The Bureau Briefing Archive

Welcome to The Bureau Briefing archive, a collection of past podcasts. Each episode, we talked to a member of the Bureau of Digital community doing awesome, inspiring things. Special thanks to our friends at MailChimp and InVision for supporting the Bureau Community and The Bureau Briefing. Be sure to find us on iTunes or Google Play!

Episode 054

EMPOWERING TEAMS

with Garci Inigo

Imagine walking into a room of 200 people. People you’ve never met. People who don’t know you from anyone. Now imagine you have to figure out how to get them all to work together. And not just work together, but work together effectively. Because your job depends on it. Where do you start? How do you know who’s a team player and who’s a problem? And how do you answer questions from your boss like, “how long is this going to take?” and “how will we know if it’s working?” Well, that’s exactly what Garci Inigo did when he accepted a job with the National Bank of Canada. Listen in to learn first hand about the power of empowering teams.

Episode 053

Episode 052

Many of us rolled our own which lead to some great innovation while also exposing us to more than a few liabilities. Finally, there is a standard base level agreement for digital services. Crafted by Gabe Levine and Josh Barrett, the Bureau Standard Agreement for Digital Services is a starting point for digital agencies that has been written based on the work that we do. Listen in as Gabe and Josh talk about the origin, process, and future of this large step forward for the industry.

Be sure to join us for Owner Summit 2018! You'll learn more great insights and connect with digital agency owners from around the world. Plus you'll get a copy of the new Bureau Standard Agreement!

Episode 051

Build. Sell. repeat.

with Martin Ringlein

If you’ve ever ventured off on your own to start a business, or even thought about it, then you should listen to this episode. There comes a time in every entrepreneur’s journey when they think about selling the company they’ve created. But how do you do that? And is what you’ve grown even worth selling? Listen as Martin Ringlein shares his story of selling his digital agency to Twitter. Then leaving Twitter to join President Obama’s innovation council. All the while running a successful co-working space which he later sold. Oh, and creating a product to disrupt the event space which was also acquired. His insights, experience, and enthusiasm are more energizing, they can help you see the world of business in a new light.

Be sure to join us for Owner Summit 2018! You'll learn more great insights and connect with digital agency owners from around the world.

Episode 050

Marketing and managing clients

with Ilise Benun

Why is it we don't do for ourselves what we do for our clients? We know the key to success in new business is sharing the great work we do. But when we get busy we forget to tell everyone we're here. It's crucial to remember that marketing ourselves isn't a one-time effort, it's an ongoing process of outreach across multiple channels. Frustratingly, we often quit using our most successful techniques because we don't like them. Even though they worked amazingly well. Today, Ilise Benun joins us on the Bureau Briefing to talk about marketing and managing clients. We also talk about the importance of self-respect in building the companies we want. Because ultimately, marketing is about relationships with ideal clients.

And be sure to say hello to Ilise at Owner Summit 2018! You'll learn more great insights and connect with digital agency owners from around the world.

Episode 049

Building A Product

with Martijn van Tilburg

If you are part of a digital agency, there has a been a discussion around launching your own product. We all talk about it. Heck, maybe you've tried to build that perfect solution in the time between client projects. But you never get traction. Or maybe you assigned a dedicated team to develop it, but that adds financial and cultural stress to a successful service business. So how do digital agencies build and launch great products? Listen in as Martijn van Tilburg shares his insights from the creation of 10,000ft.

And be sure to join us for Owner Summit 2018 in Charleston to learn more great insights and connect with digital agency owners from around the world.

Episode 048

Podcasting

with Emily Lewis and Lea Alcantara

Podcasting has always been popular, but there seems to be a new resurgence among digital agencies. But what are the keys to success in podcasting? And the pitfalls to avoid? Lea Alcantara and Emily Lewis share the experience of reaching 100 episodes of their very popular CTRL+CLICK CAST show. They share how they got started, stay motivated and discuss the highs and lows of a long-running podcast. 

Episode 047

Building Community

with Chris Coyier

As humans, we are social creatures. We crave to be with others who make us feel like part of the pack, especially when we feel a little different. That's why the web industry has been about community from the beginning. Over the past two decades, designers and developers have been getting together to share, learn and support one another. As the industry has evolved, so have the communities. In this episode of the Bureau Briefing, Carl and Chris talk about helping communities they are a part of to grow while making sure the value of the connections are maintained.

Episode 046

Virtual Reality

with Stefan Muirhead

Every digital agency has a set of services they sell. Deciding what you'll offer out of the gate is always tricky. Do you base it on what the team is passionate about or what clients are willing to pay for? Maybe both. Regardless, over time the needs and capabilities of digital products will force every shop to adapt or risk becoming irrelevant. Web standards, content strategy, mobile and responsive were several of the changes that dictated the success of a digital agency. So what's the next wave? For Stefan Muirhead and the team at Ignition 72, it's Virtual Reality.

Episode 045

Making It Happen

with Jason Zook

You know that idea you had? The one that seemed like it could really make a difference in your life. Then, over a period of time, you convince yourself that it will never work. Why do we do this? Well, one day Jason Zook decided to be a force of nature. He took one of his crazy ideas and decided to launch a company where he was paid to wear t-shirts. And it worked…eventually. Because he did the work. He contacted everyone he knew. And hustled. And after months of not quitting, he got traction. Eventually IWearYourShirt made over a million dollars in revenue. Then he shut it down and forced another crazy idea to work. So why aren't you doing your idea again?

Episode 044

am + pm = DPM

with Brett Harned

Digital project management has been a part of the web from the beginning, even if we didn’t call it that when we started. As the digital services industry matured, we loosely formalized the role of a digital project manager. But the gaps and differences from one shop to another has led to some confusion. Especially with the increase of account managers being brought on at digital agencies. And now, a tangled web of AM, PM and DPM has us all a little confused as to who should do what. Listen in as Brett Harned shares why we should focus on clarifying the role and not the title. And more specifically, the human beings we task with the responsibilities. 

Don't miss your opportunity to be a part of the conversation! Get your ticket for the Digital PM Summit, this October 15-17 in Las Vegas!

Episode 043

Honesty and Inclusion

with Willie Jackson

Diversity. It’s a big word that causes a lot of conversation. Unfortunately the conversation isn’t leading to action. In fact, it’s leaving some disengaged convinced that others are “fixing” the problems. In this episode of the Bureau Briefing, Willie Jackson shares his thoughts on why we need to get past the concept of diversity and move forward with a focus on inclusion. To do that, we have to accept some uncomfortable truths about how we got here and what we all need to let go of to move forward.

The Bureau is working to create a more inclusive community for digital professionals. Find out more.

Episode 042

Back to the Basics

with Sam Barnes

They call them "the basics". Little, innocuous things that don't seem to really matter. But they do. In fact, something as simple as sending an acknowledgment email to an important message can make all the difference in keeping a team engaged and a client confident. This week Carl and Sam Barnes talk about why getting back to the basics is so important and how to get better at them. And when you do, you can enjoy the positive changes in both your work and your relationships with the people on your team.

Learn more and meet Sam at the Digital PM Summit in Vegas this October!

Episode 041

Soft Skills

with Peta Kennett-Wilson

Soft skills are rarely discussed in the process focused world of digital project management. But when you spend time understanding the team and the client as humans, an amazing thing can happen. People start to care. They open up and share ideas. They talk about what matters to them. Concerns they may have. Even previous experiences that could impact the way work gets done. With that openness, everything gets better. Even the bottom line. But across cultures, there is a tendency to get a little mechanical. So how can we put people back at the heart of how we approach project management? Peta Kennett-Wilson has some thoughts.

Join Peta's workshop at the Digital PM Summit this October in Vegas.

Episode 040

Business development

with Joe Rinaldi

In the early days of web design, there was more work than any one shop could handle. Everyone was super selective on the clients they took, and project focused. There was no need for a business development person as much as a need for filtering through the mass of inbound leads. If you treated people fairly, did decent work and kept your commitments you would succeed. As they say, those were the days. And they are gone. So now what? What are we hanging on to from the past that's hurting our future? It's time to figure it out because there is a new wave of agencies coming in without the baggage. And if the established shops want to succeed, some changes are in order.

Need to get your biz dev on track? Join us for Biz Dev Camp!

Episode 039

Hacking Agile

with Dave Prior

Fact: Digital agencies struggle with Agile. It feels like a private club with a secret handshake. But if you get in it will open up a world of faster and better project management. The problem is it never quite fits with how a shop works. One solution is to lowercase the "A", or "a" if you will. What does that even mean? Listen in as Dave Prior, PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM, CSPO, CSP and CST shares his insights from over 20 years of helping teams and individuals manage their work in the most effective way possible.

Want to learn more? Catch Dave's workshop at the Digital PM Summit this October in Vegas!

Episode 038

Shutting Down 

with Jess Singer

When you start a business you pour your heart and soul into it. If you’re willing to make the commitment and sacrifices, your business makes it. If you’re really lucky it thrives. But eventually, almost all businesses fail. And when they do it is a horrible, painful and severely depressing experience. Today, Jess Singer shares her story of founding and closing Mamabargains, one of the first and most successful deal sites ever. It had crazy growth, major corporate partnerships, and a huge fan base. So what went wrong? And more importantly, how does a founder recover from failure in the face of success?

Episode 037

Puppies, DPMs and Leadership 

with Meghan McInerny

Meghan McInerny, the Chief Operating Officer of Clockwork, shares with us the positive impact of puppies to your personal health, the leadership role that is digital pm management, choosing courage over comfort and what it takes to go from good to great as a Digital PM.

Be sure and see Meghan’s talk Level Up: Project Management as a Leadership Role  at the Digital PM Summit this October 15-17 in Las Vegas. Get your tickets now!

Episode 036

the impact of improv

with Gary Ware

Over the past few years, improv has become more and more accepted in the business world. Not only is it seen as a way for teams to connect on a deeper level but also as a way for everyone in an organization to improve how they work together. On today's show, Gary Ware shares his story of finding improv and embracing its powerful and positive impact on collaboration and culture.

Be sure and see Gary's talk on Leveraging Improvisation to Improve Collaboration Across Teams at the Digital PM Summit this October 15-17 in Las Vegas. Get your tickets now!

Episode 035

Embracing silos

with Amanda Costello

Silos. We've been taught they are bad. They hurt productivity, culture, and quality. But what if we're wrong? Amanda Costello shares her insights on embracing silos as the natural order of the human condition. Her experiences in higher ed builds a strong case that silos can actually improve not only the work we do but the relationships with our teams. 

Be sure and see Amanda's talk on How Silos Learn: Working in the Idea Factory at the Digital PM Summit this October 15-17 in Las Vegas. Get your tickets now!

Full Transcript Available

Episode 034

Taking Control

with Jason Fried

It's funny. Businesses are great at protecting things like money and secrets. But when it comes to their most valuable asset, their people's time, they give it away. Heck most of us agree to meetings, calls, and conversations that aren't nearly as valuable as the uninterrupted blocks of time we need to create something of importance. What's amazing is many of us have other people that can access our calendars and add meetings to it without our permission. In this episode, Jason Fried shares the importance of taking control of our time and more importantly, how to use it effectively.

Episode 033

Episode 032

Episode 031

User Experience and the next generation

with Maya Patterson

The next wave of UX Designers is out there. They expect things to be simple, powerful and user-focused. There is just one problem. Most of them don’t know what a UX Designer is. Today, Maya Patterson joins us to talk about the challenge of preparing for a career in a field you probably don’t know exists. The solution? While traditional academics is failing to prepare digital professionals, they are creating great thinkers and problem solvers. So, as an industry, we have a responsibility to reach out to give this next wave insight into their potential and a path to see it realized. Full Transcript Available.

Episode 030

Design leadership

with Aarron Walter

What is design leadership? A new term that's swept through the industry, it's really just leadership. But now that design has a seat at the table, the issue becomes how does a design leader learn and cope when they are making huge decisions every day?  From operationalizing design to creating a culture of continuous improvement, design leaders are tasked with defining the path for themselves and the design leaders of tomorrow. Aarron Walter joins us on the Bureau Briefing to talk about his journey and thoughts on how design leaders are approaching these challenges.

Do you own a digital agency? Join us at Owner Summit 2017!

Episode 029

MORE ON SABBATICALS

with Ben Callahan

Most of us are just now getting back into the swing of things after taking a break the last couple of weeks of 2016. As we get back to work, let's enjoy a another Bureau Briefing on taking sabbaticals. In his first week back from a month off, Ben Callahan sits down with Carl to talk about the how and why of taking time off. From preparing yourself and your team to setting expectations and the eventual re-entry into daily life. Full Transcript Available.

Do you own a digital agency? Join us at Owner Summit 2017!

Episode 028

SABBATICALS

with Bill Barbot

Taking a week off from work can seem tough to many of us. Two weeks? Doubtful. A month? Are you crazy! And if you run a digital agency, you probably feel like you struggle to take the afternoon off. And yet, increasingly, people in the Bureau community are embracing the concept of sabbaticals. Today Bill Barbot from Threespot shares with us his experience of unplugging for six weeks. Removing his work email, deleting Slack and telling everyone in the company that only one person would be able to send up a flare in case of emergency. Listen in to see how things went. Full Transcript Available.

Do you own a digital agency? Join us at Owner Summit 2017!

Episode 027

Depression, Alcohol and Eating Disorders

with Justine Arreche

Life is hard. For over 30 million people in The United States, these difficulties can manifest themselves in an eating disorder. In the web industry, it's really easy for this to go unnoticed because of the increase in distributed teams and popularity of alcohol at social events and conferences. Justine Arreche has suffered immensely with these issues and today she's speaking out to help others know they aren't alone. You can find Justine on Twitter at @SaltineJustine. Full Transcript Available.

Episode 026

REPLACING POSTMORTEMS 

with Caitlin Sheaffer

For those of us who manage digital projects, we have a good feel for what will go right and what will go wrong. The team often falls into the same traps, and the clients often get worried about the same issues. Some of us hold postmortems to see what went wrong. But even the term implies the project was DOA. To make it less dreary, we change the name of the process retrospectives. But that still implies we can only look backwards. On this week’s Bureau Briefing, Caitlin Sheaffer shares a better way to improve projects. Introducing Learning Reviews.

Join Caitlin and the Bureau Community in San Antonio for Digital PM Summit 2016!

Episode 025

The Value of Relationships in Project Management 

with Elizabeth Michalka 

Scope, schedule and resources, aka the project triangle, are important … but ultimately the difference between success and failure comes down to the relationships we form. Elizabeth Michaka shares how she became a DPM in higher education where budget was never a factor in projects. While she was attending a Digital PM Workshop she realized something. The focus on budget was so strong, it seemed to have overshadowed the importance on relationships. Full Transcript Available.

Join Elizabeth and the Bureau Community in San Antonio for Digital PM Summit 2016!

Episode 024

WHat's next?

with Carl Smith

From the beginning, the Bureau has been about strong connections. In this episode, Carl shares the direction the Bureau is heading to make those connections even stronger.  While events will always play a central role in how the Bureau community comes together, a new community site will provide new levels of collaboration, education, and support. Full Transcript Available.

Join Carl and the Bureau Community in San Antonio for Digital PM Summit 2016!

Episode 023

WHY EVERYBODY HATES PROJECT MANAGEMENT

with Carson Pierce

There you are. In the middle of the client and the team. Trying to control the uncontrollable. Forcing a smile as you give bad news to your coworkers. Or pointing back to a document as you tell the client no. So how do you get through a bad day? Especially when you've got the added pressure of managing multiple projects? Although we try, it can't be solved with process, tools or methodology. So how can we maintain our sanity? Listen in as Carson Pierce shares his thoughts. Full Transcript Available.

Join Carson in San Antonio for Digital PM Summit 2016!

Episode 022

SHOW ME THE MVP!

with Natalie Warnert

Developer turned Agile Coach, Natalie Warnert joins us on the Bureau Briefing today. We talk about the need for flexibility in agile and moving from a prescriptive to an effective approach. We touch on how design fits into an agile process and how the language we use can make all the difference in keeping a project moving forward. We'll also address the question, why aren't more women involved in agile? For more information on women in agile, go to womeninagile.com or nataliewarnert.com. Full Transcript Available.

Are you a Digital PM? Join us in San Antonio for Digital PM Summit 2016!

Episode 021

Accessibility for all

with Robert Jolly

Imagine waking up one day and not being able to use the web. It's still there, you just can't seem to make it work correctly. It happens to people every day. Accessibility has been an important topic since the early days of the web, but it's never become a priority. Why? Robert Jolly may have the answer. He became an accessibility advocate after a stroke showed him the unnecessary limitations we're imposing on people all over the world. Full Transcript Available.

Have questions on accessibility? You can find Robert at JollyPM.com.

Are you a Digital PM? Join us in San Antonio for Digital PM Summit 2016!

Episode 020

The Power of Effective communication

with Elizabeth Harrin

Very few digital professionals would disagree that great communication is the key to success. Especially when dealing with client services. So how do we plan for effective communication? Elizabeth Harrin, the founder of the blog A Girl’s Guide to PM, owner of Otobus Group and author of several books on project management, is here to share her insights on establishing valuable client feedback in a timely manner. After all, what’s the use in finding out what went wrong after the fact?

Are you a Digital PM? Join us in San Antonio for Digital PM Summit 2016!

Episode 019

Episode 018

The Rise of the Digital PM

with Brett Harned

Imagine  having an idea that leads to the birth of a community. That's exactly what Brett Harned did. As a Digital Project Manager, he knew the importance of the role and that nobody was talking about it. So, with the help of Happy Cog, he put on an event for Digital Project Managers, the Digital PM Summit. Would anybody show up? Not only did they show up, they left inspired and started local meetups all over the world. 

Are you a Digital PM? Join us in San Antonio for Digital PM Summit 2016!

Episode 017

Apprenticeships | Paying it forward

with Dan Mall

In the middle ages, guilds began the practice of apprenticeships. Master craftsmen could employ young people for a typical term of seven years exchanging training, food and housing for labor. Apprenticeships are now taking shape in the digital agency world. Dan Mall shares his approach to creating skilled craftspeople one at a time, over nine months. More than just learning the skills required to do the work, they learn how to be professionals.

Do you run a digital agency? Join us in Scottsdale for Owner Camp 013!

Episode 016

FAIR PLAY | A DIVERSITY PROJECT

with Paul Searle

Most of the people listening to this podcast want to do the right thing. But what is the right thing? It’s different for each of us. For Paul Searle, it’s taking his gift of capturing emotion and meaning in video and helping those that are underrepresented. Listen in as Paul shares his story of launching Fair Play, an initiative to provide diverse events with greater awareness through the support of some of the largest companies in tech.

Do you run a digital agency? Join us in Scottsdale for Owner Camp 013!

Episode 015

THE POWER OF EMPOWERMENT

with Traci Barrett

Let’s face it, in most digital agencies there isn’t a clear path for individuals. There are jobs that get done and people who do them. Often employees feel the only way forward is to move on. But what if there is another way that not only gives them a sense of progress but also gives agency owners part of their life back? This week on the Bureau Briefing, Traci Barrett talks about the power of empowering employees and how to get started.

Do you run a digital agency? Join us in Scottsdale for Owner Camp 013!

Episode 014

Episode 013

Reputation MARKETING

with Rhea Drysdale

As business models go, Reputation Marketing has to be among the more interesting in the digital agency realm. Clients you can’t mention with public dirt they want removed. How do you vet your clients? What’s the impact of constantly cleaning up messes on your company culture? How do you pitch your services when you can’t talk about what you do? Rhea Drysdale sheds light on all this and her company's more progressive offerings on the Bureau Briefing.

Are you a Creative Director? Join us in Atlanta for Creative Director Camp oo2!

Episode 012 

Corporate collaboration

with Eleanor Vajzovic

Digital agencies have a strong desire to collaborate with each other. It works because of a common goal of creating something great that neither could do on their own. Is it possible for traditional corporations whose cultures don’t often embrace transparency and failure to do the same? Eleanor Vajzovic explains how she’s helping one corporation do just that.

Are you a Creative Director? Join us in Atlanta for Creative Director Camp oo2!

Episode 011

Health, Happiness and better business

with Rob Harr

It doesn't matter if you're an owner, a manager or a producer... if you love what you're doing you make sacrifices to do the best job possible. Often those sacrifices come at a high cost; our physical and mental health. This week we're joined by Rob Harr who tells us about his journey to get healthier, happier and create an environment where his team can do the same.

Are you a Creative Director? Join us in Atlanta for Creative Director Camp oo2!

Episode 010

balancing family and work demands

with Jessie Shternshus

Demands on our time is nothing new, but when you're being pulled in two directions by work and family it can be crazy stressful. Work provides the money your family needs but your presence at home ensures the emotional support required for a healthy family. In this episode, Jessie Shternshus shares her struggles and insights from running a business and raising a family at the same time.

Are you a Creative Director? Join us in Atlanta for Creative Director Camp oo2!

Episode 009

THE LEGAL SIDE

with Gabe Levine

Most of us running digital agencies today weren’t business people. We were artists, musicians, writers or developers. We started our companies doing what we understood, creating digital products. The things we didn’t understand, we faked. Like contracts, statements of work and non-disclosure agreements. In this episode, Gabe Levine of Levine Baker shares his thoughts on common issues, current challenges and steps to take to get your shop buttoned up from a legal perspective.

Manage operations for a digital agency? Join us for Operations Camp 004 in Seattle!

Episode 008

KPIS, DASHBOARDS AND TRANSPARENCY

with Grant Gochnauer

We’ve all been there. If we could only figure out what was working and what wasn’t in our digital agencies. Recently, conversations around KPIs and dashboards have been taking place among our Owner Camp alumni. How do you identify what to track and more importantly, what do you do with the information? Grant Gochnauer of Vodori shares his thoughts and experiences on creating public dashboards that build trust versus making people feel like a cog in the machine.

Do you own a digital agency? Join us for Owner Camp 012 in Montreal!

Episode 006

DESIGN LEADERSHIP

with Richard Banfield

How do you become a design leader? Is it trial and error? A degree you can get from school? Maybe there is a checklist of things to accomplish before you earn your merit badge? As Richard Banfield explains in this episode, becoming a design leader has no set path. But the best way forward is learning from others who’ve achieved the designation.

Do you own a digital agency? Join us for Owner Camp 012 in Montreal!

Episode 005

Diversity and Inclusion

with Lori Gold Patterson

Diversity. In the web industry it’s a word that causes heads to nod, but do we really understand what it means? It’s not only about hiring people different than ourselves, it’s about including them in a way that changes the fabric of our culture. In this episode, Lori Gold Patterson shares her story and the importance of diversity and inclusion.

Do you own a digital agency? Join us for Owner Camp 012 in Montreal!

Episode 004

REVIEWS

with Tim Tuttle

Quarterly, annual, 360... OH MY! At the beginning of this year, Carl sat down with Tim Tuttle of 40Digits to talk about everyone’s favorite topic, reviews. Should they be tied to compensation? How often should they take place? How do they change as a company grows? All this and more on this episode of The Bureau Briefing. Enjoy!

Manage operations for a digital agency? Join us for Operations Camp 004 in Seattle!

Episode 003

CREATIng culture

with Nancy Lyons

Culture. It’s the ultimate buzzword. But the truth is it’s the difference between the success and failure of every digital agency. If your team is miserable then your clients are miserable. If everyone feels appreciated then there is nothing you can’t accomplish. This week Carl welcomes Nancy Lyons of Clockwork, possibly the best place to work in the whole dang industry. Full Transcript Available.

Do you own a digital agency? Join us for Owner Camp 012 in Montreal!

Episode 002

CREATIVE COLLABORATION ON DISTRIBUTED TEAMS

with Jared Ponchot

One of the biggest challenges for distributed teams is learning how to create amazing digital products without being in the same room. This week, Carl interviews Jared Ponchot, the Creative Director at Lullabot, to get some insights and tips.

Are you a Creative Director? Join us in Atlanta for Creative Director Camp oo2!

Episode 001

WHAT'S THE BUREAU OF DIGITAL?

with Greg Hoy

So what is this Bureau of Digital thing? How did it happen? What is its mission? In this, the premier episode of the Bureau Briefing, Partner Carl Smith interviews Founding Partner Greg Hoy to find out.