IN THIS EPISODE…
On this episode of Matters of Creative, hosts Bobbie Bailey and Jenny Ridenour of M Agency sit down with Matt Hirsch, the agency’s Account Director, to announce him becoming a partner alongside Bobbie, and what this means for the future of M. The conversation moves through nearly a decade of shared history, tracing the weight, excitement, and personal growth that came with stepping into a partnership role.
Matt reflects on how his lens has shifted since becoming partner, shares his take on where AI fits into an agency built on research, testing, and teaching, and opens up about the “airing of grievances” conversation that helped pave the way to this moment. This episode is for team leaders and anyone navigating a big career transition. Listeners will walk away with a candid look at what partnership really feels like from the inside.
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
With a unicorn-like melding of left and right brain thinking, Matt brings a unique and dynamic leadership style to M. As a lifelong learner, he is motivated by solving the toughest problems and finding new ways to challenge old thinking. At M, he oversees our digital strategy, ensuring projects begin with strategy, are aligned with goals and key performance indicators, and are delivered on time and on budget.
Since graduating with his Bachelor’s in Marketing, Matt has worked at the intersection of people, technology, and brands in digital innovation. He’s helped business leaders from small businesses to startups in the valley to Fortune 100 companies (Ford, Toyota, and Staples, to name a few) and everywhere in between grow and transform.
Today, he continues to take great pride in collaborating with our team to deliver real and measurable impact for M’s clients. In his view, bringing the right talent together to work on a project in tandem is where the real magic happens.
Hailing from Michigan, Matt enjoys nerding out with mechanical puzzle builds, getting outdoors, and learning new skills—such as woodworking.
HERE’S A GLIMPSE OF WHAT YOU’LL HEAR:
- [00:24] Bobbie shares the backstory: bringing on a partner after 17 years as sole owner
- [01:11] What’s changed at the agency since Matt joined nearly a decade ago
- [02:22] The moment work started to feel like more than “just a job”
- [05:21] Matt’s first reaction to being approached about partnership
- [08:02] The new responsibilities partnership brings, and becoming a new dad in the same year
- [11:26] What Matt is most excited to build with the team, including new hubs beyond Tacoma
- [13:02] The kind of culture Matt wants the team to experience as they grow
- [15:56] Matt’s five-year vision, and where AI fits into the agency’s future
- [22:20] The career lesson that has stuck with Matt on a personal level
- [23:52] The “airing of grievances” conversation that helped pave the way to partnership
Quotable Moments:
- “It’s never been easier for somebody to push a couple of buttons and think they have something and then just send it out into the world. It’s never been harder at the same time to cut through the noise.” — Matt, on AI
- “Our people really are everything, and I think a lot of that comes from Bobbie’s example of how she’s worked with the team throughout the years.” — Matt
- “The journey of whatever it is that you’re discussing is sometimes more important than that final destination you’re trying to get to.” — Matt
- “Our issue isn’t bad culture. Our issue is just caring too much about one another at times.” — Bobbie
- “There’s a lot of weight and effort that went into building that. So it means an absolute ton to be offered that opportunity.” — Matt
Our Takeaways:
- Treat AI as a Tool, Not a Shortcut: Use AI to speed up testing and bridge data together, but remember it doesn’t know taste; you still have to research, test, and teach to give clients real guidance.
- Make Space to Air Grievances: Set up an open, judgment-free space with your team or partners to talk about what’s working and what isn’t; just saying it out loud can be enough, even without immediate action.
- Step Away From the Screen: Pick up an analog hobby (woodworking, pottery, puzzles, notebook journaling) and use it to unplug; hands-on thinking can feed creativity you can’t access sitting at a computer.
- Speak Up, Even When You Disagree: Share your opinion in team discussions even if it feels like the worst idea in the room, you never know what it might inspire in someone else.
- Zoom Out Beyond Day-to-Day Projects: As you take on more responsibility, shift your lens from just delivering the next project to asking what today’s decisions set you up for a few years down the road.
SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…
This episode is brought to you by M Agency, a full-service creative marketing agency in Tacoma, Washington.
We are a strategic partner for companies wanting to build memorable brands, websites, and marketing campaigns.
Our team of creative professionals leverages their unique talents and skills to provide various branding, design and development, marketing, and creative services.
If you’re ready to take action with your marketing, visit https://whatisyourm.com/.