Episode Summary
In this episode of An Agency Story, host Russel Dubree sits down with Nicole Porter, founder of Monomoy Social Media, an agency specializing in organic social media and email marketing for small businesses and nonprofits. Based in Cape Cod, Nicole’s story is anything but ordinary. Starting as a chocolatier and she evolved into an agency owner through grit, motherhood, and a passion for digital connection.
Episode Highlights
- The unexpected career pivot from chocolatier to digital marketer sparked by a simple act of teaching a friend about Facebook.
- How motherhood influenced Nicole’s business model, fueling a desire for flexibility and remote work that now benefits her team.
- Hiring and thriving with lifelong friends – how trust, honesty, and communication shape her agency’s internal culture.
- Why nonprofits are Monomoy’s dream clients and how mission-driven work fuels their future vision.
Agency Info
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Company: Monomoy Social Media
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Guest: Nicole Porter
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Year Started: 2017
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Employees: 1-10
Hiring friends works when you lead with honesty, trust, and the willingness to give and receive feedback.
Nicole Porter
Key Takeaways
A Side Hustle Can Spark a Whole New Chapter
Nicole’s business wasn’t born in a boardroom—it started in her kitchen while balancing child care and part-time nannying. A chance opportunity to teach Facebook to a local business owner planted the seed supports the ancient wisdom of find a problem and solve it. “That lightbulb moment showed me there was a real need for this knowledge.”
Flexibility Is the Foundation, Not a Perk
As a mother of three, Nicole built her agency around asynchronous, flexible work, creating opportunities for other women and parents to thrive professionally without sacrificing their personal priorities. “The key is clear expectations. Clients don’t need us from 9 to 5—they need consistency and communication.”
Honest Feedback Builds Strong Teams
Nicole works with employees she’s known since childhood. The secret? Open communication and a mutual commitment to growth. A story from Nicole’s Chili’s waitress days reminded her—and us—that proactive communication is everything, especially when things go wrong.
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