Agency vs. In-House Marketing: Build the Right Team with Leslie Vickrey

Episode notes

#6 - What does it actually take to build a marketing agency from scratch — no business plan, no budget, no agency experience — and turn it into an 18-year industry institution? In this episode, Mandy Hornaday sits down with Leslie Vickrey, founder and CEO of ClearEdge, to unpack the decisions, pivots, and leadership lessons behind one of the most respected marketing agencies in the B2B talent and technology space. From how she landed her first client before the company existed, to the personal branding moves that made ClearEdge impossible to ignore, to the culture philosophy that’s driven two-decade employee loyalty — Leslie shares the kind of hard-won perspective that only comes from doing it for real. If you’re a marketing leader navigating the agency vs. in-house decision, thinking about your own personal brand, or trying to build a culture that actually holds — this episode is for you.