The Shadow Agents

Freelancers vs Agencies.... The real question isn’t who you hire, but how you ensure your project gets priority and quality. How do you trust experts who aren’t full-time employees to stay committed and deliver their best work? In this clip, Jamie Read explains the model to Shayan Saria, breaking down why the BriteBirch Collective works differently, a network of seasoned professionals, each with 10+ years of experience, built to deliver consistency without the chaos of high-turnover teams. Curious how established experts can outperform the traditional agency model? 🎥 Watch the full podcast now. 🔗 Link: https://lnkd.in/gSH_6u6C #FreelanceVsAgency #CreativeTeams #QualityWork #FutureOfWork #BrightBirdCollective

The best business rule you’ll hear today: Don’t be a jerk. No micromanaging. No egos. Just expert teams built exactly for what clients need. Agency-level work. Smarter value. Real collaboration. 🤝 🎙️ Jamie Read shares his take with Shayan Saria on building teams that actually work. #futureofwork #teamculture #entrepreneurmindset #collaboration #newworkculture

How do you find the right people for your team? 👀 In this reel, Jamie Read the founder if BriteBirch Collective tells Shayan Saria the founder of The Shadow Agents about the three key qualities they look for when personally vetting every single person at BriteBirch Collective: attitude, skill and creativity. They explain that the "talent component" is the hardest and "messiest" part of running any kind of business. Find out why maintaining a manageable size (just over 300 people) allows them to ensure quality, reliability, and trust in their team members. 🎥 Watch the full podcast on YouTube now. 🔗 Link: https://lnkd.in/gSH_6u6C #teamselection #talentacquisition #agencyhiring #businessowner #entrepreneurship #workculture #skillsets

What does the future of work really look like? 👀 In this reel from Building the Shadow, Jamie Read shares his opinion with Shayan Saria why the traditional agency model is breaking and how remote work, flexible teams, and trust-based collaboration are shaping what comes next. From burnout and high turnover to talent-first collectives, this conversation explores why culture and experience matter more than offices and org charts 🤝 🎥 Watch the full podcast 🔗 Link: https://lnkd.in/gSH_6u6C #buildingtheshadow #futureofwork #agencylife #remotework #freelancecollective #workculture #teamofthefuture

Ever wondered what happens when a battle-hardened agency founder ditches the client trenches... and builds an AI beast that's changing how Shopify brands actually make money? In this episode Shayan Saria the founder of Shadow Agents sits down with John Readman, the no-nonsense Yorkshire guy who went from scaling agencies to creating ASK BOSCO®. We get real about the messy pivot from services to SaaS, the brutal decisions that almost broke him, and why most marketers are still wasting thousands on bad data. This one's raw, practical, and full of 'aha' moments you won't hear anywhere else. 🎥Watch full video now on YouTube: 🔗Link: https://lnkd.in/gMhDMS_b #agencylife #martech #aiinmarketing #founderstories #shopifygrowth #theshadowagents

UK or Myanmar 🌍🤔 When asked whether her major clients are from the UK or Myanmar, Shwe Su Hlaing the founder of Makers & Minds breaks it down honestly. Most of her current clients are across Asia, including markets like Thailand, while conversations and strong leads are coming in from the UK. It is a reminder that real growth is rarely limited to one location and often expands naturally across regions. 🎥Watch the full conversation on Building the Shadow 🔗Link: https://lnkd.in/gxX9-w28 #buildingtheshadow #podcastreel #marketingjourney #agencylife #clientgrowth

Cannabis is legal in Canada 🌿 But advertising it is a different challenge ⚠️ In this reel, Shayan Saria, founder of Shadow Agents, speaks with Chad Hason, founder of Agency Atlas, about how brands navigate cannabis marketing within strict rules and boundaries 🎯 Real insights from real agency experience 💡 Watch the full podcast on Building the Shadow 🎙️ Link in bio 🔗 #buildingtheshadow #podcastreel #agencylife #marketinginsights #founderjourney

Same same but different👀 Jason Hunt the founder of Merged Media and Shayan Saria the founder of Shadow Agents break down why a marketing coordinator and a fractional CMO are often mistaken as the same role and why that assumption can limit growth. They discuss ownership, strategic thinking, and leadership, and how each role shows up very differently when results actually matter. If growth is on your radar, this one is definitely worth watching 🚀 #fractionalcmo #marketingleadership #marketingstrategy #agencyinsights #businessgrowth

What is the real impact of AI on SEO and how should marketers think about it today Shayan Saria founder of The Shadow Agents asks Jason Hunt of Merged Media about his views on AI SEO Jason shares a grounded perspective based on real world experience and what is actually changing versus what is just hype 🎥Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel 🔗Link: https://lnkd.in/dnhezinB #buildingtheshadow #podcastreel #seo #aiseo #aiinmarketing

Is cannabis legal in Canada In the Building the Shadow Shayan Saria asks Chad Hason a direct question about cannabis laws and his personal view on smoking. Chad responds with honesty sharing both the facts and his own perspective A grounded take that goes beyond legality and touches on personal choice and mindset. 🎥Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel 🔗Link: https://lnkd.in/dnhezinB? #buildingtheshadow #podcastreel #founderthoughts #honestconversations #leadership #perspective