Episode Summary
In this episode of An Agency Story, host Russel Dubree sits down with Jill de Chavez, owner of Briteweb, a creative agency that partners with nonprofits and foundations to build websites, brand systems, publications, and campaigns that amplify meaningful work. Jill shares her journey from agency project manager to operations leader to eventually purchasing the business and what she learned along the way about transparency, team trust, and the internal mindset shifts required to lead a people-first agency.
Episode Highlights
- Jill’s path from working on major brand campaigns to choosing mission-driven agency work
- What really changes when you go from employee to owner (even if you were already running the business)
- Why transparency is one of the most underrated leadership tools in agency life
- How ego quietly sabotages leadership
- The wake-up call that forced Jill to get serious about financial clarity
Agency Info
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Company: Briteweb
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Guest: Jill de Chavez
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Year Started: 2011
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Employees: 11-25
You need to make sure you’re living true to who you are and living in integrity with yourself
Jill de Chavez
Key Takeaways
Ownership Changes Everything
Even if you were already running the business, becoming the owner instantly adds weight, pressure, and responsibility you can’t fully understand until you’re in it.
Culture is How You Treat People
A people-first agency isn’t built through slogans—it’s built through safety, clarity, and refusing to run your team into the ground.
Simplicity is the Hard Path that Works.
Instead of adding more systems and complexity, the real move is often subtraction: remove what doesn’t align, and focus on the fundamentals.
Know Your Financial Levers
Jill shares why learning the numbers early is one of the most important survival skills an agency owner can develop.
Show Notes
Company Mentioned:
Guest Links
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