She Manifested Ownership Then Had to Survive It - Winger Marketing

Company: Winger Marketing
Owners: Karolyn Raphael
Year Started: 1986
Employees: 1-10 

Karolyn Raphael didn’t start Winger Marketing, but she made it her own...right after coming back from maternity leave. In this episode, she shares how she went from performer to PR agency owner, what she learned the hard way about leadership, and the uncomfortable truths behind growing a business that lasts.

Key Takeaways

• The mindset shift needed to go from doing the work to leading the business
• Why delaying your first key hire can quietly damage momentum
• The biggest trap for agency owners trying to “be liked”
• How she transformed a family-run PR firm into a modern marketing agency
• A simple team habit that keeps them ahead in a fast-changing industry