Episode Summary
Two weeks after having her first baby, Kate Manfull received a call from a friend who needed a flyer designed by the next day. When the friend offered $1,000 for the project, Kate couldn’t believe it. She would have happily done it for $100. That unexpected opportunity helped launch an eight-year freelance career, with Kate spending her days raising her children and her nights creating work for agency clients.
Today, Kate is the founder of Fierce Creative, a St. Louis-based creative agency where high expectations, flexible schedules, and a people-first culture go hand in hand. In this episode, Kate shares how she followed her instincts, challenged traditional agency practices, and built a business that reflects her priorities without compromising the quality of its work.
Episode Highlights
- An unexpected beginning: How a $1,000 design project launched Kate’s freelance career while she was raising two young children.
- Betting on herself: Why Kate purchased an office building and hired her first employee despite receiving discouraging business advice.
- Redefining the workday: How Fierce Creative’s nine-to-four schedule and hybrid work environment prioritize flexibility without compromising client commitments.
- Creating a people-first culture: Why employee development, collaboration, and protected creative time are central to Kate’s leadership philosophy.
- Rethinking agency specialization: How identifying the right client relationships can be more valuable than focusing exclusively on one industry.
Agency Info
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Company: Fierce Creative
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Guest: Kate Manfull
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Year Started: 2007
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Employees: 11-25
If we’re only listening to my ideas, I mean, we will never get anywhere.
Kate Manfull
Key Takeaways
Build a Business Around Your Values
Entrepreneurship creates opportunities to establish a work environment that reflects personal priorities and professional goals. Designing intentional schedules, expectations, and boundaries can help business owners create a healthier relationship between work and life outside the office.
Trust Your Instincts While Embracing Calculated Risks
Business growth often requires making decisions before every detail is certain. Combining experience, intuition, and a willingness to adapt can help entrepreneurs move forward when opportunities arise.
Flexibility and Accountability Can Work Together
Offering employees greater autonomy doesn’t mean lowering performance expectations. Clear communication, dependable deadlines, and shared responsibilities allow teams to maintain quality while benefiting from flexible work arrangements.
Prioritize People to Strengthen Agency Culture
Employees who feel supported, respected, and encouraged to grow are better equipped to collaborate and contribute meaningful ideas. Investing in professional development and maintaining open communication can strengthen both internal relationships and client experiences.
Protect Time for Focused Creative Work
Creativity requires opportunities to think, experiment, and refine ideas without constant interruptions. Establishing dedicated focus periods and thoughtful meeting schedules can help teams produce more intentional work.
Choose Clients Based on Compatibility, Not Just Industry
Effective agency positioning doesn’t always require specialization in a single industry. Identifying ideal client relationships, communication styles, and internal team structures can lead to stronger partnerships and more efficient collaboration.
Recognize the Value of Saying No
Taking on every opportunity can stretch resources and distract from an agency’s strengths. Establishing clear criteria for evaluating projects helps businesses protect their teams, maintain service quality, and pursue work that aligns with their goals.
Encourage Exploration and Diverse Perspectives
Teams benefit when employees have opportunities to develop new skills, challenge ideas, and contribute beyond their primary responsibilities. Encouraging curiosity and experimentation can strengthen creative problem-solving and uncover unexpected capabilities.
Show Notes
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