Episode 158

Learn Once, Solve Forever

Norbella w/ Stephanie Noris

Running an agency is never short on challenges…hiring, client relationships, team dynamics, financials. But what if one skill or lesson could make the hardest parts of leadership easier? In this episode of An Agency Story, Russel Dubree sits down with Stephanie Noris, Founder of Norbella, to explore how she built and sustained a media agency for over 16 years by focusing on the fundamentals that truly matter.

Episode Summary

Stephanie Norris founded Norbella, a Boston-based full-service media agency, during the recession in 2009. What started as a leap of faith turned into a business that has endured market shifts, leadership transitions, and an evolving industry. In this conversation, she shares how difficult conversations, investing in people, and tackling root issues have defined her approach to leadership.

Episode Highlights:

The weekend business plan that launched Norbella and set its course
How early partnerships shaped the agency’s growth and eventual independence
Why mastering difficult conversations became Stephanie’s superpower
Balancing team happiness with delivering strong client results
Her perspective on AI and what it means for the future of media agencies

Agency Info

Company: Norbella
Guest: Stephanie Noris
Year Started: 2009
Employees: 1-10

Every time I read something new, it opened my eyes. Even one lesson applied well could change how I managed, communicated, or led.

Stephanie Noris

A group of team members sit around a conference table with laptops open, smiling and engaged while viewing a large screen presentation during a collaboration day session. — Norbella ‘collaboration day’ where the team shares work and learnings. **Steph Collab Day_V1**

Four cans of Fellowship Honey Ale with illustrated floral and bee labels on a wooden table, featuring text ‘Cheers to 10 Years!’ celebrating Norbella’s 10th anniversary collaboration beer. — To celebrate their 10-year anniversary, Norbella partnered with a local brewery to create Fellowship Honey Ale—crafted with honey from Stephanie’s own hives (she’s a beekeeper) **Single Image Creative V3**

Group photo of eleven women wearing conference badges and orange lanyards, smiling together inside a large indoor sports and event venue with a running track in the background. — Stephanie and team as a finalist in Boston/MA for the ‘women we admire’ recognition by the local Boston Ad Club **unnamed**

Master the art of difficult conversations

Stephanie believes one skill carries more weight than most: the ability to have honest, tough conversations. It’s not easy, but learning it once solves problems across teams, clients, and leadership.

Happy teams produce better work

Chasing results without considering culture leads to burnout. Stephanie emphasizes that when people feel valued and supported, the work naturally improves.

Partnerships require honest alignment

Her early agency partnership ended amicably because both sides openly acknowledged what they wanted. The lesson: clarity and communication matter as much as contracts.

Show Notes

Books and concepts mentioned in this episode:

About the Host

Russel Dubree

Hi, I’m Russel. I’m a business coach for agencies. I founded, scaled, sold, and exited an 8 figure agency. Today, I serve digital marketing agency owners to create their most ideal business by helping them attract better clients, build scalable systems and processes, and autonomous teams.

Enjoy this Episode?

Subscribe to An Agency Story on your favorite podcast app for more real stories from agency owners. Loved what you heard? Leave a review or share this episode with someone building their agency from the ground up.