Episode Summary
From aspiring novelist to social media trailblazer, Holly’s story is a compelling mix of creativity, resilience, and purpose. In this episode, she shares how pandemic-era challenges sparked the creation of Monarch, why she’s passionate about organic engagement over paid ads, and how her family’s entrepreneurial roots shaped her unique leadership style.
Conversation Highlights:
- Intentional agency building can prevent burnout in high-demand digital roles.
- Organic social strategies rooted in community and conversation offer long-term brand value.
- A supportive ecosystem, from family to internal teams, can be the foundation for sustainable growth.
Agency Info
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Company: Monarch Social Media
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Guest: Holly Medwid
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Year Started: 2021
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Employees: 1-10
Burnout isn’t a badge of honor, it’s a sign the system is broken.
Holly Medwid
Key Takeaways
Entrepreneurship Fueled by Need, Not Just Ambition
Holly didn’t set out to build an agency—but when business owners began asking for help during the pandemic, she realized the demand was undeniable.
“I gave away over $30,000 in advice for free before I realized—this is a business.”
Her organic entry into entrepreneurship reminds us that sometimes the best opportunities aren’t meticulously planned—they’re recognized and courageously seized.
Organic > Paid: Prioritizing Real Community
Monarch’s philosophy is clear: focus first on meaningful, unpaid engagement that builds a genuine brand presence. Paid ads come second. The hard part is building community, not buying impressions. By emphasizing relationship-driven content and strategy, Monarch helps clients build long-lasting relevance instead of short-lived reach.
Preventing Burnout Through Specialized Roles
Recognizing how mentally taxing social media can be, Holly structured her agency around preventing burnout by segmenting responsibilities. Strategy, creative, and community management are divided into separate teams. Staff enjoy true work-life balance with boundaries around evenings and weekends. Clients are educated on what realistic, sustainable support looks like.
A Vision for the Future: Training the Next Wave
Noticing a significant gap in education around “the social part” of social media, Holly is developing a training course to help onboard and nurture new talent in the field. She sees a future where Monarch becomes a training ground for high-integrity social media professionals, while also delivering results for clients in industries finally catching up to the power of digital presence.
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