How to Scale an 8 Figure Agency 🚀

Jordan Ross
  • 5.0 (10)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Welcome to How to Scale an 8-Figure Agency, the show where I break down the exact operational, financial, and AI-driven systems that today’s top marketing agencies use to scale past seven figures — without burning out or getting trapped in fulfillment. Every week, we go deep into: • AI consulting for marketing agencies • Operational infrastructure that actually scales • Building automations, workflows, and agent-based systems • Hiring and training world-class teams • Improving margins, capacity, and client LTV • Turning your agency into an 8-figure operation that runs without you If you’re a founder stuck in the weeds, capped by systems, or wondering how to integrate AI into your agency the right way… this podcast is your blueprint. I’m Jordan Ross — founder of 8 Figure Agency and the person behind hundreds of successful agency scale-ups — and this is where we turn chaos into clarity, and CEOs into true operators. Let’s get into it.

  1. How to Generate 1,000+ Leads with Virtual Summits (Borrowing Other People’s Lists the Right Way)

    5D AGO

    How to Generate 1,000+ Leads with Virtual Summits (Borrowing Other People’s Lists the Right Way)

    UNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES: https://bit.ly/41Sm05N In this episode, Jordan Ross sits down with Kevin Sanderson, founder of LGN Marketing, to break down how agency owners can generate thousands of qualified leads by hosting virtual summits — without paid ads. Kevin shares the exact playbook he used to help build an 8-figure Amazon agency and how he leveraged 15–20 influential speakers to “borrow” their email lists and audiences. The result? Nearly 1,100 targeted agency owners registered for a single event. They walk through the full strategy step-by-step — from identifying your ideal audience and recruiting high-leverage speakers, to building a follow-up funnel that converts summit attendees into long-term clients. The conversation also covers how to structure your summit for maximum list growth, how to use social proof and leaderboards to increase speaker promotion, and why the real money is made in the backend nurturing sequence. This episode is a must-listen for: Digital marketing agency owners looking to grow their email list fast Founders who want to generate qualified leads without relying on paid ads Operators exploring webinars, virtual summits, or audience partnerships Agencies focused on building long-term list equity ⏱️ Podcast Chapters – Why Virtual Summits Are a Million-Dollar Growth Lever – Choosing the Right ICP for Your Event – How to Recruit Influential Speakers – Building the Funnel, Swipe Copy & Tracking Links – Using Social Proof & Leaderboards to Drive Promotion – The Backend Strategy: VIP Offers & List Nurture – Turning Summit Attendees into Long-Term Clients Kevin’s Workbook – https://lgnmarketing.com/workbook Kevin’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-sanderson-profile/ To learn more go to 8figureagency.co

    23 min
  2. How Tim Keen Built a High-Converting AI Sales Funnel Using Claude, Cold Email & Lead Magnets

    MAR 2

    How Tim Keen Built a High-Converting AI Sales Funnel Using Claude, Cold Email & Lead Magnets

    UNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES: https://bit.ly/41Sm05N In this episode, Jordan Ross sits down with Tim Keen, founder of Modern Agency Sales, to unpack the exact system behind Tim’s AI-powered funnel that generated 20,000+ leads on LinkedIn in just 12 months. Tim breaks down the full-stack system he engineered—from scraping LinkedIn profiles to auto-generating personalized lead magnets, high-performing landing pages, cold email sequences, and even 60-day content calendars. This is not theory—it's a blueprint built from code, prompts, and pure inbound/outbound mastery. They dive into the evolution of B2B lead generation, why most agency lead magnets are broken, and how to build funnels that look beautiful, deliver value, and book strategy calls on autopilot. Tim also explains how his own tools connect call transcripts to content pipelines and discusses the cold email infrastructure he's using to achieve 70%+ positive reply rates in 2024. This episode is packed with cutting-edge tactics for: Digital agency owners wanting better inbound and outbound funnels Operators looking to productize services with AI Founders who hate sales decks but want high-ticket calls booked daily Anyone building an AI-first client acquisition engine ⏱ Podcast Chapters – How Tim Got 20,000+ Leads on LinkedIn – The Blueprint of a Modern AI Sales Funnel – Why Cold Email Still Works (and What to Avoid) – Building Personalized Lead Magnets with Claude – How to Auto-Generate 60 Days of Content – The Tech Stack: Trigger.dev, Superbase, and Beyond – Using Call Transcripts to Drive Content Creation – Building Product-Led Growth into a Service Business – Why Most Lead Magnets Suck (and How to Fix Yours) – What’s Next for Tim & Modern Agency Sales To learn more, visit 8figureagency.co Tim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-keen

    37 min
  3. Scaling Agency Teams: The People Systems Behind a 2,500-Person Operation

    FEB 26

    Scaling Agency Teams: The People Systems Behind a 2,500-Person Operation

    UNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES: https://bit.ly/41Sm05N In this episode, Jordan Ross sits down with Arman Taheri, co-founder of TalentPop, to unpack the infrastructure, hiring systems, and operational design behind one of the most scaled agency teams in the industry. From architecting org charts to tracking capacity utilization with workforce analysts, Arman breaks down how TalentPop scaled to over 2,500 employees by building two core departments: internal ops and client-facing CX, each supported by a layered management structure. If you're an agency founder stuck at $2M-$5M and struggling to scale people without breaking quality or margin, this episode is your playbook for transitioning from generalists to specialists and turning headcount into growth capacity. Whether you're searching for insights on recruiting at scale, org chart design, hiring process automation, or how to build an 85% capacity utilization model, this episode maps the exact journey to scalable ops. Chapters: 1. TalentPop’s Origin Story: From Face Masks to CX Ops 2. The Two Departments That Run an 8-Figure Agency 3. Architecting a Layered Team: Specialist → Team Lead → Ops Manager 4. How to Track Capacity Utilization With Real Math 5. The Role of Workforce Management and Business Analysts 6. Hiring Funnel Design: Filtering, Scoring, and Scaling 7. Common Mistakes in Team Building (and How to Avoid Them) 8. Why You Shouldn’t Let CSMs Own Onboarding 9. Data-Driven Growth: People Ops That Actually Scale To learn more go to 8figureagency.co Reach Arman at: TalentPop: https://www.talentpop.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thearmantaheri/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armantaheri/

    46 min
  4. How to Raise Great Humans: Parenting Wisdom from the Father of a Legislator & SPAC Founder

    FEB 23

    How to Raise Great Humans: Parenting Wisdom from the Father of a Legislator & SPAC Founder

    UNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES: https://bit.ly/41Sm05N In this special episode, Jordan Ross sits down with Jeffrey Lafazan, a Long Island father whose sons have built extraordinary careers, including co-founding a public financial firm and becoming the youngest elected legislator in New York State. But the focus isn’t on IPOs, it’s on parenting and raising high-performing kids with strong values. Jordan asks one fundamental question: How do you raise great children who grow into successful, grounded adults? Jeffrey shares practical parenting advice and story-driven insights on teaching discipline, modeling accountability, and creating emotional safety through everyday presence. From grocery store math games to early childhood education strategies that shape future learning, this conversation is part parenting masterclass, part life philosophy for modern parents. If you're a founder, operator, or parent who wants to succeed at work and at home, without sacrificing your family, this episode is a must-listen. Chapters: • Why Presence Beats Pressure in Parenting • Grocery Stores, Math Lessons & Early Autonomy • Mistakes, Tough Love, and Course Corrections • The Pre-K Advantage: How Early Education Sets a Trajectory • Raising Three Kids with Different Needs, One Core Principle • Building Good Humans in a Performance-Obsessed World To learn more go to 8figureagency.co Reach Jeffrey at: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefflafazan/ Zillow - https://www.zillow.com/lender-profile/Jeff%20Lafazan/

    28 min
  5. How Digital Marketing Agencies Use AI and M&A to Scale Profitably

    FEB 19

    How Digital Marketing Agencies Use AI and M&A to Scale Profitably

    UNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES: https://bit.ly/45oOnu3 In this episode, Jordan Ross breaks down his unexpected move into acquiring a marketing agency, despite originally focusing on accounting firms. He shares what changed his thinking after conversations with private equity firms and how those insights reshaped his long-term strategy. Jordan explains why scale matters in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and how agencies can dramatically increase their enterprise value by improving operational efficiency and profitability. A major theme of the conversation is the role of AI in modern agencies—not as a replacement for talent, but as a powerful lever to unlock margin, streamline workflows, and drive sustainable growth. The episode also dives into Jordan’s acquisition thesis: partnering with agencies that are struggling to scale, acquiring equity, and using systems, AI, and operational improvements to turn them into highly profitable businesses. This is a must-listen for agency owners, operators, and digital marketing leaders thinking about exits, acquisitions, or scaling beyond founder-led growth. Chapters – The Unexpected Shift: Buying a Marketing Agency – Understanding M&A: Why Scale Drives Enterprise Value – Leveraging AI to Increase Profitability and Efficiency To learn more go to 8figureagency.co

    10 min
  6. How Jason Hennessey Built & Sold an 8-Figure Marketing Agency | Scaling to $10M+, Private Equity Exit & the Second Bite Strategy

    FEB 16

    How Jason Hennessey Built & Sold an 8-Figure Marketing Agency | Scaling to $10M+, Private Equity Exit & the Second Bite Strategy

    UNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES: https://bit.ly/41Sm05N In this episode, Jordan Ross sits down with Jason Hennessey, founder of Hennessey Digital, to unpack what it really takes to scale a digital agency to multi–eight figures and successfully exit to private equity—without burning out or losing your life in the process. Jason shares his 24-year “overnight success” journey, from running a standard SEO agency to intentionally building the “Lamborghini dealership of legal marketing.” He breaks down the mindset, systems, people strategy, and long-term intentionality required to move from six figures → seven figures → eight figures → exit. This is not a hype-filled growth story. It’s a deep, honest masterclass on: Why most agencies fail to scale past $10M How to hire and retain true A-players The hidden dangers of fast growth The role of personal brand in enterprise-level deal flow How intention, accountability, and resilience shape long-term success If you’re an agency owner trying to break through the next revenue ceiling—or thinking about a future exit—this episode delivers real-world lessons from someone who’s done it twice. Chapters – Why Multi–Eight-Figure Agency Exits Are Rare – Jason Hennessey’s 24-Year “Overnight Success” – The Second Bite of the Apple (Private Equity Strategy) – Running Multiple Successful Businesses Without Burnout – Replacing Yourself to Scale Past $10M – The Real Phases of Agency Growth (6 → 7 → 8 Figures) – Cash Flow Stress at Scale (More Money, More Problems) – Seeing the Game Like an Executive Strategist – Product Obsession vs. Sales-Led Agencies – Personal Brand as a Long-Term Growth Engine – Designing the Agency You Actually Want to Run – KPI-Driven Growth & Department Accountability – Hiring A-Players and Accepting Lower Margins – Why Most Agencies Can’t Retain Talent – Paying Above Market & Retaining Rockstars – Creating a Future That Didn’t Exist – Running a Business for Profitability Before Exit – Staying Grounded When Life Disrupts Business – Learning from Failure Instead of Avoiding It – Accountability Systems That Keep Founders on Track – Designing a Life Beyond the Business – Daily Habits & Creative Focus for Founders To learn more go to 8figureagency.co To reach Jason - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhennessey/ - jasonhennessey.com

    47 min
  7. Profit Per Pod: How Digital Marketing Agencies Scale Revenue Through Talent Pods & Profit Sharing

    FEB 12

    Profit Per Pod: How Digital Marketing Agencies Scale Revenue Through Talent Pods & Profit Sharing

    UNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES: https://bit.ly/41Sm05N In this episode, Jordan Ross sits down with Eddie Maalouf, founder of Bad Marketing, to unpack how he scaled his digital marketing agency from his mom’s basement to $20M in revenue. Eddie breaks down the real challenges agency owners face when growing past the early stages — including hiring the right people, building systems that scale, and avoiding founder burnout. He shares how implementing a profit-sharing model transformed team performance, accountability, and retention, while allowing him to step back from day-to-day execution. The conversation also dives deep into personal branding as a growth lever, why most agencies struggle to attract top-tier talent, and why sustainable agency growth comes down to mastering two core acquisitions: talent and clients. This episode is a must-listen for: Digital marketing agency owners stuck at a growth ceiling Founders hiring their first leadership team Agencies exploring profit sharing or incentive structures Operators building long-term, scalable businesses ⏱️ Podcast Chapters – From Zero to $20M: Eddie’s Agency Origin Story – Building a Scalable Agency Structure – Profit Sharing, Talent Acquisition & Client Growth Eddie's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-maalouf/ Eddie's website - http://www.badmarketing.com/home-li To learn more go to 8figureagency.co

    32 min
  8. Y Combinator Is Investing in AI-Native Agencies-What This Means for the Future of Marketing Services

    FEB 9

    Y Combinator Is Investing in AI-Native Agencies-What This Means for the Future of Marketing Services

    UNLOCK THE 13 SYSTEMS EVERY AGENCY OWNER NEEDS TO REACH 8 FIGURES: https://bit.ly/41Sm05N In this episode, Jordan Ross breaks down the most important signal of 2026 for marketing agencies: Y Combinator, the world’s top startup accelerator, is now investing in AI-native agencies. This episode unpacks why YC’s move into the agency world is not just surprising but a clear signal that the industry is about to be fundamentally reshaped. Jordan walks through: - What it means to be an AI-native agency (not just using AI tools) - Why AI-native agencies will dominate the next 3–5 years - The difference between AI-enhanced and AI-powered service models - How VC-backed founders with deep engineering talent will outscale traditional operators - Why custom internal IP (not public tools) will define the next 8- and 9-figure agency brands He also explores why most current agencies, despite using ChatGPT or automation tools, aren’t anywhere near “AI-native,” and why those who ignore this shift may not survive the next wave of innovation. Whether you're at $1M ARR or already at 8 figures, this is a must-listen if you care about margins, scale, and defensibility in the AI era. Chapters: — Intro: Why YC’s Latest Move Matters — Who YC Has Funded (and Why That’s Relevant Now) — What “AI-Native” Really Means (and Why You’re Probably Not One) — Why This Will Reshape the Entire Marketing Services Industry — How VC-Backed Agencies Will Outspend and Outbuild Everyone — What You Must Build If You Want to Compete in 2026–2028 — The New Playbook: Custom IP, Internal Tools, and Service-as-Software — Closing: What You Need to Do Right Now to Avoid Getting Left Behind To learn more go to 8figureagency.co

    13 min
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About

Welcome to How to Scale an 8-Figure Agency, the show where I break down the exact operational, financial, and AI-driven systems that today’s top marketing agencies use to scale past seven figures — without burning out or getting trapped in fulfillment. Every week, we go deep into: • AI consulting for marketing agencies • Operational infrastructure that actually scales • Building automations, workflows, and agent-based systems • Hiring and training world-class teams • Improving margins, capacity, and client LTV • Turning your agency into an 8-figure operation that runs without you If you’re a founder stuck in the weeds, capped by systems, or wondering how to integrate AI into your agency the right way… this podcast is your blueprint. I’m Jordan Ross — founder of 8 Figure Agency and the person behind hundreds of successful agency scale-ups — and this is where we turn chaos into clarity, and CEOs into true operators. Let’s get into it.

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