Being full-service almost broke her. Specializing gave her agency new life.

For over 16 years, Arleigh Vasconcellos said yes.
Yes to growth.
Yes to more services.
Yes to building a full-service agency that could handle it all.

She grew her team, expanded her client base, and became known for delivering results across everything from PR to websites to events.

But behind the scenes, she was on a treadmill she couldn’t get off.
Burnout crept in. Boundaries blurred. And the joy that once fueled her work? Gone.

In this powerful conversation, Arleigh shares how she unraveled the full-service model she built and why specializing in demand generation PR wasn’t just a strategic move, but a personal lifeline.

We talk about:

• The moment she realized she was “a victim of her own success”
• The emotional and operational cost of scaling without intention
• Why letting go of services, clients, and even team members was necessary
• The internal shifts that helped her reclaim her spark and build a business aligned with who she is today

Whether you're at a pivot point or simply questioning if the agency you built is the one you still want , his episode offers clarity, courage, and a path to realignment.

🎧 Tune in and hear how Arleigh rebuilt her agency for clarity, joy, and impact.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Arleigh: Arleigh Vasconcellos on LinkedIn
• Roar & Whisper (Arleigh’s agency): roarwhisper.com
• Agency Together – The trusted community for Small But Mighty Agency owners. Arleigh is a member, and this episode includes insights from inside our sneak peek strategy sessions.
  👉 Join Agency Together or learn more here

Want to Build an Agency That Attracts the Right Clients Before the Pitch?
Smart agencies don’t chase leads—they build trust that attracts them

👉 Get the free Trust Equity Mini-Course
Learn the 4 trust-building systems that help Small But Mighty Agencies grow through authority, referrals, and strategic partnerships—so you can get chosen before the sales call even happens.

Hey thank for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.

Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep129

Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

Curious about adding a course to your agency model—but not sure if it’s worth it?

As agency owners, we’re always looking for smarter ways to scale.
Products. Templates. Digital assets.

The idea is simple: take what you know, turn it into something scalable, and earn while you sleep.

But here’s the nuance we don’t talk about enough:

Courses don’t remove complexity.
They shift it—from service delivery to audience building, funnel building, and volume marketing.

That’s what I explored with Kwadwo Sampany-Kessie,—agency owner, course creator, and host of the popular Art of Online Business podcast on this week’s Small But Mighty Agency podcast.

We unpack:

• Why he created a course for an audience his agency couldn’t serve
• How he validated the offer before building it
• The honest truth about course revenue and time savings
• Why low-ticket offers need high-volume marketing
• The double-strategy it takes to grow two different offers
  
  

🎧 Tune in if you're considering a digital product—and want the full picture of what it takes to do it well.

Resources & Links:

• Follow Kwadwo (pronounced QUĀY.jo) on Instagram: @quayjo
• Listen to The Art of Online Business podcast

Want to Build an Agency That Attracts the Right Clients Before the Pitch?
Smart agencies don’t chase leads—they build trust that attracts them

👉 Get the free Trust Equity Mini-Course
Learn the 4 trust-building systems that help Small But Mighty Agencies grow through authority, referrals, and strategic partnerships—so you can get chosen before the sales call even happens.

Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep128

Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

If you’ve ever wondered whether building your personal brand is worth the time or struggled to show up online in a way that feels real and strategic—this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency, I sit down with Lauren Shirreffs, founder of Two Social and social media strategist to 250+ brands, to help you rethink how you show up online.

Lauren’s personal brand has become a magnet for opportunities, and today, she’s sharing how you can build one that attracts right-fit clients, top talent, and powerful collaborations.

You’ll hear what’s working for her personal brand on social media, how to take creative risks without losing your voice, and what it really takes to build a personal brand that grows your agency.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

• Why your personal voice matters more than your agency page
• What kind of content is resonating right now
• How to build trust by sharing not just wins—but lessons from mistakes
• Why your team’s presence online can boost your brand more than you think
• How to define your boundaries so showing up feels aligned, not performative

Whether you’re just getting started or refining what’s already working, this episode will help you show up more confidently and consistently.

Resource and Links:

-Instagram: @laurenmarias

-Agency IG: @2_social

-LinkedIn: Lauren Shirreffs

Want to Build an Agency That Attracts the Right Clients Before the Pitch?
Smart agencies don’t chase leads—they build trust that attracts them

👉 Get the free Trust Equity Mini-Course
Learn the 4 trust-building systems that help Small But Mighty Agencies grow through authority, referrals, and strategic partnerships—so you can get chosen before the sales call even happens.

Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep127

Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis