

Agency Forward
Chris DuBois
Agency Forward explores the future of agencies as tech and AI drive down the cost of tactical deliverables. Topics include building competent teams, developing strategic offers, systemizing your business, and more.
New episodes delivered every Tuesday.
New episodes delivered every Tuesday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 3, 2026 • 34min
093 Sean Lang: Breaking the Founder Hero Addiction That's Killing Your Growth
Hey everyone, today I'm joined by Sean Lang.Sean is an agency operations expert who helps founders remove themselves as the bottleneck in their business.Before entering the agency world, Sean managed an airport refueling operation—a role that gave him a healthy respect for process, compliance, and what happens when things go wrong. He's since applied those lessons to help agency owners stop hoarding problems and start building teams that actually think.I wanted to have Sean on because the founder-as-hero mindset is killing agency growth, and most owners don't even realize they're doing it. He's got some great frameworks and strategies to address it. Also, his podcast, Agency Uplift, is a must-listen show.In this episode, we discuss:The first signs you're the bottleneckBreaking the hero addictionMaking time to slow down and speed upAnd more...You can learn more about Sean on LinkedIn.-----------Lead Gen is the hardest part of running an agency.For most, it's unpredictable, it's slow, and it's usually expensive.Gia flips that.It's the all-in-one growth platform that turns your existing relationships and client work into a steady pipeline.Gia automates lead gen follow-up and content, and it's all from the work you're already doing.You can check it out and get some free bonuses at getgia.ai/dynamicagency-----------No one was asking for another community. But I've made one anyway.So what's different?The Dynamic Agency Community is designed around access rather than content.Access to peers who've done it before.Access to experts who've designed solutions.Access to resources that have been battle-tested.And right now, the price for founding members is only $97/year.Join today so your agency has immediate access to everything you need to grow.You can join at DynamicAgency.Community.-----------Our friends at Parakeeto have a powerful resource that dives into everything you need to know about agency profitability.This is a must-have for agency owners and operators.Get the Agency Profit Toolkit for free now!-----------Subscribe to the Agency Forward blog on Substack.We have weekly blog content with practical advice to help you advance your agency.-----------And if you're ready for 1-on-1 help to create some mind-blowing offers for your agency, visit DynamicAgencyOS.com to schedule a free consultation. Running an agency is tough, but you don't need to go it alone.

Jan 27, 2026 • 34min
092 David Hoos: Why Dev Founders Distrust Marketing and How to Fix It
Hey everyone, today I'm joined by David Hoos.David is a marketing consultant who specializes in helping dev agencies build and execute marketing strategies that actually resonate with technical founders.With a background that bridges both worlds—his mother an English teacher, his father a software engineer—David cut his teeth at a conversion optimization agency before advising dev shops on positioning and growth. He's built a reputation for translating marketing speak into language that engineers actually trust.I wanted to have David on because most dev agency founders hate marketing—and for good reason. David understands why and knows how to fix it. I also appreciate his thoughts on LinkedIn, so you should give him a follow there. In this episode, we discuss:Why dev founders distrust marketingPositioning beyond programming languagesMarketing that elevates rather than erodes reputationAnd more...You can learn more about David on LinkedIn.-----------Lead Gen is the hardest part of running an agency.For most, it's unpredictable, it's slow, and it's usually expensive.Gia flips that.It's the all-in-one growth platform that turns your existing relationships and client work into a steady pipeline.Gia automates lead gen follow-up and content, and it's all from the work you're already doing.You can check it out and get some free bonuses at getgia.ai/dynamicagency-----------No one was asking for another community. But I've made one anyway.So what's different?The Dynamic Agency Community is designed around access rather than content.Access to peers who've done it before.Access to experts who've designed solutions.Access to resources that have been battle-tested.And right now, the price for founding members is only $97/year.Join today so your agency has immediate access to everything you need to grow.You can join at DynamicAgency.Community.-----------Our friends at Parakeeto have a powerful resource that dives into everything you need to know about agency profitability.This is a must-have for agency owners and operators.Get the Agency Profit Toolkit for free now!-----------Subscribe to the Agency Forward blog on Substack.We have weekly blog content with practical advice to help you advance your agency.-----------And if you're ready for 1-on-1 help to create some mind-blowing offers for your agency, visit DynamicAgencyOS.com to schedule a free consultation. Running an agency is tough, but you don't need to go it alone.

Jan 20, 2026 • 37min
091 Jody Grunden: From Reactive to Strategic: Financial Planning for Growing Agencies
Hey everyone, today I'm joined by Jody Grunden.Jody is a virtual CFO and financial strategist for growing agencies.He’s the co-founder of Summit CPA Group (now part of Anders CPAs), where he’s helped scale hundreds of agencies with data-driven financial forecasting and CFO insights. I wanted to have Jody on because too many agency owners fly blind with their finances and miss out on stable, scalable growth. Also, we were tablemates at a conference last year, and he's a delightful human being. And when good people are also experts in their craft, I feel this urge to share them with our audience. In this episode, we discuss:Building a 10% cash reserve for long-term stabilityWhen to hire a controller or CFO as you scaleHow to set pricing to maintain profit marginsAnd more...You can learn more about Jody on LinkedIn or shoot him an email at jgrunden@anderscpa.com. -----------Lead Gen is the hardest part of running an agency.For most, it's unpredictable, it's slow, and it's usually expensive.Gia flips that.It's the all-in-one growth platform that turns your existing relationships and client work into a steady pipeline.Gia automates lead gen follow-up and content, and it's all from the work you're already doing.You can check it out and get some free bonuses at getgia.ai/dynamicagency-----------No one was asking for another community. But I've made one anyway.So what's different?The Dynamic Agency Community is designed around access rather than content.Access to peers who've done it before.Access to experts who've designed solutions.Access to resources that have been battle-tested.And right now, the price for founding members is only $97/year.Join today so your agency has immediate access to everything you need to grow.You can join at DynamicAgency.Community. -----------Hiring in the agency world is rough. Most job posting sites get you lots of applicants, but with their “easy applying” options, most of those are unqualified. And worse, they don’t understand what it’s like working at an agency.This is why I created the Agency Job Hub. You can post your positions for free to find applicants looking specifically for agency work, and we already have a growing list of candidates who’ll be notified as soon as you post.You can list your open positions for free at AgencyJobHub.com.-----------Our friends at Parakeeto have a powerful resource that dives into everything you need to know about agency profitability.This is a must-have for agency owners and operators.Get the Agency Profit Toolkit for free now!-----------Subscribe to the Agency Forward blog on Substack.We have weekly blog content with practical advice to help you advance your agency. -----------Want to level up your agency? Get the Dynamic Offers Email Mini-CourseExplore the 5 of the most common challenges agencies face in today's market.We're talking about the challenges that lead to no prospects, no recurring revenue, and nothing for people to buy from you.It's worth reading just for the ideas alone.5 emails. 5 challenges. 5 strategies to fix them.Get it at DynamicAgencyCourse.com.-----------And if you're ready for 1-on-1 help to create some mind-blowing offers for your agency, visit DynamicAgencyOS.com to schedule a free consultation. Running an agency is tough, but you don't need to go it alone.

13 snips
Jan 13, 2026 • 40min
090 Leah Leaves: How to Get Out of the Weeds Without Losing Control
Leah Leaves, Founder and CEO of Alderaan Operations Solutions, specializes in empowering remote digital agencies. In this engaging discussion, Leah sheds light on the common struggle of agency owners feeling trapped in day-to-day operations. She introduces the 1-3-1 framework for team decision-making and highlights the importance of clear accountability charts. Leah also shares insights on transitioning from operational tasks to focusing on strategic growth, including vital metrics to monitor for success. It's a must-listen for founders seeking liberation from burnout!

Jan 6, 2026 • 32min
089 Thomas Stirling: The Play That Won Billion-Dollar Brands
Hey everyone, today I'm joined by Thomas Stirling.Thomas is the founder of Stirling Brandworks, a creative agency specializing in bold, experiential campaigns.His “Agency Breakup Kit” campaign earned industry awards and opened doors to billion-dollar brands using a mix of humor, direct mail, and high-production video content.I wanted to have Thomas on because agency owners constantly battle cold outreach fatigue—and he’s built a campaign that actually cuts through.In this episode, we discuss:Creating ABM campaigns that get rememberedUsing humor without losing credibilityScaling creative outreach beyond word of mouthAnd more...You can learn more about Thomas on LinkedIn.-----------Lead Gen is the hardest part of running an agency.For most, it's unpredictable, it's slow, and it's usually expensive.Gia flips that.It's the all-in-one growth platform that turns your existing relationships and client work into a steady pipeline.Gia automates lead gen follow-up and content, and it's all from the work you're already doing.You can check it out and get some free bonuses at getgia.ai/dynamicagency-----------No one was asking for another community. But I've made one anyway.So what's different?The Dynamic Agency Community is designed around access rather than content.Access to peers who've done it before.Access to experts who've designed solutions.Access to resources that have been battle-tested.And right now, the price for founding members is only $97/year.Join today so your agency has immediate access to everything you need to grow.You can join at DynamicAgency.Community. -----------Hiring in the agency world is rough. Most job posting sites get you lots of applicants, but with their “easy applying” options, most of those are unqualified. And worse, they don’t understand what it’s like working at an agency.This is why I created the Agency Job Hub. You can post your positions for free to find applicants looking specifically for agency work, and we already have a growing list of candidates who’ll be notified as soon as you post.You can list your open positions for free at AgencyJobHub.com.-----------Our friends at Parakeeto have a powerful resource that dives into everything you need to know about agency profitability.This is a must-have for agency owners and operators.Get the Agency Profit Toolkit for free now!-----------Subscribe to the Agency Forward blog on Substack.We have weekly blog content with practical advice to help you advance your agency. -----------Want to level up your agency? Get the Dynamic Offers Email Mini-CourseExplore the 5 of the most common challenges agencies face in today's market.We're talking about the challenges that lead to no prospects, no recurring revenue, and nothing for people to buy from you.It's worth reading just for the ideas alone.5 emails. 5 challenges. 5 strategies to fix them.Get it at DynamicAgencyCourse.com.-----------And if you're ready for 1-on-1 help to create some mind-blowing offers for your agency, visit DynamicAgencyOS.com to schedule a free consultation. Running an agency is tough, but you don't need to go it alone.

Dec 30, 2025 • 3min
088: Wrapping up 2025
Just a short one this week. Thank you for all the support in 2025. We're very excited for 2026!-----------Lead Gen is the hardest part of running an agency.For most, it's unpredictable, it's slow, and it's usually expensive.Gia flips that.It's the all-in-one growth platform that turns your existing relationships and client work into a steady pipeline.Gia automates lead gen follow-up and content, and it's all from the work you're already doing.You can check it out and get some free bonuses at getgia.ai/dynamicagency-----------No one was asking for another community. But I've made one anyway.So what's different?The Dynamic Agency Community is designed around access rather than content.Access to peers who've done it before.Access to experts who've designed solutions.Access to resources that have been battle-tested.And right now, the price for founding members is only $97/year.Join today so your agency has immediate access to everything you need to grow.You can join at DynamicAgency.Community. -----------Hiring in the agency world is rough. Most job posting sites get you lots of applicants, but with their “easy applying” options, most of those are unqualified. And worse, they don’t understand what it’s like working at an agency.This is why I created the Agency Job Hub. You can post your positions for free to find applicants looking specifically for agency work, and we already have a growing list of candidates who’ll be notified as soon as you post.You can list your open positions for free at AgencyJobHub.com.-----------Our friends at Parakeeto have a powerful resource that dives into everything you need to know about agency profitability.This is a must-have for agency owners and operators.Get the Agency Profit Toolkit for free now!-----------Subscribe to the Agency Forward blog on Substack.We have weekly blog content with practical advice to help you advance your agency. -----------Want to level up your agency? Get the Dynamic Offers Email Mini-CourseExplore the 5 of the most common challenges agencies face in today's market.We're talking about the challenges that lead to no prospects, no recurring revenue, and nothing for people to buy from you.It's worth reading just for the ideas alone.5 emails. 5 challenges. 5 strategies to fix them.Get it at DynamicAgencyCourse.com.-----------And if you're ready for 1-on-1 help to create some mind-blowing offers for your agency, visit DynamicAgencyOS.com to schedule a free consultation. Running an agency is tough, but you don't need to go it alone.

Dec 23, 2025 • 18min
087: The Agency Offer Stack: What to Sell, When to Sell It, and Why It Matters
A walkthrough of four core offers agencies should have and two optional extras. A practical look at snap offers that solve symptoms fast and how to deliver them. How to design a recurring core offer using the PRISM criteria. Strategies for bridge and next offers to move clients toward ongoing work.

Dec 16, 2025 • 36min
086 Chris Marr: Stop Being a People Pleaser. Start Leading Clients.
Hey everyone, today I'm joined by Chris Marr.Chris is the founder of The Authoritative Coach and a trusted trainer for agency account management teams.He helps client-facing teams move from order takers to trusted advisors, with a focus on strategic communication, peer-level leadership, and account growth. His book, The Authoritative Coach, offers a blueprint for turning account managers into confident client leaders.I wanted to have Chris on because so many agency owners lose clients due to soft-skill gaps on their teams—and he knows exactly how to fix it.In this episode, we discuss:Moving from people pleaser to peer-level partnerThe most critical (and most missing) account management skillHow agency owners sabotage account managers without realizing itAnd more...You can learn more about Chris on LinkedIn.-----------Lead Gen is the hardest part of running an agency.For most, it's unpredictable, it's slow, and it's usually expensive.Gia flips that.It's the all-in-one growth platform that turns your existing relationships and client work into a steady pipeline.Gia automates lead gen follow-up and content, and it's all from the work you're already doing.You can check it out and get some free bonuses at getgia.ai/dynamicagency-----------No one was asking for another community. But I've made one anyway.So what's different?The Dynamic Agency Community is designed around access rather than content.Access to peers who've done it before.Access to experts who've designed solutions.Access to resources that have been battle-tested.And right now, the price for founding members is only $97/year.Join today so your agency has immediate access to everything you need to grow.You can join at DynamicAgency.Community. -----------Hiring in the agency world is rough. Most job posting sites get you lots of applicants, but with their “easy applying” options, most of those are unqualified. And worse, they don’t understand what it’s like working at an agency.This is why I created the Agency Job Hub. You can post your positions for free to find applicants looking specifically for agency work, and we already have a growing list of candidates who’ll be notified as soon as you post.You can list your open positions for free at AgencyJobHub.com.-----------Our friends at Parakeeto have a powerful resource that dives into everything you need to know about agency profitability.This is a must-have for agency owners and operators.Get the Agency Profit Toolkit for free now!-----------Subscribe to the Agency Forward blog on Substack.We have weekly blog content with practical advice to help you advance your agency. -----------Want to level up your agency? Get the Dynamic Offers Email Mini-CourseExplore the 5 of the most common challenges agencies face in today's market.We're talking about the challenges that lead to no prospects, no recurring revenue, and nothing for people to buy from you.It's worth reading just for the ideas alone.5 emails. 5 challenges. 5 strategies to fix them.Get it at DynamicAgencyCourse.com.-----------And if you're ready for 1-on-1 help to create some mind-blowing offers for your agency, visit DynamicAgencyOS.com to schedule a free consultation. Running an agency is tough, but you don't need to go it alone.

Dec 9, 2025 • 41min
085 Carl Smith: Why Traditional Agencies Are Getting Left Behind
Hey everyone, today I'm joined by Carl Smith.Carl is the founder of The Bureau, a community for digital agency leaders focused on connection, support, and operational excellence.He previously ran a successful agency with a radically autonomous model and now helps shops modernize how they lead, hire, and scale. Carl’s insights come from hundreds of deep conversations with owners navigating the post-AI, post-pandemic world.I wanted to have Carl on because most agency owners are clinging to outdated models while the industry is reshaping beneath them—and he’s seen what’s working now.In this episode, we discuss:Why agency complacency is the real threat in 2026What the “jellyfish model” teaches about scalable freedomHow AI is making clients savvier than everAnd more...You can learn more about Carl on LinkedIn.-----------Lead Gen is the hardest part of running an agency.For most, it's unpredictable, it's slow, and it's usually expensive.Gia flips that.It's the all-in-one growth platform that turns your existing relationships and client work into a steady pipeline.Gia automates lead gen follow-up and content, and it's all from the work you're already doing.You can check it out and get some free bonuses at getgia.ai/dynamicagency-----------No one was asking for another community. But I've made one anyway.So what's different?The Dynamic Agency Community is designed around access rather than content.Access to peers who've done it before.Access to experts who've designed solutions.Access to resources that have been battle-tested.And right now, the price for founding members is only $97/year.Join today so your agency has immediate access to everything you need to grow.You can join at DynamicAgency.Community. -----------Hiring in the agency world is rough. Most job posting sites get you lots of applicants, but with their “easy applying” options, most of those are unqualified. And worse, they don’t understand what it’s like working at an agency.This is why I created the Agency Job Hub. You can post your positions for free to find applicants looking specifically for agency work, and we already have a growing list of candidates who’ll be notified as soon as you post.You can list your open positions for free at AgencyJobHub.com.-----------Our friends at Parakeeto have a powerful resource that dives into everything you need to know about agency profitability.This is a must-have for agency owners and operators.Get the Agency Profit Toolkit for free now!-----------Subscribe to the Agency Forward blog on Substack.We have weekly blog content with practical advice to help you advance your agency. -----------Want to level up your agency? Get the Dynamic Offers Email Mini-CourseExplore the 5 of the most common challenges agencies face in today's market.We're talking about the challenges that lead to no prospects, no recurring revenue, and nothing for people to buy from you.It's worth reading just for the ideas alone.5 emails. 5 challenges. 5 strategies to fix them.Get it at DynamicAgencyCourse.com.-----------And if you're ready for 1-on-1 help to create some mind-blowing offers for your agency, visit DynamicAgencyOS.com to schedule a free consultation. Running an agency is tough, but you don't need to go it alone.

Dec 2, 2025 • 34min
084 Kurt Schmidt: Why Great Work Still Fails Without This One Thing
Hey everyone, today I'm joined by Kurt Schmidt.Kurt is an agency consultant and the creator of the YouTube channel "Agency Unfiltered," where he shares practical insights for running better creative and digital service firms.He’s a former agency owner who now coaches teams on process, communication, and leadership, and his advice is battle-tested from years of managing clients, projects, and profit margins in the trenches.I wanted to have Kurt on because most agency chaos isn’t from bad work, it’s from bad expectation management, and he knows how to fix that. Also, he's one of those genuine people that I enjoy surrounding myself with. In this episode, we discuss:How to avoid client drama with better expectation settingWhat “good” looks like and how to align on it earlyTraining teams to hold the line without pissing off clientsAnd more...You can learn more about Kurt on LinkedIn.-----------Lead Gen is the hardest part of running an agency.For most, it's unpredictable, it's slow, and it's usually expensive.Gia flips that.It's the all-in-one growth platform that turns your existing relationships and client work into a steady pipeline.Gia automates lead gen follow-up and content, and it's all from the work you're already doing.You can check it out and get some free bonuses at getgia.ai/dynamicagency-----------No one was asking for another community. But I've made one anyway.So what's different?The Dynamic Agency Community is designed around access rather than content.Access to peers who've done it before.Access to experts who've designed solutions.Access to resources that have been battle-tested.And right now, the price for founding members is only $97/year.Join today so your agency has immediate access to everything you need to grow.You can join at DynamicAgency.Community. -----------Hiring in the agency world is rough. Most job posting sites get you lots of applicants, but with their “easy applying” options, most of those are unqualified. And worse, they don’t understand what it’s like working at an agency.This is why I created the Agency Job Hub. You can post your positions for free to find applicants looking specifically for agency work, and we already have a growing list of candidates who’ll be notified as soon as you post.You can list your open positions for free at AgencyJobHub.com.-----------Our friends at Parakeeto have a powerful resource that dives into everything you need to know about agency profitability.This is a must-have for agency owners and operators.Get the Agency Profit Toolkit for free now!-----------Subscribe to the Agency Forward blog on Substack.We have weekly blog content with practical advice to help you advance your agency. -----------Want to level up your agency? Get the Dynamic Offers Email Mini-CourseExplore the 5 of the most common challenges agencies face in today's market.We're talking about the challenges that lead to no prospects, no recurring revenue, and nothing for people to buy from you.It's worth reading just for the ideas alone.5 emails. 5 challenges. 5 strategies to fix them.Get it at DynamicAgencyCourse.com.-----------And if you're ready for 1-on-1 help to create some mind-blowing offers for your agency, visit DynamicAgencyOS.com to schedule a free consultation. Running an agency is tough, but you don't need to go it alone.


