Second Bite Podcast

Jordan Choo is the former Managing Partner at Kogneta, a digital marketing agency that helps local and franchise businesses scale through data-driven strategies. As an experienced digital marketing leader, he has over a decade of experience in advertising, analytics, and growth strategy. Jordan also hosts Agency Automators, a podcast about SEO automation. In this episode… Building and selling a business isn't always about maximizing the final number — it's often about timing, energy, and personal priorities. What happens when the cost of continuing outweighs the potential upside? Jordan Choo, former Managing Partner at Kogneta, shares his experience selling a sub-$1M agency. With host Todd Taskey, Jordan explains how industry shifts like AI influenced his decision, what he learned from stepping away for nearly a year, and the importance of understanding your "why" before exiting a business.

Eric Ashworth is the CEO of Agital, an integrated marketing services company. As a seasoned marketing executive with over 25 years of leadership experience, he has built and led multiple high-performing marketing organizations and agencies. Before joining Agital, Eric was the President of SGK and led agency and marketing solutions initiatives at Quad. In this episode… Marketing is evolving as technology reshapes how brands reach and engage customers. What does it take to build a modern marketing organization that can keep up with constant disruption? Eric Ashworth, CEO of Agital, explains how agencies are evolving to serve SMB and mid-market brands in a rapidly changing digital landscape. With host Todd Taskey, Eric shares his journey from brand marketing to building global agency networks, what founders should consider when selling their agencies, and how AI and integrated marketing will reshape the future of the industry.

Eric Bertrand is the CEO of Mod Op, an eight-office digital advertising agency serving Fortune 500 and middle-market companies. Under his leadership, he drove strategic growth through acquisitions and positioned the company as a future-forward platform agency with a broad suite of end-to-end capabilities. As a PE and VC fund manager, Eric invested over $400 million in more than 50 companies across media and entertainment, retail, consumer products, and IT. In this episode… M&A is rapidly evolving in the marketing industry. With the rise of digital technologies and private equity, how can CEOs navigate growth and change? CEO of Mod Op, Eric Bertrand, discusses the strategic growth of his agency through acquisitions and private equity partnerships. With host Todd Taskey, Eric shares his journey from private equity to agency leadership, the value of an integrated service platform, and the key attributes he looks for in acquisition targets.

Katy Hornaday is the CEO of BarkleyOKRP, one of the largest independent full-service advertising agencies in the US. She joined the company as a Creative Director and helped facilitate the 2024 merger of Barkley and OKRP. In this episode… In an industry crowded with holding companies and boutique shops, building something that stands apart requires difficult choices, clear values, and a long-term vision. What does it take to grow a modern agency without losing its unique culture? CEO of BarkleyOKRP, Katy Hornaday, discusses building an independent agency with both scale and soul. With host Todd Taskey, Katy explains her path from creative to CEO, how BarkleyOKRP approaches private equity partnerships, and how a clear strategic thesis guides growth, culture, and acquisitions.

Justin Hayashi is the CEO of New Engen, a performance-driven, digital marketing and growth agency. He co-founded the company in 2016 and also serves on its board of directors. Before New Engen, Justin led customer acquisition and analytics at Zulily, where he drove e-commerce growth. In this episode… Private equity-backed growth isn't always straightforward, especially in a rapidly shifting digital media landscape. What does it take to build acquisition momentum while staying ahead of changing content, platforms, and client expectations? CEO of New Engen, Justin Hayashi, discusses building a modern marketing services platform through disciplined M&A and innovation. With host Todd Taskey, Justin shares how board-level strategy shapes acquisitions, why short-form video and UGC are central to growth, and how New Engen is preparing for global expansion.

Justin Hayashi is the CEO of New Engen, a performance-driven, digital marketing and growth agency. He co-founded the company in 2016 and also serves on its board of directors. Before New Engen, Justin led customer acquisition and analytics at Zulily, where he drove e-commerce growth. In this episode… Building a high-growth agency doesn't always follow a linear path. How can leaders respond when their company's initial vision collides with market realities and investor expectations? CEO of New Engen, Justin Hayashi, talks about building and scaling his digital marketing agency with private equity. With host Todd Taskey, Justin discusses the company's pivot from a SaaS vision to an agency model, how VC and private equity differ in practice, and the importance of choosing the right PE partner and developing an M&A strategy for long-term growth.

Raj Ramanan is the CEO of Herringbone Digital, a digital marketing platform backed by Trinity Hunt Partners. He has led companies from startups and pre-seeds to mid-market and Fortune 1000 to achieve above-market outcomes in revenue growth, profitability, capital raises, and sales. Before joining Herringbone Digital, Raj held executive positions, including CEO at Jitsu, Chief Operating Officer at Scorpion, Chief Revenue Officer at Hearst, and President of HYFN Local at Nexstar Media Group, and co-founded Loku, a local discovery startup. Seth Price, Esq., is the Founder of BluShark Digital, a best-in-class digital agency that merged with Herringbone Digital. As an attorney, he is a Partner at Price Benowitz, LLP, which he scaled from a two-person law firm into a multi-attorney practice. Seth also delivers legal marketing, SEO, and business development speeches. In this episode… Private equity is reshaping the digital marketing landscape, especially in highly competitive, founder-led industries. How can growth capital align with culture, autonomy, and long-term vision to create a shared business? Raj Ramanan, CEO of Herringbone Digital, and Seth Price, Founder of BluShark Digital, discuss building a founder-first platform in legal marketing. With host Todd Taskey, Seth and Raj explain the importance of brand independence, how aligned incentives drive outcomes, and how AI and shared resources can fuel sustainable growth.

Ben Landers is the President and CEO of Ahead of Next, a company he founded after exiting his prior business. Previously, he was the Founder of Blue Corona, a data-driven digital marketing and analytics firm specializing in helping home-services companies improve marketing performance and generate leads and sales. Ben was also the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at DrinkMore Water, where he launched several websites and an e-commerce store. In this episode… High-growth founders often face pivotal moments that force them to reexamine their goals: financial freedom, operational control, or a new chapter entirely. How can an entrepreneur navigate these crossroads while keeping the business and their personal identity intact? Ben Landers, President and CEO of Ahead of Next, talks about selling his fast-growing digital marketing company. With host Todd Taskey, Ben explains how he evaluated buyers, prepared for a smooth transaction, and adapted to life after stepping away from the business.

Jordan Ross is the Founder and CEO of 8 Figure Agency, a consultancy that helps digital marketing agencies scale to seven- and eight-figure revenues through AI-powered systems. With over a decade of experience, he managed more than 2,500 employees while working at Amazon. Since founding 8 Figure Agency, Jordan has consulted with more than 1,000 agencies. In this episode… Efficiency, profitability, and AI are rewriting the growth playbook for agencies, leaving many founders wondering how to keep up. How can you transform the way your business runs — without selling more? Founder and CEO of 8 Figure Agency, Jordan Ross, discusses how AI-driven efficiency is reshaping agency operations. With host Todd Taskey, Jordan explains how agencies can unlock hidden profit, strengthen sales follow-up, and shift from service provider to business owner.

Doug Hathaway is the Co-founder and CTO/CPO of LawFi, a legal fintech platform that helps consumers and small businesses finance legal services. With over 20 years of experience in software engineering, he co-founded DadeSystems, a SaaS platform for Fortune 500 enterprises and top banks, which was acquired by Versapay, where he led its Cash Application platform. In this episode… The journey from startup to profitable exit is rarely a straight line, and the twists often reveal the most valuable lessons. How did a decade of persistence, pivots, and near-misses lead to the right acquisition at the right time? Co-founder and CTO/CPO of LawFi, Doug Hathaway, discusses building and selling his company after 11 years of growth. With host Todd Taskey, Doug talks about navigating investor influence, managing shifting board dynamics, and handling the emotional swings of a deal that nearly collapsed before closing.