This week on Own It we’re talking to Carrie Stein from Bridge Insights and Media. She obviously came up through the media side of the ad business, working for many years at Neilsen before co-founding Bridge with her partner Jenny Griffith 10 years ago.
They started with the idea that advertising could be smarter, more cost-effective and easier for clients. We talked about her firm, her journey to ownership and her thoughts on the gender gap in agency ownership.
Learning more about fellow agency owners never fails to give me ideas and inspiration. This episode was no different.
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Building a successful agency, especially as co-founders, thrives on complementary skill sets. By clearly defining roles where one partner excels in areas the other prefers to avoid (e.g., sales vs. "the actual work"), the business can operate seamlessly and avoid internal friction. This understanding and mutual respect for each other's strengths and weaknesses can lead to a strong, enduring partnership.
A deep-seated commitment to customer service and ensuring client success is a powerful professional motivator. Viewing every client interaction as the "most important meal in their lives" and striving to overdeliver leads to client satisfaction and continued business. This philosophy, rooted in early experiences in service industries, forms a strong foundation for an agency's reputation and growth.
It's possible to build a successful career and agency without sacrificing personal life. Emphasizing work-life integration, rather than strict separation, allows for flexibility to attend to family needs while still maintaining a strong work ethic. This approach shows younger generations that success doesn't require constant work, but rather focused effort when working and prioritizing personal time and family connections.
