Episode Summary
In this episode of An Agency Story, Russel welcomes Shavonnah Schreiber, founder of SNR Creative, a full-service marketing agency based in Houston, TX. With a background in communications, journalism, and corporate business development, Shavonnah shares how she steadily turned freelance gigs into a thriving agency, while staying grounded in her values of excellence, mentorship, and meaningful relationships.
Episode Highlights:
-
- How a career in journalism and corporate marketing laid the groundwork for SNR Creative, without Shavonnah ever planning to be an entrepreneur.
- The moment she went full-time with the agency, and why she was never afraid to bet on herself.
- How she scaled her team from 1 to 7 within the first year, including her strategic use of internships and early hiring.
- Why relationship equity, not marketing funnels, is the foundation of her growth strategy.
- What she’s most proud of today: empowering her team and former employees to pursue their own ventures.
Agency Info
-
Company: SNR Creative
-
Guest: Shavonnah Schreiber
-
Year Started: 2012
-
Employees: 1-10
People are planning their lives based on how well I’m running this business. That’s a big deal.
Shavonnah Schreiber
Key Takeaways
Bet on Yourself, But Build Slowly and Strategically
Shavonnah didn’t leap blindly into entrepreneurship. For five years, she ran SNR Creative on the side, gathering experience, contacts, and confidence before making it her full-time focus. When she finally made the leap, she had a client base and reputation to support her. “I wasn’t nervous because I would bet on myself… I’ve never not worked, I’ve never not earned a living.”
Leverage Relationship Equity Over Traditional Sales
One of the biggest drivers behind SNR Creative’s growth is Shavonnah’s decades of networking. From Kids Foot Locker to corporate boardrooms, she cultivated relationships that eventually became clients or referrals. This wasn’t transactional, it was built on mutual respect and consistent excellence.
Hire Early, But Hire With Intention
Shavonnah quickly recognized her bandwidth limitations. By month five, she had already begun hiring, first a support role, then a copywriter, then a cohort of interns. Her early hiring wasn’t just about capacity; it was also about creating opportunities and building a culture.
Growth Without Reflection Can Be Dangerous
While SNR Creative grew fast, Shavonnah admits that she rarely took time to appreciate the moment. Instead, she remained focused on her team and the responsibilities of leadership. For her, growth is sobering, not celebratory. “People are planning their lives based on how well I run this business. That’s a big deal.”
It’s OK to Not Have It All Figured Out
After 10+ years of running her agency, Shavonnah is exploring what’s next, not out of burnout, but from curiosity and reflection. She doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, and she’s fine with that.
Show Notes
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.
