Redefining Agency Growth - Mary Dunn - Marketing Agency Power Hour - Episode # 039
In this episode of Marketing Agency Power Hour, host Cal Wilder sits down with Mary Dunn, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Stratagess, to unpack what it really takes to build a sustainable, high-performing marketing agency, without burning out your team or yourself.
Mary shares how she and her co-founder intentionally built a “small but mighty” agency made up of seasoned marketers, why they reversed the traditional agency growth model, and how prioritizing people, flexibility, and client fit has led to exceptional retention on both the client and employee side. The conversation dives into responsible growth, pricing with confidence, balancing work-life demands (especially as a working parent), and why scaling at all costs isn’t the only, or best, path to success.
Takeaways
- Building your team before pursuing new clients creates better outcomes, stronger retention, and less operational chaos.
- Matching experienced talent with clients who value quality work is a competitive advantage that fuels long-term success.
- “Responsible growth” focused on sustainability and retention often outperforms scale-at-all-costs strategies.
- Hiring strategic generalists with deep experience creates flexibility, reduces silos, and improves client service.
- Flexibility, autonomy, and work-life balance are powerful retention tools, especially for senior talent and working parents.
- Staying partially involved in client work helps leaders make better strategic decisions and stay connected to their team’s reality.
Connect with Mary:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marygreen2/
- Company Website: https://stratagess.com/
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