This week on Own It, we’re talking to Holly Conti of Full Swing PR. If you remember the firm’s name, Holly is the co-owner with Caitlin Copple, who was our guest back in November of 2022. She wasn’t originally an owner, so we get to hear how an employe moves into an ownership role.
Holly and Christy had a great conversation about her journey from wanting to be creative and the boss when she was young, to being creative and the boss now. She had some smart thoughts on female ownership in the advertising business, too.
Enjoy this as much as we did.
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From a young age, Holly articulated her desire to be "creative and the boss," which ultimately became a guiding principle throughout her career journey. This early self-awareness helped shape her decisions, even when her path seemed indirect.
Holly's career path included roles in local TV, becoming a yoga teacher, and working at various agencies before co-owning Full Swing PR. Each seemingly disparate experience, from understanding media to cultivating mindfulness and account management, contributed to her unique skillset and prepared her for agency ownership.
Holly's partnership with Caitlin Koppel succeeded due to their complementary skills – Caitlin's visionary, risk-taking nature and Holly's organized, pragmatic approach. Despite different ways of operating, their shared entrepreneurial spirit and common values for serving clients and achieving big goals have driven their agency's growth.
Holly emphasizes that being an agency owner provides the ultimate control over one's life, allowing for financial and personal decisions that are not beholden to an employer. This personal agency enables a flexible lifestyle, such as being present for her daughter, which would be difficult to achieve in an employee role.
Despite the hard work and stress involved in agency ownership, Holly stresses the importance of consistent self-care, even in small ways. Simple practices like being in nature, journaling, or meditating are crucial for maintaining mental and emotional well-being and preventing burnout.
