313. Find Your Agency’s Profit Sweet Spot, with Mandi Ellefson
Release Date: 09/03/2025
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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...
info_outlineThis episode of The Innovative Agency Podcast welcomes back Mandi Ellefson, Founder of Hands Off CEO, for a candid and timely conversation about profits, client value, and the hidden levers that drive sustainable growth.
Too often, agency leaders obsess over monthly revenue or the size of the next contract while missing the real game-changer: long-term, high-profit “sweet spot” clients who fuel exponential growth.
Mandi reveals how to uncover your agency’s unique invisible advantage, reshape your business model for lasting profitability, and develop the kind of bold mindset that allows you to step out of the grind while scaling bigger impact.
If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re squeezing the most value, not just revenue, from your best client relationships, this episode will give you the clarity, courage, and strategies you need to transform how your agency grows.
What you will learn in this episode:
-
Why most agency leaders use the wrong metrics to evaluate client profitability and what you should focus on instead
-
The definition of a “profit sweet spot” client and how to identify them within your existing book of business
-
How uncovering your agency’s invisible advantage can 10x your client results
-
How to uncover your agency’s invisible advantage and reposition your offers around true transformation instead of merely deliverables
-
The steps necessary to boldly reposition your agency for new, more profitable client relationships
-
How to approach existing client relationships when you need to “upgrade” your standards and pricing
-
Strategies for weathering tough business moments while making the transition to higher-value clients
Bio
Mandi Ellefson went from $175K in debt and working around the clock to building a multimillion-dollar consulting business that runs without her — and now she helps other agency owners do the same. As Founder of Hands-Off CEO, she’s helped hundreds of firms 2X–6X fees, shorten delivery time, and free up the CEO by scaling smarter, not harder. A former business exit advisor, Mandi is known for helping agencies win premium clients and build companies they can grow — or sell — on their terms.
Resources:
Website: https://www.handsoffceo.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandiellefson/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hands-off-ceo