Eight Guiding Principles for High-Performing Agency Teams
Leading CMOs and brand marketers evaluate agencies based on criteria beyond creativity – speed, agility, and value. They’ve reported that:
Speed of delivery is a factor in whether agencies win new projects
A nimble working model is a top area of improvement they’d like from agencies
They want better value from their agency relationships
On the agency side, many firms report they are challenged to meet these expectations — to achieve stronger integrated thinking, quicker delivery, and lower costs. Their margins, quality of work, client satisfaction, and employee morale suffer as a result. If this touches a nerve, it’s time to rethink how your agency works.
Join Brian Kessman, Principal Consultant of Lodestar Agency Consulting, for practical guidance on how you can leverage a new set of eight agency operating principles inspired by Agile, Lean, and other areas of management innovation. You’ll learn how your agency can begin working faster, smarter, and with greater agility across all levels of your business.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Gain perspective and insight into how your agency can achieve the following:
Improved quality of creative ideas and deliverables
More productive teams and faster turnaround times
Adaptability to manage frequently changing client priorities
Stronger cross-discipline collaboration and digital-first thinking
Greater on-time and in-budget work
Fewer meetings and less communication overhead
Greater team autonomy, accountability, and adaptability
Improved client collaboration and satisfaction and employee morale
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
C-suite members invested in stronger agency performance through organizational-wide agility
Directors of agency disciplines that want better cross-functional collaboration
Account managers who want to be more strategic for their clients
HR and Talent Directors who want to help lead organizational change
Project managers who wish to lead high-performing teams
Producers who want to produce a higher quality of work
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Brian Kessman is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Lodestar Agency Consulting. Brian helps agencies achieve sustainable growth and greater profitability by refining their positioning, productizing high-value offerings, and transforming their revenue models and pricing strategies. He focuses on helping firms diversify and scale revenue by moving beyond commoditized, low-margin services and billable hours to high-margin, value-led solutions, enabling them to thrive and reinvest in their business.
With over two decades of agency leadership experience, Brian's comprehensive approach ensures agencies not only excel in an increasingly commoditized market but also harness emerging technologies like AI and automation to gain a competitive edge. His methodology integrates Agile, Lean, and other management innovations, specifically tailored to meet the evolving needs of modern agencies.
A recognized speaker at industry events such as the 4As, Mirren, AMIN Worldwide, and many others, Brian is committed to elevating agencies through workshops, consulting programs, and presentations that focus on growth strategies, innovative business models, and profitable pricing approaches.
Brian is also the founder of ProductizationPartners.com, an online suite of AI tools designed to help professional service firms quickly develop a go-to-market strategy, refine products, and align teams for scalable growth.