Explore every episode of the podcast The Agency Diaries Podcast

What if the real reason your agency feels heavy… is because it can’t run without you?

In this third episode of The Agency Diaries, Kate Williams - founder of award-winning digital agency KW Marketing - is joined by Ali Newton-Temperley - agency growth expert, COO of Unusual Group, and author of Agency Exits - for a powerful conversation about what it really takes to build an agency that works without the founder being at the centre of everything.

Together, they unpack one of the biggest problems agency owners face: accidentally building a business that depends entirely on them. From founder-led sales and delivery bottlenecks to process gaps, burnout, and the pressure of trying to grow while holding it all together, this episode gets honest about what is really happening behind the scenes in agency life.

This is not just a conversation about exits. It is about building a better agency, one that gives founders more freedom, more clarity, and more room to grow.

You’ll hear:

• Why so many agencies become overly dependent on the founder
• The common growth ceilings agencies hit as they scale
• What “exit ready” really means... even if you never plan to sell
• The warning signs that your agency is too reliant on you
• Why process, structure, and leadership matter more than most founders realise
• Three practical moves agency founders should make this quarter to reduce chaos and create breathing room

If you are running a 4–8 person agency, feeling stretched, and wondering how to grow without everything relying on you, this episode will hit home.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• Join the movement at theagencydiaries.co.uk
• Follow @theagencydiaries_ for honest conversations about agency life
• Connect with Ali Newton-Temperley on LinkedIn
• If this resonated, leave a review - it helps more founders find this space.

No nonsense. No highlight reels. Just real stories, real lessons, and practical conversations about building an agency that actually works.

If you’ve ever had a client conversation that left you doubting everything… this episode is for you.

In this second episode of The Agency Diaries, Kate Williams - founder of award-winning digital agency KW Marketing - is joined by Phoebe in her team to break down one of those client calls - the kind that rattles your confidence, drains your energy, and changes how you show up as an agency owner.

Kate walks through how it felt in the moment, and what the experience taught her about boundaries, responsibility, and protecting both herself and her team.

This isn’t about blaming clients or venting - it’s about learning how to handle hard conversations without spiralling, oversharing, or burning yourself out.

You’ll hear:

• What actually happens in client calls that knock your confidence
• Why these moments feel so heavy for agency owners
• The mistake most founders make when emotions run high
• How to step back, regroup, and respond professionally
• The Calm Resolution Email - a firm, professional script Kate now uses to reset boundaries

If you’ve ever replayed a client call in your head, questioned yourself afterwards, or wondered how to handle situations like this better, this episode will help.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• Join the movement at theagencydiaries.co.uk
• Follow @theagencydiaries_ for honest conversations about agency life
• If this resonated, leave a review - it helps more founders find this space.

No guru nonsense. No highlight reels. Just real stories, real lessons, and practical tools for agency life.

Running an agency isn’t what Instagram makes it look like.

In this first episode of The Agency Diaries, Kate Williams - founder of award-winning digital agency KW Marketing - opens up about the night she nearly quit, the pressure that comes with building an agency from the ground up, and why this movement had to exist.

Joined by Laura, Kate pulls back the curtain on the realities of agency life that rarely get talked about, the self-doubt, the emotional weight of client work, the responsibility of leading a team, and the constant tension between ambition and burnout.

This episode isn’t about “success tips” or highlight reels. It’s about honesty.

You’ll hear:

1. Why agency life feels heavier than most founders expect
2. The moment Kate questioned whether she was cut out for this
3. The difference between a business model and an agency business
4. Why boundaries, belonging, and buffers are essential for survival
5. Who The Agency Diaries is really for - founders, freelancers, creatives, and agency teams alike

If you’ve ever loved what you’re building but wondered whether it’s meant to feel this hard… this episode is for you.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

1. Join the movement at theagencydiaries.co.uk
2. Follow @theagencydiaries_ for honest conversations about agency life
3. If this resonated, leave a review - it helps more founders find this space.

No guru nonsense. No highlight reels. Just real stories, real lessons, and a reminder that you’re not doing this alone.