Agency Giants From $800 Projects to 79 Team Members & $40k Retainers | Zoë & Jack Shepherd | #16
May 12, 2025
Zoë Shepherd, co-founder of The Social Shepherd and recent Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, joins her husband Jack Shepherd to share their journey of scaling a global social media agency from just $800 projects to 79 team members and $40k retainers. They discuss the intricacies of partnership dynamics, their creative evolution in marketing, and how AI is transforming the industry. The couple also opens up about balancing business growth with personal life while maintaining a strong team culture, all infused with humor and relatable experiences.
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Hire Early For Momentum
- Hire as soon as financially viable to boost momentum and motivation in your agency.
- Building a team early helps sustain growth even if it feels daunting.
Creative Is Social’s Core
- Creative content is the heart of social agencies; organic and paid social depend heavily on strong creative.
- With algorithm changes, creative is becoming the main driver of ad performance, evolving media buying roles.
Organic Unlocks Paid Growth
- Organic social is undervalued but essential for scaling paid ads, providing trust signals and breaking ceilings.
- Paid and organic social strategies work best together and should be aligned to the brand’s stage and audience.