This week on Own It, we’re talking to Dana Hork from Beers with Friends. With that name, you might anticipate a lively conversation, and you aren’t wrong. Dana’s agency says they can crack just about any business problem better, faster and without the B.S. They call these five-day sprints Beer Runs.
As you can imagine, we dig into her agency and its unique approach, but we also discussed the when, where and why of starting it and building the agency that way. We looked at her journey and got her very energetic answers to those problems we discuss here often — closing the gender gap in agency ownership.
This episode was so much fun. You’re going to enjoy it.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Dana emphasizes that a person's job or career should not define their entire identity. She actively teaches her children that being a good person with a good heart is more important than any specific profession, encouraging a holistic view of self that encompasses various life roles and passions.
Dana learned the concept of "generous leadership" from her first boss, Amy Davidson. This involves sharing leadership opportunities and giving others access to experiences that help them grow, make connections, and develop new skills, even within large organizations. This approach empowers individuals and makes large enterprises feel more accessible and personal.
Initially, Dana made career decisions based on preserving future optionality ("good for later"). However, she realized that "later is now" and shifted to making choices based on what she truly wanted to be doing and the skills she wanted to exercise in the present moment, leading her to pursue her dream of starting a creative agency.
Dana and her co-founder developed an agency model that is "more than 10% different" from traditional agencies, offering five-day sprints, a fractional talent model, and a unique approach to client engagement. This innovative model addresses common marketer challenges with agility, expertise, and a refreshing lack of "BS."
Dana believes that women agency owners bring creativity to business models, building agencies with more flexibility, empathy, and respect. This innovation is crucial for transforming an industry that may not currently serve women effectively, leading to new ways of working that prioritize mutual respect between agency, client, and talent.
