Navigating Operations in a Growing Agency

Points of Interest

• 00:49 – 01:50 – Introduction to Ryan McNamara: Marcel introduces Ryan McNamara, Head of Operations at Rise at Seven, and highlights his impressive journey from startup founder to agency leader.
• 01:51 – 03:00 – Building Rise at Seven: Ryan discusses the rapid growth of Rise at Seven, their creative-first, search-driven approach, and their international presence in the UK and US.
• 04:21 – 05:40 – Defining Operational Leadership: Ryan explains the challenges and responsibilities of operational leadership, emphasizing the importance of understanding finance, team dynamics, and business goals.
• 08:11 – 09:20 – The Rise of Operations in Agencies: The growing emphasis on operations and finance as key to agency survival is discussed, with insights on how agencies are adapting to a more competitive and demanding market.
• 10:41 – 12:00 – Leveraging Personal Development Plans: The importance of structured PDPs (Personal Development Plans) and appraisals to help team members see their growth trajectory and contribution to the business is explored.
• 12:01 – 13:20 – Process vs. Flexibility: Ryan explains the balance between setting processes for consistency and allowing flexibility for creativity and innovation within teams.
• 13:21 – 14:50 – Managing Team Growth and Churn: The challenge of managing team growth in alignment with business needs while mitigating churn and ensuring cultural fit is unpacked.
• 17:21 – 18:40 – Balancing Risk and Innovation: The discussion explores how agencies can manage operational risks without stifling creativity, enabling teams to focus on outcomes while maintaining flexibility in their processes.
• 21:31 – 22:50 – Fostering Team Accountability: Insights are shared on creating systems where every team member understands their role in driving the business forward and how their contributions impact overall performance.
• 24:01 – 25:30 – The Evolving Role of Operations: The conversation shifts to how operations professionals are becoming pivotal thought leaders, connecting finance, delivery, and team dynamics in modern agencies.
• 25:31 – 26:50 – Challenges in Standardizing Processes: Ryan discusses the difficulty of standardizing processes in a creative environment, where flexibility is often required to deliver exceptional outcomes.
• 29:41 – 31:00 – Advice for Aspiring Operators: Ryan offers advice for those stepping into operational roles, encouraging them to focus on outcomes, embrace adaptability, and prioritize team empowerment.

Show Notes

• Connect with Ryan
  • LinkedIn
  • Rise at Seven

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