Podcast
Creative Agency Account Manager Podcast
Hosted by Jenny Plant - Account Management Skills Ltd · EN
This podcast is for you if you are managing day to day client relationships in a creative agency. The aim of the podcast is to share insights and tips to help you add more value to the client's business, strengthen your relationships with your clients, develop your skills in account management and grow your agency's business.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Win the room: How to prep for presentations, with Martin Barnes
Mar 1700:51:40Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 159. If you’ve ever walked into a client meeting (or a pitch… or a QBR… or onto a stage) and thought, “I’ve got so much to cover - how do I say it without losing people?” - you’re going to love this one.I'm joined by Martin Barnes, Founder of 8 Seconds 2 Connect and Leadership Communication expert. Martin help leaders communicate at the moments that matter. When a big idea needs to land, shift a room, or spark momentum. His background spans 25 years in design, advertising, and film across the UK and China. He's pitched to Hollywood producers, coached C-suite teams at Mercedes, ByteDance, VW, and Cartier, and helped founders raise millions and step onto TEDx stages.In this episode, Martin and I talk about why stories build trust faster than “look how much I know” - and how to share your expertise without sounding like you’re selling, name-dropping, or talking about yourself too much.We also get into the “data dump” problem: what to do when you’ve got loads of information, but you want the room to actually listen. And Martin shares a really practical way to prepare for presentations, especially if you get nervous, using voice notes and repetition so it feels less scary and more familiar.You can connect with Martin here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinbarnespresentations/If you’d like to be kept updated with shifts in the agency world as they relate to the account management role, or you’d like to speak to me about client retention and growth training options, head to https://www.accountmanagementskills.comYou can also sign up to my newsletter there, and you’ll find the AI readiness quiz too.
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Why the agency model is in decline and how independents can win, with Michael Farmer
Mar 400:52:28Tap to summarizeWelcome to episode 158. I’m joined again by Michael Farmer to unpack what’s really going on in the agency world right now - and what it means for you if you’re running an agency, leading clients, or working in account management.Michael Farmer is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Farmer & Company LLC, a New York based strategy consulting firm for major advertisers and their creative and media agencies. He also serves as Professor of Branding and Integrated Communications at The City College of New York (CCNY). He's the author of Madison Avenue Manslaughter, an inside view of fee-cutting clients, profit-hungry owners and declining ad agencies (3rd Edition 2019), and Madison Avenue Makeover: the transformation of Huge and the redefinition of the ad agency business (2023). He has completed a new book, Madison Avenue Revisited, to be published in June 2026.Here’s what we get into:- Why Michael’s new book Madison Avenue Revisited is a sharper, more hard-hitting update on what’s driving agency decline — especially the impact of holding company decisions.- What the current wave of M&A and cost-cutting signals for agency capability, talent, and client outcomes - including the knock-on effects for senior experience in an AI era.- Why independent agencies could be entering a genuine opportunity window — and how “productising” services and focusing on measurable growth can change the game.- And a brilliant reframing for account managers: why you should stop thinking like a logistics coordinator and start operating like a management consultant to your clients.It’s one of those episodes that really challenges how we think about the agency business model.Here are a few key takeaways :- Agency success can’t just be about delivering output cheaply — the real opportunity is in linking your work to client growth and outcomes.- The industry’s talent shape is getting distorted: AI may remove more junior execution work, but it raises the need for experienced people who can direct, judge, and advise.- Independent agencies have a chance to differentiate by being explicit about what they stand for — not “low cost,” but “we help you grow, and we’ll prove it.”- And for account managers: you’ll be far more valuable when you bring data, insight, and a point of view — not just project updates and deadlines.You can keep with Michael Farmer here:http://linkedin.com/in/michaelfarmerwww.farmerandco.comMadison Avenue Revisited: https://amzn.eu/d/07SX5rrIMadison Avenue Makeover: https://amzn.eu/d/0je8R4FAMadison Avenue Manslaughter: https://amzn.eu/d/09U5HbiNIf you’d like to be kept updated with shifts in the agency world as it relates to the account management role - or you’d like to talk to me about client retention and growth training options - head to my website https://www.accountmanagementskills.comYou can also sign up to my newsletter there so you don’t miss new episodes, mini-trainings, and what I’m seeing in the market.
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AI Adoption in Pharma & MedComms: 2026 update, with Jonathan Gwillim & Kate Eversole
Feb 1100:57:50Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 157. I've got two returning guests to the show, Kate Eversole (Event Director) and Jonathan Gwillim (Co-Founder) from PharmaBrands. They provide world-class education, support, inspiration and experiences for one of the most challenging and important communication environments there is, healthcare marketing. They bring pharma teams and their agencies together through events and meetups designed specifically to help people thrive in the age of AI. In this episode, we talk about the shift from last year’s podcast episode where we were talking all about prompting, to what's relevant in March 2026, the big focus on AI agents. Kate and Jon also share what's happening inside pharma with approved tools like Microsoft Copilot and Gemini and why agencies need to align with the client's approved tool stack. We also talk about the reality of governance versus shadow AI: employees using AI without a company license. And why compliance and behaviour don't always match. We cover more about PharmaBrands ‘Age of AI, Europe’ event, taking place in London on 10th March 2026. If you're listening after the event, don't worry because Kate and Jon shared so many insights into the realities of what's happening right now with the pharmaceutical industry and medical communications when it comes to AI adoption.You can connect here on LinkedIn: Kate EversoleJonathan GwillimResources mentioned:PharmaBrands websiteAge of AI, Europe - event details and speakersReal Staffing ReportSara Rodrigues, Associate Director, Medical Affairs, AI Champion, Vertex shared with PharmaBrands how Agents are now being deployed to answer product related queries. These Agents are trained exclusively on approved sources: Protocols, FAQs, Literature, Product Labels, etc. Sara shares how this solution was easy to build, safe to use, and saves her team a lot of time: https://youtu.be/_Rks3Awp-xE?si=u_Ta_VZ5QgepHMFt&t=1797If you'd like to be kept updated with shifts in the agency world as it relates to the account management role, or perhaps you'd like to speak to me about client retention and growth training, please sign up for my newsletter.
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How to build an exit-ready agency: Lessons & practical tips, with Gavin Bell
Feb 300:51:59Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 156. This episode is especially useful if you're an agency owner thinking about an exit, or perhaps you're an account lead who wants to help your agency become more sellable and less dependent on one person. Gavin Bell is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and award-winning entrepreneur, known for delivering talks that are positive, engaging and packed with real-world lessons. Recognised as one of the UK’s most candid voices on what it really takes to build and exit a business, Gavin combines first-hand entrepreneurial experience with proven frameworks audiences can use immediately.In this conversation, Gavin and I dig into what it really takes to build an exit ready agency. - how he created a predictable growth engine by marketing his own agency- why recurring revenue and clear productized offer made the business more attractive- and the systems and SOP mindset that kept delivery consistent and client experience tight. We also get into the realities of selling from keeping it quiet to surviving due diligence and choosing a buyer based on cultural fit, not just the numbers. Some key takeaways for me were treating your agency like a product, documenting the client journey, building checklists and fixing the bugs in your process every time an issue comes up. And staying on the front foot with clients, proactive expectation setting, consistent reporting rhythms and QBRs that focus not on what's happened, but also business outcomes and the future.You can connect with Gavin Bell in various ways:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrgavinbell/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrgavinbell/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrGavinBell/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrgavinbellX/Twitter: https://x.com/mrgavinbellYouTube: https://youtube.com/mrgavinbellWebsite: https://mrgavinbell.comIf you'd like to be kept updated with shifts in the agency world as it relates to the account management role, or perhaps you'd like to speak to me about client retention and growth training, please visit https://www.accountmanagementskills.com where you can also sign up for my newsletter.
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How to reduce operational chaos in your agency, with Melanie Chandruang
Jan 1600:39:12Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 155. We’re looking at the agency’s engine room - operations. And how getting the fundamentals right can improve profitability, reduce chaos and set you up for better use of automation and AI.I’m joined by Melanie Chandruang, founder of WeConsult and a Strategic Operations Partner for creative agencies. With over 15 years in the industry, she helps agency owners boost profits, streamline operations, and move big initiatives forward so they can focus on growth and what matters most.Here’s what we cover:- Why “right people in the right seats” is still the number one operational issue - especially as services evolve fast- The key financial ratios Melanie uses to spot operational inefficiencies (and what “healthy” can look like)- The debate on hybrid AM/PM roles vs splitting the roles — and how to think about affordability and utilisation- Why most agencies aren’t “AI-first” yet and what needs to be in place before AI can genuinely improve workflows- Melanie’s practical 90-day focus areas for a 20-person agency that wants more profit and less chaosYou can connect with Melanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniechandruang/Or visit the website: https://weconsult.io/If you don’t want to miss future podcast episodes, mini-trainings, and the ideas I’m sharing each week on client retention and account growth in agencies, make sure you’re on my newsletter list: https://www.accountmanagementskills.com
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How a copywriting agency is embracing generative AI, with Konrad Sanders
May 4, 2023Tap to summarizeWelcome to episode 86, where I'm joined by Konrad Sanders, CEO of The Creative Copywriter agency, to discuss the impact of generative AI on copywriting. In this episode, we covered:- How Konrad's team is adopting AI tools and the most useful tools they've found.- The limitations of AI-written copy and what clients are saying about AI.- Advice on managing the process of change within your team and integrating AI into your workflows.https://www.linkedin.com/in/konradsanders/If you're interested in exploring AI tools to speed up your workflow or want to keep up to date with how other account managers are using AI, sign up for my newsletter on my website at https://accountmanagementskills.com. Additionally, if you're considering account management training to add more value and grow your accounts, check out the details of my Account Accelerator programme here:https://accountmanagementskills.com/account-accelerator/
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