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 Shannon LaBare of Purveyor Branding Co. She came up through the business as a graphic designer on the brand side of things. She spent time at Bolthouse Farms, then lead a creative team at Campbell’s Soup. She launched Purveyor Branding Co., to help brands create a gravitational pull to customers in 2017.
Since then, she and her agency have worked with brands across agriculture, food and beverage, consumer goods and more. Company culture is a big part of what she focuses on. Purveyor actually has a 30-hour work week.
I love talking to creative people and I loved Shannon’s perspective on the gender gap in our industry.
Enjoy my conversation with Shannon LaBare.
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Shannon realized she only wanted to work if she was passionate and saw a future for growth. Her son's birth served as a catalyst, making her re-evaluate her work and driving her decision to pursue entrepreneurship when her corporate role no longer offered the growth or passion she desired.
Shannon initially hesitated to leverage her LinkedIn network because her business wasn't "perfect yet." However, once she engaged, she found people willing to help, highlighting the importance of authentic connections and not being afraid to ask for support from past relationships.
While online networking is valuable, Shannon emphasizes the overlooked opportunities in local communities through chambers of commerce and other business networks. These local connections can lead to valuable business-to-business relationships and insights that social networks often miss.
Shannon advises listening to your intuition, even when it feels challenging, and not shying away from being calculated in business. She challenges the negative perception of women being "calculated," asserting that it's a strategic and necessary trait for building a successful business.
If you have an entrepreneurial drive, act on it rather than postponing. Shannon believes that delaying the pursuit of one's passion will only intensify the desire, and it's better to try and potentially fail than to never try at all.
