How to move from agency employee to agency owner, with Simon Barbato

This episode is for you if you're working for a creative/digital agency and are thinking about becoming an agency owner. It's also one to listen to if you're in a planning role (sometimes referred to an agency strategist) or are wondering whether your talents might be suited to this role. Simon Barbato is the founder of Mr. B and Friends. Like me he started his career in advertising in the 1990s in client service. He quickly then transitioned into a strategist/planner role and then eventually became an agency owner. In this episode, he is going to share his journey, the ups the downs, and also his advice for you if you're considering something similar. He's also going to share why he believes now is a great time to make that leap. I've asked Simon to share with us a little bit more about the role of a planner in an agency, how they work with the account management team, how it adds value to clients and leads to client retention and at what point an agency should consider having one. Enjoy.