Episode Summary
In this episode of An Agency Story, host Russel Dubree sits down with Chris Manley, CEO of Engenius, a Greenville, SC-based web design and digital marketing agency. Chris shares how his background in nonprofit work shaped his business philosophy, why open-book management matters, and how his company resists the typical agency churn cycle by deeply investing in its people and small business clients.
Top Takeaways:
- Start with people, and profit will follow.
- Open-book management isn’t just a gimmick, it’s a mindset shift.
- Long-term success requires aligning values with vision.
Agency Info
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Company: Engenius
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Guest: Chris Manley
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Year Started: 2008
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Employees: 11-25
Profit isn’t a dirty word, it’s what allows us to take care of our people and make better decisions without constantly looking over our shoulder.
Chris Manley
Key Takeaways
From Volunteerism to Visionary Leadership
Chris began his post-college journey organizing hurricane relief and founding a nonprofit. That hands-on leadership experience became the crucible for what would later become Engenius. This early exposure to chaos, responsibility, and impact gave Chris a unique lens through which to build a business.
Why Culture Comes First
From day one, Chris and his co-founder envisioned a company where team members could thrive long-term. No churn-and-burn, no outgrowing clients or employees. You don’t have to choose between growth and people. Engenius scales with intention—growing at a pace that doesn’t outpace its talent.
Open-Book Management in Action
Chris didn’t just adopt open-book management—he lived it, inspired by The Great Game of Business and none other than Jack Stack himself. The result? Consistent profits—and more importantly, shared wins. This approach aligned the entire organization toward healthy financial habits without hiding behind numbers.
Healthy Growth Over Hustle Culture
Instead of chasing bigger clients or a quick exit, Chris is focused on: Adding redundancy to roles to prevent burnout, Exploring values-aligned acquisitions, and Keeping leadership and employees on a sustainable, fulfilling path His north star? Every employee should be able to spend their entire career at Engenius if they want to.
Reframing Imposter Syndrome
Rather than fighting imposter syndrome, Chris encourages agency leaders to embrace their expertise and remember their purpose. It’s a simple mindset flip that empowers marketers to speak with conviction and confidence—even in intimidating rooms.
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