Building Culture That Actually Works: Agency Growth, Acquisitions & What's Next

Joe Shelerud is joined by Mark Power, co-founder and Chief Engagement Officer at Podean — the global commerce agency that recently acquired Ad Advance — for a candid conversation about building agencies from the ground up and why culture is the most underrated competitive advantage. Key Takeaways: Mark's 30-year journey from B2B email marketing in London → content marketing → IPG → founding Podean with co-founder Travis Johnson Why Amazon is more than a sales channel — and the gap Podean was built to fill "Positive Energy" as a cultural umbrella — how Podean distilled its values into something every team member, across every acquired company, can rally behind The real markers of cultural health — including why the first 3–4 weeks of a new hire tells you everything Remote culture done right — what actually works when your team is virtual and global Transparency = Trust — why sharing the bad news openly builds more loyalty than a polished internal comms strategy ever will Navigating acquisitions — how Podean is integrating Ad Advance and Commerce Canal without an "our way or the highway" mindset What's coming next — a new show hosted by Mark Power and Podean co-founder Ryan Craver, going beyond advertising into broader commerce and industry trends If you're building a team, scaling an agency, or navigating a merger, this episode is packed with practical wisdom from two founders who've lived it.