Traditional Creative Agencies Are Broken, Here’s the New Model | Danielle Dufresne

Need expert advice? Book a free chat with an agency mentor ➡️https://bit.ly/48LnNxP

In today’s episode, we sit down with Dani Dufresne, Emmy Award–winning Executive Producer and founder of The Aux Co., to unpack the future of creative agencies. From the collapse of the full-service model to the rise of fractional experts, niche collaborators, and community-led growth, this conversation is loaded with insight for every agency owner who wants to compete bigger without burning out.

Dani brings 20+ years working with brands like Nike and Hulu, plus deep experience inside major holding companies. If you’re feeling the pressure of industry shifts, overwhelmed by too many channels, or unsure how to scale without overpromising, this episode is your roadmap.

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:13 – The Producer Behind the Brands
00:58 – Why Full-Service Still Haunts Small Agencies
01:28 – The Era of Creative-First Shops (and Why They Win)
04:38 – Nostalgia, Emotion & the Return of Real Creative
05:41 – Why “Fake It Till You Make It” Fails Agencies
06:27 – What Small Agencies Can Do Better Than Big Ones
08:39 – Collaboration vs. Competition: Fixing Agency Mindsets
11:15 – Why Saying “I Know a Person” Builds More Trust
15:41 – White Label or Partner? The Real Strategy
18:55 – The Skill Gap Creatives Weren’t Trained For
22:01 – The Power of Questions: How Better Work Actually Happens
26:03 – Making Ideas Stronger by Challenging Them

🎧 More Episodes of The Agency Blueprint: https://bit.ly/48LpZFv

#agencygrowth #creativeagency #creativebusiness