10th February 2026
Christine Olivas on improving margins, reducing pressure and accessing specialist expertise
Episode 63
Christine Olivas
Practice Director - Advertising & Brand Marketing, Toptal
Today’s guest is Christine Olivas – Practice Director, Advertising & Brand Marketing at Toptal, the world’s largest, fully remote workforce.
Christine describes how on-demand talent has evolved from a stop-gap to a strategic growth lever for modern agencies, enabling them to build flexible teams that respond faster, protect margins and deliver stronger work.
Drawing on her experience scaling on-demand teams globally, she unpacks how moving beyond rigid resourcing helps agencies handle new-business surges, access specialist expertise and reduce pressure on core teams.
With an optimistic view of the future, Christine reflects on evolving workforce values, new career paths, and building agencies that are more human, resilient and fit for what comes next.
HIGHLIGHTS:
[02:33] A shifting workforce
[05:03] Dynamic demand for talent
[09:12] Moving beyond the stopgap
[13:10] CMOs want chemistry
[15:58] Support without spotlight
[20:03] New business influx
[24:29] Flexible pricing
[29:01] Freelance is evolving
[32:51] Portfolios open doors
[36:54] Great ideas come anywhere
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