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298. Leading Agencies Through Transition, with Ellen Praytor Faulkner

The Innovative Agency

Release Date: 05/21/2025

324. Turn Data Privacy into Profit, with Aaron Burnett show art 324. Turn Data Privacy into Profit, with Aaron Burnett

The Innovative Agency

Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek sits down with Aaron Burnett, Founder and CEO of Wheelhouse DMG, for a deep dive into one of the most pressing, and misunderstood, issues in our industry: data privacy. Aaron shares hard-earned lessons from leading an agency that serves highly regulated sectors like healthcare and medical devices, revealing how boundaries around data can actually spark innovation. Aaron explores the intersection of compliance, trust, and long-term growth showing how agencies can turn regulatory challenges into strategic advantages. If you’ve ever wondered...

info_outline 323. Today’s Social Media Playbook for Agencies, with Emeric Ernoult show art 323. Today’s Social Media Playbook for Agencies, with Emeric Ernoult

The Innovative Agency

Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek welcomes Emeric Ernoult, CEO of Agorapulse, to explore what’s really working in social media right now — and what’s just noise. As both a former lawyer and agency owner, Emeric brings a rare mix of legal acumen and hands-on marketing experience to the conversation. Together, he and Sharon unpack how agencies can stay ahead as technology, algorithms, and AI continue to evolve without losing sight of what truly drives connection and results. From chasing trends to protecting your IP, this episode is a masterclass in cutting through the...

info_outline 322. Designing a Future-Ready Agency, with Nick Avaria show art 322. Designing a Future-Ready Agency, with Nick Avaria

The Innovative Agency

This episode of  The Innovative Agency Podcast tackles one of the most pivotal conversations for marketing agency owners: how do you build a business that’s not only successful today but also strategically designed for the future? Joining Sharon Toerek is Nick Avaria, Founder of Agency Acquisitions and a seasoned agency owner who’s built, scaled, and sold multiple agencies. Nick shares hard-earned lessons on navigating growth, making smart exit decisions, and even why keeping your agency “unsellable” can sometimes be the most profitable path. Get practical advice, proven systems,...

info_outline 321. AI, Your Agency & Keeping the Human Connection, with Pete Sena show art 321. AI, Your Agency & Keeping the Human Connection, with Pete Sena

The Innovative Agency

Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek sits down with Pete Sena, multi-hyphenate founder, brand experience visionary, and creative provocateur, to tackle one of the most urgent questions facing agencies today: How do you keep innovating when AI is rewriting the rules of marketing in real time? If you’ve ever wondered how AI is reshaping not just how your agency works, but how your clients’ customers feel, connect, and build trust with brands, this episode is a must-listen. Pete introduces his groundbreaking “VIBE Marketing” framework, a call to arms for agency leaders...

info_outline 320. Are Webinars Your Agency’s Secret Advantage? with Logan Lyles show art 320. Are Webinars Your Agency’s Secret Advantage? with Logan Lyles

The Innovative Agency

On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek welcomes back Logan Lyles, Founder of DemandShift and a seasoned B2B marketing strategist, for a deep dive into how agencies can reclaim webinars as a high-impact growth engine. Logan reveals how his Webinar Fast Track Framework turns webinars from passive brand awareness plays into measurable lead generation machines helping agencies attract right-fit prospects and drive real results. Sharon and Logan discuss why webinars remain one of the most underutilized tools in the agency toolkit, what most teams get wrong about engagement...

info_outline 319. Scaling Up Without Burnout, with Jesse Gilmore show art 319. Scaling Up Without Burnout, with Jesse Gilmore

The Innovative Agency

On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek chats with Jesse Gilmore, Founder of Niche In Control. Jesse opens up about his journey from entrepreneurial burnout to building agencies that scale sustainably, without sacrificing sanity or freedom. He shares powerful lessons on the mindset shifts that turn overwhelm into momentum and breaks down why adding more people isn’t always the answer to growth. Jesse reveals how systemizing your agency can help you reclaim your time, empower your team, and finally build the freedom-filled business you set out to create. What you will...

info_outline 318. Leveraging AI for SEO Advantage, with Carl Holden show art 318. Leveraging AI for SEO Advantage, with Carl Holden

The Innovative Agency

Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek and guest Carl Holden tackle one of the biggest shifts reshaping our industry — how AI is rewriting the rules of SEO and digital marketing. Carl, agency owner and Founder of RankBot, has been at the forefront of this transformation. He’s seen firsthand how AI is changing client expectations, lowering barriers to entry, and forcing agencies to redefine what “value” really means. Carl digs into what it takes to stay relevant and profitable in this new landscape, from redefining your agency’s value proposition to applying AI...

info_outline 317. Turn AI Disruption into Agency Opportunity, with Leslie Carruthers show art 317. Turn AI Disruption into Agency Opportunity, with Leslie Carruthers

The Innovative Agency

Today on The Innovative Agency Podcast, Sharon Toerek is joined by Leslie Carruthers, Founder of The Search Guru, for a conversation that every agency leader needs to hear right now. Generative AI isn’t just a shiny new tool, it’s rewriting the rules of search, visibility, and how clients find their next partner. If you’ve seen your organic traffic slide or you’re struggling with how to guide clients through this AI-driven shift, this episode is for you. Leslie brings decades of search expertise and lays out exactly what’s at stake for agencies today, along with the bold moves that...

info_outline 316. Partnerships that End Churn, with Justin Rashidi show art 316. Partnerships that End Churn, with Justin Rashidi

The Innovative Agency

On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek chats with Justin Rashidi, co-founder of SeedX, for a no-fluff conversation about one of the toughest challenges every agency faces: client churn. Justin brings a candid, inside look at why expectations so often fall apart between agencies and clients and what to do about it before the relationship unravels. From spotting red flags early, to setting crystal-clear metrics, to redefining what true partnership really looks like, Justin shares practical lessons agencies can put to work right now. This conversation also digs into why...

info_outline 315. The Table Stakes for Agency Business Growth Now, with Dan Englander show art 315. The Table Stakes for Agency Business Growth Now, with Dan Englander

The Innovative Agency

On this episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast Sharon Toerek welcomes Dan Englander, CEO and Founder of Sales Schema, to dig into what’s really ahead for agency business development in 2025 and beyond. Dan has spent years in the trenches with independent agencies, and he’s here to share why specialization and perspective are no longer “nice to haves” but are survival skills. This conversation delves into how the current “trust recession” is reshaping the sales landscape and what it means for the way agencies show up with prospects.  If you’re ready to rethink how your...

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In this episode of The Innovative Agency, Sharon Toerek is joined by Ellen Praytor Faulkner, CEO of Lewis Communications, a performance marketing powerhouse with deep roots and a forward-thinking edge. Ellen opens up about what it really takes to lead an agency through transition, stepping into the CEO role in the wake of COVID and steering through the ripple effects of economic headwinds and rapid tech shifts. 

She shares hard-earned insights on guiding both teams and clients with empathy, clarity, and a firm grip on strategy. Ellen shares why those traits aren’t just nice to have, but essential for agency growth and client success.

What you will learn in this episode: 

  • The real challenges and opportunities agency leaders face during periods of transition and change

  • How to set priorities and expectations when stepping into new leadership role at a legacy agency

  •  Why empathy, transparency, and hybrid upskilling have become core agency leadership tools

  • Creative approaches for agencies to add value as partners when clients’ in-house teams are also struggling to adapt

  • The hidden pitfalls of performance marketing and how agencies can structure compensation to protect themselves while delivering client results

  • How agencies can build lasting client relationships by embracing a “walk-alongside” mentality in today’s performance-driven market

  • The make-or-break importance of candid conversations around expectations, resources, and what true success looks like for both agency and client

Ellen Faulkner looks forward, never backward. She drives innovation and change at Lewis and never allows the agency to settle for last year’s solutions. She understands how marketing has evolved, is constantly innovating on the agency's offerings, and is a driving force in clients’ growth at pivotal moments in their history.

Ellen has led groundbreaking work for a vast range of clients during her 33+ years with the company, working across D2C and B2B brands in various industries including outdoor recreation, healthcare, education, lifestyle, and the financial sector.

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