How to maintain entrepreneurialism at scale

More and more ‘mini-networks’ are seeking to beat the holding companies at their own game.

These often PE-backed groups of agencies can play the agile indie card, and they can also club together to service global clients. Unsurprisingly, each group claims its own point of difference vs the traditional holding company model. 

Meet The People is one such emerging network. And our guest today is Tim Ringel, their Global CEO. MTP is three years old and already home to 800 people. Which isn’t a surprise when you consider that this isn’t Tim’s first start-up rodeo. As a career-long entrepreneur, he knows a thing or two about scaling agency businesses. 

Tim is very clear on what he’s trying to do – in particular, how MTP is designed to combine the best of both worlds when it comes to indies and network agencies, and how he’s adapting to evolving client needs. 

He also shares a strong point of view on one of the biggest questions facing a mini-network – whether they should trade as a single ‘branded house’ or more of a ‘house of brands’. 

Most importantly, at a time when so many agencies lack commerciality, Tim talks passionately about how to sustain growth – and an entrepreneurial culture – as an agency scales. 

If you’re leading, launching or competing with any of these mid-sized agency groups, or even if you’d just like your own shop to be more entrepreneurial, then you’re going to really enjoy the conversation.

Highlights: 

[03.10] Why Tim started Meet the People. 

[07.45] How MTP offers safety to the agencies it acquires.

[10.24] Solving common commercial issues.

[11.45] Splitting clients by size and behaviour.

[15.05] Why ‘branded house vs house of brands’ is the wrong question.

[18.00] Tim’s aspiration for MTP.

[22.16] The limitations of a short-term focus. 

[27.26] Maintaining an entrepreneurial culture at scale.

[33.40] Creating psychological safety. 

[37.26] Being fearless despite market volatility.