Business
In this episode of E-coffee with Experts, we sit down with Barbara O. Stephenson, CEO, Owner and Agency Principal of 300 Feet Out, to explore her incredible journey from operations lead to agency owner.
Barbara shares what it really takes to scale a creative agency, from buying out the business, acquiring a dev shop, and navigating California’s tricky hiring laws, to managing finances, compliance, and branding in the AI era.
She breaks down common branding mistakes, explains the difference between branding and marketing, and reveals why SEO fundamentals still matter in today’s AI-powered search landscape. Plus, hear the personal story behind her favorite client win, and the powerful mindset shift that helped her grow as a CEO.
Whether you're an agency owner, marketer, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with lessons on leadership, risk-taking, and building an agency that lasts.
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In this episode, we discuss:
00:00 - 00:30: Introduction
00:30 - 01:50: How Barbara Got Into the Agency World
01:50 - 02:25: Taking the Leap to Own the Agency
02:25 - 04:05: Early Struggles of Running a Business
04:05 - 05:36: How She Started Scaling Her Team
05:36 - 06:25: What Services the Agency Offers
06:25 - 08:22: Why She Bought a Development Agency
08:22 - 11:27: How Brands Should Handle AI & Search
11:27 - 12:04: Why SEO Still Matters for AI
12:04 - 15:17: The Biggest Branding Mistake + Favorite Client Story
15:17 - 15:23: Final Thoughts
Connect with Barbara O Stephenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaraostephenson/
https://www.300feetout.com/services
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