Keith Scandone is the Co-founder and CEO of O3 World, an interactive and digital product agency that combines business intelligence, human-centered design, and integrated technology to deliver strategies and digital solutions for enterprise clients. He co-founded O3 World in 2005 and has steered its growth as a strategic partner for clients such as Comcast, Thomson Reuters, and Five Below. Keith also leads O3’s Ventures initiative, which accelerates the growth of digital products through investment, advisory support, and design strategy.
About the Episode
How can an agency evolve while staying true to its strengths and delivering long-term value in a competitive, fast-changing market? According to Keith Scandone, the key is knowing where you excel and building deep, authentic client relationships. He shares how focusing on specialization, fostering complementary partnerships, and embracing innovation while staying grounded in business realities has helped O3 World grow sustainably. Host Tyler Lane and Keith explore why narrowing capabilities beats being “full service,” how trust fuels enterprise partnerships, and the role of in-person connections in strengthening client bonds. Keith also discusses strategies for balancing experimentation with sustainability in the AI era.
Key Moments
An Unorthodox Path to Agency Leadership
- From acting and producing theater to launching a digital agency [1:55].
Why Specialization Wins Over “Full Service”
- The pitfalls of trying to do everything and the power of focusing on core expertise [8:20].
Authenticity and Staying in Your Lane
- How focusing on strengths and building trusted partnerships drives better client outcomes [16:28].
The Power of Collaborative Partnerships
- Leveraging complementary expertise to deliver enterprise-level results [20:05].
In-Person Connections as a Business Differentiator
- Why curated events and face-to-face engagement deepen relationships [22:27].
Balancing Innovation and Sustainability
- Approaching AI and experimentation with flexibility and pragmatism [31:54].
Trust as the Key to Enterprise Growth
- Building consultative relationships that open the door to long-term engagements [36:32].
Top Insights
- Narrow your service offerings to core strengths – Specializing in what you do best builds credibility and differentiates you in a crowded market.
- Cultivate complementary partnerships – Collaborating with trusted experts fills capability gaps and delivers better outcomes for clients.
- Prioritize in-person client engagement – Face-to-face interactions strengthen trust, deepen relationships, and open opportunities beyond the immediate project.
- Embrace innovation with a flexible plan – Staying adaptable allows you to seize emerging opportunities without overcommitting to untested trends.
- Focus on long-term enterprise relationships – Building deep, consultative partnerships leads to sustained growth and greater value creation for both sides.
Notable Quotes
- “I feel there is no other value better than an in-person connection. No one will convince me otherwise.”
- “I think it’s just really important to stay true to yourself and be honest.”
- “You definitely need to be willing to kind of get off your mark and be a little bit uncomfortable.”
- “I believe very strongly in in-person connections, even more so because that’s becoming antiquated in many ways.”
- “We all enjoy ourselves much more if we’re working with people we like.”
Resources
Industry Experts
- Tyler Lane on LinkedIn
- Keith Scandone: LinkedIn | Email
- Wil Reynolds on LinkedIn
- Mike Gadsby on LinkedIn
Companies and Organizations
The Relationship-First Growth Advantage
If you’re chasing new business without deepening your existing client relationships, you’re missing the most sustainable growth lever. At Session Interactive, we help brands build smarter, relationship-driven performance strategies rooted in measurement, optimization, and scalable digital execution. Let us help you identify your strengths, amplify your connections, and grow with purpose.
For more insights on building enterprise success through strategy, innovation, and trust, subscribe to the Built to Convert podcast. Ready to scale smarter? Contact Session Interactive to see how we can help you grow with focus and impact.
