-as-a-service agency, the co-host of the weekly podcast: The Marketing Max Show & a LinkedIn Top Voice.

Contact Logan on his website or on LinkedIn.

Ep 127 – Kelly Schuknecht, Two Mile High Marketing – The Agency Owner’s Visibility Plan: Podcasts, Stages, LinkedIn

Featuring: Kelly Schuknecht, Two Mile High Marketing

In episode 127, I talk with Kelly Schuknecht, founder of Two Mile High Marketing and host of the Beyond the Best Seller podcast. Kelly shares her journey from being laid off to launching her agency, how she quickly built a team, and why she’s focused on helping agency owners and CEOs grow through thought leadership platforms. We dig into what I call The Agency Owner’s Visibility Plan—a repeatable system of podcasts, stages, and LinkedIn that helps agencies build authority, stay top-of-mind, and consistently attract clients.

Key Bytes

• The Agency Owner’s Visibility Plan comes down to visibility, credibility, and consistency.
• Trusting yourself to leap without a safety net accelerates growth.
• Niching disqualifies the wrong buyers while pulling in the right ones.
• Visibility means showing up where your audience already is.
• Credibility is built in a snap judgment—package your proof.
• Consistency matters more than volume—set a realistic cadence.
• Every podcast interview can fuel a month’s worth of content.
• Delegating early unlocks owner time for actual growth work.
• In-person events still beat virtual for relationship building.

Chapters

00:00 Introducing Kelly and the story behind “Two Mile High”
03:30 From acquisition layoff to launching an agency
06:45 Why she pivoted away from “fractional CMO”
09:55 The challenge and power of niching down
13:50 Hiring early and delegating with trust
16:20 The Visibility–Credibility–Consistency framework
19:55 A realistic cadence for LinkedIn, podcasts, and speaking
24:10 In-person vs. virtual events and AI’s limitations
26:45 Rapid Fire: superpowers, lessons learned, and marketing myths

Kelly Schuknecht is the founder of Two Mile High Marketing, where she partners with agency owners and business leaders to build powerful thought leadership platforms. With over 15 years of marketing experience and a track record of elevating brands from behind the scenes, Kelly now helps experts step into the spotlight through strategic content, visibility tactics, and authentic personal branding. She’s the host of Beyond the Bestseller, a podcast featuring women who use their stories to lead.

Connect with Kelly on their company website, personal website, or on LinkedIn.

Ep 126 – Meeky Hwang, Ndevr – From Code to Courage: A Founder’s Journey in Tech

Featuring: Meeky Hwang, Ndevr

In episode 126, I sit down with Meeky Hwang, CEO and partner at Endeavor, a WordPress development agency powering digital platforms for major media and enterprise brands like Bloomberg, Forbes, and Sony. With over two decades of experience in development and DevOps, Meeky has built Endeavor into a trusted name in the WordPress ecosystem while also paving the way as a female leader in tech.

We talk about her accidental journey into agency ownership, what it’s like leading in an industry where women are still underrepresented, and how Endeavor built its three-pillar framework for resilient platforms. Meeky shares candid insights on navigating partnerships, the challenges of “over-engineering” with headless CMS, and the importance of masterminds and community for entrepreneurs.

Key Bytes

• Meeky shares how an “accidental” freelance project led to a decade-long partnership and agency.
• She discusses the importance of having clear role delineation with her co-founder to avoid missteps.
• Endeavor’s three-pillar framework (audience experience, editorial experience, developer experience) keeps their platforms resilient.
• She explains why many publishers are moving away from over-engineered headless CMS solutions back to WordPress.
• As a female leader in tech, she reflects on mentorship, representation, and inspiring others by simply “being the first.”
• She stresses the value of mastermind groups for growth and support, something she wishes she’d pursued earlier.
• Endeavor is exploring AI to streamline workflows and even testing new content tools for clients.
• Her advice for organizations: implement proper version control and CI/CD to avoid preventable tech mistakes.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Meeky Hwang
03:00 Becoming an “accidental” agency founder
07:00 Women in tech and leadership representation
11:00 Why Endeavor niched into WordPress and media
12:30 The three-pillar framework for resilient platforms
15:00 Headless CMS pitfalls and returning to WordPress
18:00 Navigating co-founder roles and partnerships
23:00 AI, internal tools, and what’s next for Endeavor
25:00 The power of masterminds for entrepreneurs
27:00 Rapid fire: karaoke, hobbies, and tech stack fixes

Meeky Hwang is the CEO & Partner at Ndevr, a WordPress development agency trusted by leading digital media and enterprise companies. With 20+ years of experience in web development, open-source technology, and DevOps, she specializes in optimizing complex digital ecosystems, streamlining editorial workflows, and aligning technology with business goals.

Meeky has helped major brands like PMC, Hearst, Bloomberg, Forbes, and Sony build scalable, high-performing digital platforms. A champion for women in tech, she is passionate about fostering opportunities for the next generation of leaders.

Contact Meeky on their website.

Ep 125 – Dolores G Hirschmann, Masters in Clarity – Turning Thought Leadership into Pipeline

Featuring: Dolores G Hirschmann, Masters in Clarity

In episode 125, I sit down with Dolores Hirschmann, investor, strategist, and founder of Masters in Clarity. Dolores has built, scaled, and sold businesses—including one to Pete Vargas and Grant Cardone after growing it to eight figures. A former TEDx organizer, she now helps service professionals and thought leaders clarify their message, craft high-converting signature talks, and get booked on stages that drive real business results. We explore her journey from early internet marketing in Argentina to launching an outbound speaker agency, and she shares her framework for creating talks that convert, practical tips for pitching event organizers, and why thought leadership is still one of the most powerful growth levers for agencies.

Key Bytes

• Thought leadership isn’t about celebrity—it’s about clarity and consistency
• A great talk is less about what you say and more about what your audience walks away with
• Don’t pitch event organizers with long bios—open the door with a simple yes/no question
• The best call-to-action from stage isn’t a free consultation, it’s a free resource tied to your talk
• A signature talk framework can be applied to any presentation—keynote, workshop, or boardroom update
• Speaking is one of the most scalable ways to build trust, demonstrate expertise, and generate new business

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Dolores Hirschmann
01:18 Early internet marketing and human-to-human relationships
04:58 Moving to the U.S. and pioneering online learning platforms
06:26 From serial entrepreneur to coach and strategist
08:19 Organizing TEDx and developing the signature talk framework
11:26 Building and scaling a speaker agency to $20M+
14:29 Why agencies need to lean into speaking and thought leadership
15:44 Practical steps to land more speaking opportunities
20:07 The seven steps of a high-converting talk
23:24 How to craft calls-to-action that drive leads from stage
25:23 Using QR codes and free resources to capture audience interest
26:25 Masters in Clarity workshops and software for speakers
27:02 Rapid fire: tap dancing, gut instincts, and buying businesses

Dolores Hirschmann is an investor, strategist, speaker, and founder of Masters in Clarity, a strategy and business coaching firm. She helps service professionals grow their businesses and establish thought leadership. A former TEDx organizer, she specializes in positioning experts, authors, consultants, and coaches for success.

Dolores recently sold a company to Pete Vargas and Grant Cardone, supporting its growth to multiple 8 figures in four years. She built a software platform to help speakers get placed on stages and advises businesses on preparing for profitable exits. Masters in Clarity provides fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) services to help companies design and execute marketing initiatives and set up automated marketing systems. As an investor, Dolores acquires and scales small businesses, ensuring their legacy and long-term success.

Connect with Dolores on their website.