Episode Summary
In this episode of An Agency Story, host Russel Dubree sits down with Jennifer Myers-Ward, founder of Ebove & Beyond, a boutique digital agency specializing in acquisition and retention marketing for retailers. From pre-Google affiliate marketing to grassroots conference crashing, Jennifer recounts the creative, bold, and often hilarious ways she built her agency from the ground up, literally starting with just herself and her dog.
Episode Highlights:
- Jennifer’s Amazon Europe journey — including her near miss with life-changing stock options and an encounter with Jeff Bezos.
- Grassroots growth strategy — how Jennifer attended 100+ trade shows on a shoestring budget and built a client base through sheer hustle.
- The TUMI bag incident — a laugh-out-loud story about sneaking into conferences and getting “busted” after winning a raffle prize.
- The power of handwritten notes and genuine relationships — Jennifer’s old-school techniques that still outshine modern networking hacks.
Agency Info
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Company: Ebove & Beyond
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Guest: Jennifer Myers-Ward
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Year Started: 2003
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Employees: 1-10
You get so much from people when you build a real relationship, not just when you try to sell them something.
Jennifer Myers-Ward
Key Takeaways
Relationships Outperform Any Sales Script
Jennifer’s Southern upbringing instilled in her the value of relationships over transactions. She credits her long-term success to remembering birthdays, sending handwritten notes, and making every client feel like they’re her only one. This isn’t networking, it’s human connection at scale.
Startup Mentality Isn’t Just for Startups
Even 20 years in, Jennifer runs her agency with the same scrappy energy she had on day one. From leading a fully remote team to customizing email campaigns that feel personal, she’s maintained a hands-on, detail-oriented approach that clients notice and value.
Failure Isn’t Fatal, It’s Fuel
Whether it was walking away from Amazon stock or navigating the 2008 economic downturn as a new mom, Jennifer always found a way to pivot. She believes entrepreneurs are born, not made, and her story proves that resilience and instinct often outweigh formal business training.
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