A lot of agency founders still believe they need to scale to $10M+, hire 80+ people, or chase a $1M EBITDA target before anyone will ever buy their business. Jonathan Smith — founder of Catch (acquired via a private-equity backed deal) and Managing Partner at Draft Partners says that’s complete nonsense. In this episode, we break down why the next 5 years belong to small, specialised, profitable agencies, not bloated teams chasing vanity scale. We go deep on: – The myth of “you need $1M EBITDA to exit” – Why buyers prefer lean, niche, high-margin shops – How founders trap themselves in the treadmill of delivery – How AI is making 10-person teams more powerful than 100-person teams – How to design an agency you can eventually step out of (and sell) If you’re an agency owner thinking about growth, scale, or a future exit — this conversation will save you years of pain. Powered by Big Growth Group. https://www.biggrowthgroup.com/ Connect with: Jonathan Smith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanrsmith/

Romans Ivanovs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjivanovs/

He's responsible for 200% growth YoY inside multiple agencies. Currently a Chief Commercial Office and Board Director at Embryo. James Guérin is on the Big Growth Show. This is THE FIRST time we’ve properly gone deep on the commercial side of agency leadership. And trust me, James delivers the blueprint. 🎙️We unpack:

- A must-do shift moving from founder-led to team-led sales

- Weekly non-negotiables for outbound & relationship building

- The 80/20 psychology rule of commercial success

- What it really takes to win large clients

- Red flags in pitch decks and sales process Connect with James Guérin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-guerin/ Romans Ivanovs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjivanovs/ Brought to you by Big Growth Group

https://www.biggrowthgroup.com

Michael Serwa is the UK’s highest-paid life coach, working exclusively with high-calibre clients including billionaires, royalty and FTSE-listed CEOs. Known for his “no-BS” approach, he built his practice entirely through one-to-one work. He is the author of From Good to Amazing and has been featured in numerous media outlets, including GQ, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, BBC, and Sky. In this episode, we dive deep into what it really takes to operate at the highest level. We cover:

• How he wen from retail manager to coaching billionaires
• How moving to Myafair made his business
• Why he refuses to work with clients who don’t meet his standards
• What the most successful people he’s coached have in common
• Michael’s take on self-worth, arrogance and elite performance
• Advice for anyone playing below their level

🔗 Connect with: Michael Serwa: / mserwa Romans Ivanovs: / rjivanovs Brought to you by Big Growth Group.

Uncover hidden opportunities in your agency's ops, AI, leadership and margins. https://www.biggrowthgroup.com/ In this episode, Joshua Behr (Founder & CEO of AMB Interactive, a Klaviyo Elite Partner agency) shares the raw truth behind fast growth, burnout, and what it really takes to build a sustainable, high-retention agency. We dive into: ✅ The $38M viral launch that changed everything ✅ Why “Grow Slow or Die” became his operating philosophy ✅ Building long-term client relationships that actually last ✅ Managing teams at 200MPH — without crashing ✅ Strategy vs. design vs. copy in 2025 and beyond ✅ The future of retention marketing in the AI age This one's for agency founders, operators, and anyone scaling under pressure. Brought to you by Big Growth Group.

No Limit Email became one of the most respected agencies in eCom. In this episode of the Big Growth Show, we sit down with the powerhouse trio behind No Limit Email – Michael, Jerry and Josh – a retention marketing agency that's scaled to serve over 200+ brands including Unilever and Carnival Snacks. Starting with zero knowledge of email, no systems, and pure obsession, they built one of the most operationally sound and culture-driven agencies in the retention space. What we cover:

• How they scaled from scratch to a global client base
• The extreme culture and hiring process behind their team
• Running a business as a couple
• Systems, SOPs and building an agency that runs without you
• The hard truths about pricing, burnout, and team management
• How they’re using AI to scale without breaking quality
• Why obsession beats talent when building a business

🔗 Connect with: Michael Galvin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecom-michael-galvin/

Geraldine Cortes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerri-cortes/

Josh Tray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-tay/

Note: Since recording this episode, Josh Tray has moved on from No Limit Email. His insights in this episode remain incredibly valuable. 🎤 Hosted by Romans Ivanovs from the Big Growth Show: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjivanovs/ Brought to you by Big Growth Group. At BGG we help digital agencies install the infrastructure to scale delivery, remove founder-dependency, and run a financially healthy agency. Book your strategy call: https://www.biggrowthgroup.com/strategy-call

In this episode, Joe Gannon from Amplify breaks down exactly how he built a a content marketing agency from scratch - starting as a 20-year-old social media manager to working with Ali Abdaal (6.5M subscribers), Chris Williamson (Modern Wisdom), Jordan Peterson and many others. We cover:

• Content-first agency model team structure
• Building experimentation content frameworks
• The difference between optimising for followers vs. leads
• How much effort it takes to build a content engine internally
• Energy management and what drives you as founders

🔗 Connect with Joe Gannon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-gannon/

🎤 Hosted by Romans Ivanovs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjivanovs/

Brought to you by Big Growth Group. At Big Growth Group we fix ops and delivery inefficiencies for $1-10M agencies so they can increase profit and create founder leverage. Apply for a consultation here: https://www.biggrowthgroup.com/strategy-call

What happens when your agency grows faster than you can handle? George Kapernaros built one of Europe’s top CRM agencies, YOCTO, but behind the scenes... sleepless nights, burnout, and the realisation that something had to change.

In this raw, honest conversation, George breaks down the mental and operational shifts that helped him rebuild from the inside out. We cover agency structure, team building, founder ego, strategy, AI, and what it really takes to scale without breaking. 🔗 Connect with George Kapernaros: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-kapernaros/ 🎤 Hosted by Romans Ivanovs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjivanovs/ Brought to you by Big Growth Group: https://www.biggrowthgroup.com/

At Big Growth Group we systemise scale to drive margins and lift EBITDA for $1-$10M digital marketing agencies. We’re not just consultants who leave you with a list of ideas. We’re Growth Operators who work alongside you to deliver real, measurable results. Apply for a consultation here: https://www.biggrowthgroup.com/strategy-call

Wouter Glaser built one of the Netherlands’ top PR agencies, Glasnost, scaling it from a solo operation to 40+ full-time staff, landing Vodafone, Rabobank & Unilever, and ultimately exiting with €1M EBITDA. In this episode, we break down how he did it, what he'd do differently today, and the hard truths founders need to hear when scaling to multiple 7 figures. What You’ll Learn: → How Wouter won major clients against global agencies → Why most founders get stuck at the €2M ceiling → What makes an agency exit-ready (beyond just EBITDA) → Leadership shifts every founder must make to scale → Why being “missable” is the ultimate power move → The 3 levers of sustainable agency growth: rhythm, discipline & communication → Wouter’s thoughts on AI, agency M&A, and what’s next 🔗 Connect with Wouter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wouterglaser/ 🎤 Hosted by Romans Ivanovs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjivanovs/

Brought to you by Big Growth Group. We help $1–10M agencies scale without team bloat or founder burnout - by fixing the operational systems draining your margins and time. Book your strategy call: https://www.biggrowthgroup.com/strategy-call