314. Leading Your Agency through Transition, with Elise Mitchell

Sep 10, 2025

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On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek sits down with Elise Mitchell, Founder of the award-winning Mitchell Communications and trusted leadership coach to agency owners. Elise knows firsthand what it takes to build, scale, and sell an agency. She’s bringing that hard-earned wisdom into her work guiding leaders through today’s turbulence.

Elise tackles the challenges agencies are facing right now: relentless market uncertainty, leading remote and hybrid teams through cultural shifts, and preparing for the next chapter of leadership and succession. She shares not only the strategies that worked for her, but also the pitfalls to avoid when you’re building resilient, high-performing teams in a world that never stops changing.

If you’re looking for strategies to strengthen your leadership, future-proof your culture, or set a clear course for succession in 2025’s unpredictable environment, this conversation is one you’ll want to hear.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why macroeconomic uncertainty continues to impact agency business development and how leaders can respond to slow client decision cycles
Practical steps for building and maintaining culture in both virtual and blended agency workplaces
Frameworks for giving feedback that actually leads to growth
How generational differences from remote work and the pandemic are impacting agency talent and tactics for bridging the gap
What you need to know if you’re considering succession, an agency exit, or M&A

Bio

Elise Mitchell is a seasoned CEO and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience steering leaders and their companies through complex business and leadership challenges. She is a long-time public relations practitioner and agency veteran.

She founded Mitchell Communications Group, which was named a top 10 fastest-growing PR firm globally and a two-time Inc. 500/5000 fastest growing company. Under her leadership, her agency grew more than 500% in five years working with global brands such as Walmart, Tyson Foods, Hilton and P&G. In 2013, Elise led a sale of the agency to Dentsu Inc., taking on a global role to lead M&A for the network’s PR investments. In 2019 she launched her own executive coaching and business consultancy, Velocity Collective.

Recognition of her accomplishments include: Agency Professional of the Year (PRWeek), a Top 50 Power Player in Public Relations (PRWeek), Entrepreneur of the Year (NAFE), and induction into the International Communications Consultancy Organization (ICCO) Hall of Fame. Her firm was twice named Agency of the Year (PRovoke and PRWeek).

Elise is the author of "Leading Through the Turn" (McGraw Hill), endorsed by John Maxwell. She is a keynote speaker, chair of a TIGER 21 cohort for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and serves as an independent board director. When she’s not working with clients, you can find Elise motorcycling with her husband, running the trails near their home or planning their next journey off the beaten path.

Resources:

Website: https://elisemitchell.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisemitch/