Kate Hamilton

Founders of boutique firms often struggle with some of the following: 1. They struggle to consistently put out original POV content that gets them recognized 2. They struggle to get enough quality conversations with their ideal prospects. 3. They struggle to become entrenched with technology partners and the broader industry ecosystem. 4. They struggle to be recognized for their thinking and expertise, rather than their capability. 5. They struggle to scale their thinking and expertise across the firm. While it's not a panacea, creating original research pieces can be a path to addressing all of these things. I am looking forward to chatting with Susan Baier about this. If you've considered doing original research, or if you have tried it without success, you'll want to tune into this one.

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What's the difference between a new hire and an acquired employee? The new hire chose to be there. That's what makes the people side of M&A so different and why Nikki Llorin Eaves, founder of Purpose + Impact Communications, says it demands a level of care that goes far beyond standard onboarding and changes how leaders should show up for their people during a deal. This is the part of M&A that rarely gets talked about, and it can be where deals fall apart. Full episode of Ethical Exits linked in comments.

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While I'm delightfully OOO 🥰, Leslie Zaikis is holding down The New HQ fort and sharing some hard-earned wisdom from the buyer's side of the table. If you're an independent consultant, agency owner, or service provider, this one is worth a read. It's a reminder that clients aren't just evaluating your work. They're paying attention to all the little signals about what it will actually be like to work with you. Check it out 👇

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For larger firms, innovation is often right under their nose. Ask yourself: Where do my employees come from? What are their lived experiences? What unique insights and strengths do they bring, and am I empowering them to contribute as best they can? As we learned from The Washing Machine Project, you'll never know what you're missing out on till you take a look.

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I recently attended an Exit Planning Institute (Philadelphia chapter) panel, The Dealmaker’s Take 2026. The conversation prompted some reflection on how strategic marketing is often viewed too narrowly as a growth lever, when in practice it can play a meaningful role in shaping long-term enterprise value. That lens applies just as much to professional services firms as it does to owner-operated businesses more broadly. It’s also akin to home improvement projects that property owners quietly defer: work that doesn’t feel urgent day-to-day, but becomes highly visible -- and consequential -- once an outside party starts paying attention. I explore that idea further in this short essay:  https://lnkd.in/eH6mA2qc

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Reader's Digest quoted me in this new article focused on AI job disruption. Thank you to Danielle Schlass Saliman for including me in this timely piece. Here's an excerpt: AI can mimic conversation, but it can’t build trust over time. Joe Szynkowski, founder of The UpWrite Group, a communications firm that works with both job seekers and employers, says the roles that are holding steady are the ones that rely on ongoing relationships, where understanding people—not just solving problems—is what drives results. “This is going to be one of the most resilient skills we can have moving forward.” Appreciate being able to weigh in on this topic alongside so many experts. Reader's Digest Association

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If your About page is the one that converts prospects, you should make sure it's working in your favor. I'd say your About page is the second most important page for this very reason. Make sure it's connecting with visitors. 1. Your headshot needs to be current 2. Your bio should be in first person 3. Do not lead with your credentials 4. Share about what you like to do outside of work 5. If you can, add more photos other than just your headshot There are other things you can do to improve your About page but those five things listed above will make your About page a prospecting tool. Have fun! Show some personality. Make the connection. One of my favorite pages is our own About page. Check out some of our support staff.

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Do your eyes glaze over when a pitch opens with AI? Mine do. I recently moderated a panel and have been reflecting on the vendor outreach before and after the event. Nearly every email opened the same way: “[Company] has an AI platform for ______.” Every pitch sounded identical, and none made me feel our clients needed the product. I’m not anti-AI. It has real value and will become part of everyone’s job. But the conversations that stuck with me happened in person, with a thoughtful discussion in the speaker room. We need to go back to some basics. Lead with a business challenge and a real connection, not your technology.

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Networking. Either you love it or you don't. And if you don't, you're not alone. But this week, I learned some tips that make it easier: 🌟 Always have a goal. When you've reached your goal, you're done. 🌟 Approach networking as an act in generosity and graciousness. 🌟 Do your homework in advance. Know who will be there, so you're ready. 🌟 Join groups of two; often they're colleagues and will welcome you in. 🌟 Be ready with a very simple, memorable, two-sentence explanation of your company. "We're a creative and marketing agency," for example. 🌟 Follow up within 48 hours or it's awkward. Where did I learn these? M. Harris & Kern team members attended a fantastic workshop led by RANA LEE of HOK, along with members of Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and Syska Hennessy Group. It was a masterclass in networking, by a master teacher. Rana hosts these workshops for her team at HOK and occasionally is looking for other firms to participate.

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