Earlier this week, I shared my current findings on how we can prepare for the Intelligence Age. We’re entering a new era, one where adaptability, insight, and trust are more valuable than ever.

This is the first in a four-part recap of that session, designed to help you and your team stay ahead. We’re starting with the foundation: the landscape itself is changing fast. Clients are evolving. Tech is accelerating. And the old ways of doing business are failing us.

Let’s dig into what’s shifting—and what that means for you.

Every time we ask you to share what’s really going on, you show up with honesty, heart, and clarity. The Better Bureau Survey had 122 members weigh in, and while there’s plenty to celebrate, there are also clear signs that this moment in our industry is challenging. (Nice one, Captain Obvious!)

Today, I want to share what came through loud and clear and how we're looking to help.

There is a powerful evolution happening in marketing. Top brands are shifting their creative relationships to independent agencies. Their decisions are strategic, not accidental. They're seeking faster execution, strategic innovation, deeper cultural relevance, hands-on leadership, and market-tailored creativity.

Today we spotlight five of these transformative moves with lessons your agency can apply to win your next client.

From my vantage point, perched above a thousand conversations, I see some shops excelling with AI and others dipping their toes in the water cautiously. 

What's the difference? Read on to find out what they’re doing and what you can start doing today!

The agency landscape is shifting, and staying ahead means understanding the trends shaping the industry. The State of Digital Services 2025 breaks down what's working, what's not, and the steps agency leaders are taking to grow in a challenging market. Special thanks to our friends at Promethean Research and Parallax for making this research possible. As well as the 151 shops who participated, y'all rock! Now keep reading to find the key insights and how to get your copy.

When we think about AI, it's easy to get caught up in its ability to streamline tasks, analyze data, and improve efficiency. But AI has another, less obvious use. It can help us connect with our teams on a more human level.

Empathy has always been a cornerstone of great leadership. It builds trust, strengthens relationships, and fosters an environment where people feel valued. But in the chaos of managing daily responsibilities, it’s easy for even the most empathetic leaders to lose sight of what matters. That’s where AI can help us. 

Keep reading for a few tips and tricks to keeping yourself on a solid leadership path!

A lot of my week is spent talking with nice folks like you. And lately, it feels like we're all getting a little too close to burnout regardless of how our businesses are doing. No matter the size of the team or the business's profitability, the pressure to be involved in everything is growing and it's too much. What's so silly about this is that the key to avoiding both burnout and being a more effective leader is doing less. So keep reading to learn how to step back, trust your team, and focus on the bigger picture.

Parkinson’s Law has many impacts on the world of business. Learn more from expert Jody Gruden on how this area affects employee experience and engagement.

Just as your in-person conversations consist of speech and non-verbal cues like your body language, emojis add important nuance and emotional emphasis to our daily digital interactions. A single image can convey a whole sentence and express “feeling better” than you could with words alone. Here’s how we can use emojis that maintain our identity in a way that is inclusive and welcoming to others.

Managing risk is a necessary component of project management. Unfortunately, it is often neglected right up until the point where there is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Ignoring risks until they materialize is guaranteed to blow your budget and schedule every time – and it will add unnecessary stress.

Building the right thing is hard work in software development. At Sparkbox, digital project managers and tech leads work closely together to ensure success. In this guest post, Sparkbox Project Manager and Digital PM Summit alum Austin Munhofen offers an inside look at the DPM-Tech Lead alliance, offering tips on how to cultivate an effective partnership.

Speakers and attendees from across the globe joined us for the Digital PM Summit 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Sessions provided a solid mix of informative, tactical, reaffirming, and inspiring content. It’s a mix that we aspire for every year, and we’re certainly planning to make The Digital PM Summit 2018 even better when we converge on Memphis, TN September 4-6, 2018.

Nothing can derail a service company like a project that stalls out. It messes up resourcing, scheduling, cash flow, quality, culture and the client relationship. The Pause Clause is beneficial for both the web shop and the client. It sets expectations and starts a conversation about staying on schedule.