After 25 Years, Starting a New Chapter—On Her Terms
This agency owner stepped out of the weeds and into a stronger future—by aligning growth with balance through the Agency Growth Diagnostic (AGD) with agency advisor Karl Sakas.
Running a creative agency for 25 years is a remarkable achievement. Linette Lao, founder of Invisible Engines, built her studio around strong values: helping clients, fostering collaboration, and making a meaningful impact.
Yet after two decades, she faced a pivotal question: What comes next? Should she:
- Grow strategically,
- Maintain the status quo, or
- Take a bold new direction?
The stakes were high, so she needed expert guidance to make the right choice.
The challenge: growing without more stress
Linette wasn’t interested in growth for growth’s sake. She’d built a talented team but found herself stretched too thin—balancing client work, strategy, and business development. More work wasn’t the solution; she needed better balance.
While she had followed Karl Sakas’ advice for years—through his blog, his newsletter, and the Bureau of Digital—she realized it was time to get dedicated, one-on-one support. She shared:
“I had known Karl through The Bureau, and he had already been so helpful in that agency community. I even printed out something he had said and kept it in a file because it stuck with me. His insights always seemed to address exactly what I was struggling with at the moment. When I finally met him in person, I could tell he really understood agency owners like me. If his free advice was so helpful, I knew working with him would be transformative.”
In 2024, Linette started an Agency Growth Diagnostic (AGD) consulting project. Karl’s structured process helps identify quick wins, long-term strategies, and customized recommendations to determine the best path forward.
“Karl helped me see the big picture. His structured approach and deep agency knowledge gave me the confidence to move forward. It wasn’t just about growth—it was about building an agency that worked for me.”
—Linette Lao, Founder, Invisible Engines
A clear strategy: finding the best path
The AGD process began with a deep dive into Invisible Engines’ structure, including a DiSC behavioral assessment to improve team communication and efficiency. Linette noted:
“The onboarding made me face things I had avoided. It gave me a new way to look at my business—even before Karl shared his advice!”
Karl helped Linette explore three potential growth options, to help her choose the right path for her goals. Once she decided, they developed a custom strategy to allow Linette to step back from daily execution and focus on leading her agency.
Key wins: confidence, clarity, and balance
Karl’s insights helped Linette refine her agency’s structure and pricing model. Linette has new insights to capture the value of her strategic expertise.
Adding two specific new roles will free up Linette’s time, reducing her involvement in day-to-day tasks. She discovered that growth didn’t have to lead to burnout. With a smart, intentional plan, she can expand her agency while staying true to the balance and purpose she cherishes. Linette observed:
“Karl helped me see the big picture. His structured approach and deep agency knowledge gave me the confidence to move forward. It wasn’t just about growth—it was about building an agency that worked for me.”
A new chapter with confidence
Just a few months after getting the Agency Growth Diagnostic advice, Linette reports already seeing the impact of her work with Karl. She has a clear direction and is making choices that support her goals in 2025 and beyond. With Karl’s help, she prepared Invisible Engines for new success—on her terms.
Are you at a crossroads with your agency?
➡ Find out how the Agency Growth Diagnostic can help you move forward with confidence.
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Accountability. Advice. Perspective.
Start with the Agency Growth Diagnostic to get clarity on what’s holding you back. From there, we’ll recommend next steps—like Executive Coaching or Custom Consulting—to help you focus on what matters most (and do less of everything else).