Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time.
Today, we’re talking to Jaime Ekman of the Stoltz Marketing Group. That agency was started by Ken Stoltz, Jaime’s father. So her path to ownership is a bit different than many agency owners.
But it’s even more complicated than just growing up in the agency world. Mr. Stoltz was diagnosed with brain cancer and Jaime came to the business from working elsewhere out of necessity to help manage the business. I think we can all imagine the difficulty of that transition, but after about six months into her taking over a leadership role, her father passed.
Jaime talks about taking over a team that wasn’t her own, building one that shared her vision and the success she is now experiencing after a five-year journey to reset the agency both differently from, and in honor of, her father.
There are so many incredible lessons in this episode. Jaime is a true leader and inspiration. This is certainly an emotional conversation, but I feel so blessed to have had it. I know you will share in that once you listen.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jaime discusses the challenge of inheriting a team that wasn't necessarily aligned with her vision after her father's passing. She emphasizes the importance of taking time to build a team that shares her vision and can help execute it, leading to a phenomenal team she is proud of five years later. This was a unique challenge to her situation, distinct from general ownership hurdles.
Jaime reflects on her father's experience of feeling lonely as an owner and how she actively counters this by being transparent with her leadership team about financials and decisions. She believes that sharing more and building a strong, trusted leadership team reduces the feeling of isolation often associated with ownership and ultimately leads to a greater return for the business.
Jaime shares her vision for the agency, which goes beyond mere growth to creating a workplace where people are excited to come to work, find purpose, and want to stay long-term. She views growth as valuable only if it enables the team to do more, do better, and feel more engaged, emphasizing a focus on people and culture over growth for growth's sake.
Jaime highlights the agency's commitment to implementing policies like paid parental leave, sabbatical programs, and flexible work schedules to support both women and men in the workplace. She believes these policies make it easier for people, especially women, to advance into leadership roles and contribute to changing how business is done in the industry.
Jaime describes an innovative "returner" program designed to help individuals who have taken breaks from their careers (e.g., for childcare) re-enter the workforce. This initiative, spearheaded by her chief creative officer, addresses ageism and resume gaps, providing mentorship and support to help these individuals find their footing again, setting an example for how agencies can foster diversity and inclusion.
