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Episode 81

How a Shark Tank Surprise Sparked Agency Growth

Meerkat Media Group w/ Kristin Chambers

What happens when a freelance journalist books a spontaneous trip to Thailand, accidentally stumbles into entrepreneurship, and sees her work air on Shark Tank, all before facing the toughest years of her life? In the latest episode of An Agency Story, host Russel Dubree sits down with Kristin Chambers, founder of Meerkat Media Group, for a candid conversation about risk, resilience, and redefining success on your own terms.

How a Shark Tank Surprise Sparked Agency Growth

Episode Summary

In this episode titled “Thankfulness,” Kristin Chambers shares how her background in journalism and passion for storytelling evolved into running a content-driven digital agency serving food & beverage, travel, and nonprofit sectors. From a surprise appearance on Shark Tank to caregiving for both of her parents while keeping her business afloat, Kristin’s story is as inspiring as it is instructive.

Episode Highlights:

  • How a spontaneous solo trip to Thailand became the catalyst for Kristin’s leap into entrepreneurship
  • The behind-the-scenes story of filming a commercial that aired on Shark Tank
  • How personal tragedy during the COVID era shaped Kristin’s leadership and outlook
  • The simple daily rituals that helped her stay grounded through chaos

Agency Info

We treated ourselves like a client for the first time and that changed everything.

Kristin Chambers

Key Takeaways

Niche as You Grow, Not Before

Initially, Kristin took on whatever work came her way. Over time, she honed her niche in food, beverage, travel, and nonprofit sectors, supported by case studies, award-winning video work, and smart trade-offs that built her agency’s portfolio.

Your Biggest Challenges Can Become Your Strongest Foundations

When COVID hit, Kristin was newly married, grieving her brother’s passing, and caring for two critically ill parents, all while running her agency.

Her ability to keep going came down to daily gratitude, journaling, and support from her husband and team. This period reshaped her perspective on leadership, growth, and what truly matters.

“Be Your Own Best Client”

Kristin candidly admits that like many agency owners, they neglected their own marketing in the early years. Now, she’s intentionally carving out time and resources to treat Meerkat Media Group like a client,  a lesson many agency leaders should take to heart.

Give Yourself Grace

Running a business is hard. Running one while navigating personal grief is even harder. Kristin’s biggest lesson? Give yourself grace. It’s okay not to have it all figured out. What’s important is staying present, reflective, and kind to yourself in the process.

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