Lisa Larson-Kelley is the Founder and CEO of Quantious, a New York-based marketing agency specializing in strategy, emerging technology, and digital enablement for enterprise clients. Under her leadership, Quantious has grown to a 26-person remote team, earned recognition as an Inc. 5000 honoree, and was named one of AdWeek’s Fastest-Growing Agencies. Lisa is also an accomplished tech educator, Vistage member, and instructor on platforms like Skillshare and Pluralsight, with a passion for bridging the gap between creativity and technology in marketing.
About the Episode
In this episode, Tyler Lane sits down with Lisa Larson-Kelley, Founder and CEO of Quantious, to explore how blending creativity, technology, and culture fuels sustainable agency growth. They discuss Lisa’s career journey from designer to agency leader, how marketing enablement bridges strategy, process, and execution, and why flexibility is critical for creative teams. The conversation also dives into navigating enterprise complexity, building a strong remote culture, and using AI to remove friction — not creativity — from modern marketing workflows.
Key Moments
Lisa’s Career Journey
- How Lisa transitioned from graphic design to technology consulting and agency leadership [2:31].
- Building Quantious by saying “yes,” taking smart risks, and growing into a 26-person remote team [2:58].
Defining Marketing Enablement
- What “marketing enablement” really means: aligning process, strategy, and execution [4:50].
- Why filling gaps across teams and departments is critical for enterprise clients [9:49].
Creativity, Flexibility, and Modern Work
- Why creativity doesn’t fit neatly into a nine-to-five schedule and how flexibility improves outcomes [6:22].
- Rethinking productivity to support deep creative thinking and better work [7:37].
Navigating Enterprise Complexity
- How to manage internal politics and cross-functional stakeholders inside large organizations [12:08].
- Using discovery and success metrics to help internal champions shine [12:33].
AI, Automation, and the Future of Agencies
- How Quantious educates its team on AI through shared learning, internal tools, and experimentation [16:29].
- Why AI should eliminate creative drudgery and not replace human creativity [22:12].
- The role agencies will play in helping clients build AI-powered workflows and efficiencies [25:16].
Building Culture in a Remote World
- What culture really means beyond Zoom happy hours [27:47].
- Strengthening connection with team rituals, random check-ins, and in-person retreats [30:57].
Top Insights
- Design workflows that remove creative friction – Automating repetitive tasks frees your team to focus on higher-value strategic and creative thinking.
- Build flexibility into how creative work gets done – Allowing teams to work when they’re most effective leads to stronger outcomes and better morale.
- Align stakeholders early in the process – Proactively involving cross-functional teams reduces friction, speeds execution, and prevents costly rework later.
- Invest in continuous learning around technology – Ongoing education helps teams stay confident, relevant, and prepared for rapid changes like AI adoption.
- Intentionally cultivate a remote culture – Clear communication, shared values, and regular connection strengthen trust and performance in distributed teams.
Notable Quotes
- “Saying yes and leaning in is really the only way.”
- “Marketing enablement really incorporates its process, strategy, and execution.”
- “That kind of flexibility, I think, with creativity is the only way to really make it work.”
- “The creatives need to start thinking about how to automate parts of their job to have more free, open, creative time.”
- “Our value as agencies will be helping clients uncover efficiencies, build, and refine AI solutions while providing that human connection.”
Resources
Industry Experts
Companies and Organizations
Tools and Platforms
Frameworks and Methodologies
Blending Creativity and Technology to Unlock Growth
If your marketing team is juggling creative demands, emerging technology, and complex stakeholder expectations, alignment becomes the growth advantage. At Session Interactive, we help brands bridge strategy, creativity, and execution—building systems and workflows that reduce friction, empower teams, and drive measurable impact.
For more insights on modern marketing leadership, creative enablement, and scalable growth, subscribe to the Built to Convert podcast. Ready to build smarter, more connected marketing? Contact Session Interactive to see how we can help you turn complexity into momentum.
