What’s your backstory — how did you end up starting (or joining) an agency?

Spark & Pony Creative started as a friendship and grew into a business. Kass and I met in 2016 at an automotive marketing agency in Edmonton, clicked instantly, and stayed connected even after I left to travel. In 2018, we reunited to plan a trip to Burning Man — and somewhere between the wild art and radical creativity, we decided to combine our skills and build something of our own. A year later, we officially launched Spark & Pony, offering branding, websites, content creation, and social media management to help entrepreneurs bring their visions to life. Since then, we’ve partnered with 70+ businesses to create brands and experiences bigger and better than they imagined.

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When do you feel most energized at work?

When I’m in a brand strategy session and see that “aha” moment spark for a client. And later, when we put that strategy into action and the results start rolling in.

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What’s a day in your life really look like (no filters)?

No two days are the same. I usually start with meditation and physio, then coffee, Slack hellos, and checking email and LinkedIn. I knock out any social posting before diving into team meetings, client work, proposals, or business development. Some days, I’m out at networking events or working with the team in person. I also make time to learn, so I’m always growing and staying inspired.

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What’s a personal ritual or habit you credit for your success?

Grit — and a willingness to see mistakes as lessons. I approach failure with curiosity, looking for the growth hidden in the challenge.

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What’s one mistake you made early on that taught you something lasting?

In 2020, I left my full-time job to go all-in on Spark & Pony — and then the world shut down. We lost every client within weeks. It taught me to diversify my client base and to work with vetted, referral-based freelancers and consultants who can save time, money, and stress.

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What’s something people get wrong about you?

People often ask, “So who’s Spark and who’s Pony?” While the name isn’t based on us individually, we like to joke that Kass is the Spark and I’m the Pony.

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What do you do to recharge outside of work?

Unplug completely. I leave my phone behind for a hike, a walk, or a slow dinner with friends.

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What’s your definition of “success” right now?

Sustaining a strong, supportive creative team while keeping things flexible for everyone involved.

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What makes your agency different from others in your space?

We’re a female-led team delivering high-performing creative for small businesses. We’re experts at distilling complex ideas into clear, compelling marketing — from mining tech to neural retraining systems — and we bring strategy, storytelling, and design together seamlessly.

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What type of clients or projects are a 'no' for you?

We’re usually not the best fit for very early-stage solopreneurs. Our sweet spot is working with companies that have been in business for five years or more and are ready to scale. That said, we do offer consultations and new-business branding packages for those just starting out.We’re also Webflow experts, so our ideal clients are open to exploring this platform for their website. Every client we’ve moved to Webflow has given it glowing reviews — for its speed, flexibility, and ease of use.

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What’s a principle or value your agency lives by?

Always bring value. Always lead with honesty, transparency, and accountability.

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How do you foster creative thinking on your team?

Collaboration and continuous learning. We bring more voices to the table and invest in professional development so ideas can cross-pollinate.

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What advice would you give to someone starting an agency today?

Find mentors, build your network, and hone your leadership skills alongside your technical ones. Relationships will take you further than you think.

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What’s something you’d do differently if you were starting from scratch?

I’d invest in a business coach early — preferably one who knows the agency space — to help avoid the early missteps.

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How do you approach pricing — any rules you live by?

Price the client as much as the project. Larger clients often bring more complex problems, and pricing should reflect that. I also recommend stage-based pricing, as discovery often uncovers necessary work beyond the initial scope.

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How do you prioritize growth vs. sustainability?

Growth without sustainability isn’t worth it. I’d rather grow slowly with intention than burn out chasing fast wins.

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Who’s one founder or operator you really admire — and why?

Ben Burns — his work bridging creative talent with business know-how is both pragmatic and inspiring.

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What software or tool do you swear by?

Dashlane. As an agency handling multiple platforms and sensitive client information, a password manager is essential.

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What’s one resource (book, podcast, etc.) that changed how you work?

Run Studio Run by Eli Altman helped us structure the business early on. Recently, Darling, You Can’t Do Both by Janet Kestin opened my eyes to the realities of women in creative leadership.

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What is your most controversial or unpopular belief?

You can get away with mediocre branding in your first five years — but the sooner you invest in it, the sooner you’ll see real growth.

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What’s one thing you wish clients understood better about agency work?

Marketing can be just as powerful as a sales team. Sometimes the boldest creative delivers the biggest payoff — so trust us when we encourage you to take a risk.

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What’s your favorite thing about being in this industry?

Seeing creative visions come to life and watching them help businesses grow and thrive.