Services

Operational scaling and organizational design

Whether you’re thinking of adding a slate of new shows, looking to pivot from branded work into originals, or hoping to simply make your company run smoother, you’ll need a plan for change management. Sudden changes can impact your employees and your production capacity but through detailed operational roadmaps, carefully designed org charts and comprehensive consideration of management structures, we can ensure that your organization scales in a way that allows you to reap the full benefits of your next move.

People operations and cross-functional team building

You’re operating without an employee handbook, you’re not sure if you’re calculating payroll taxes correctly, you don’t know who on your team should be benefits eligible, you haven’t had time to conduct performance reviews in years, you’re struggling to get everyone on the same page as a production deadline looms… if any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone! Production work is high-volume in a deadline-driven environment. Comprehensive HR systems are often the first agenda item to fall by the wayside. Together, we can create systems which comprehensively address employee needs and get everyone working together more efficiently.

Management coaching

Awkward conversations, negative performance feedback, unhappy employees, company in-fighting… these are issues that arise in every company. For many in charge, employee management is the most anxiety-producing part of the job. Some managers would rather avoid the uncomfortable conversations than enhance employee performance. Through hands-on management coaching, you’ll be equipped to handle any management challenge that comes your way. From macro management techniques (industry-wide best practices and legal considerations) to more minute approaches to the specific problems you face in your company, you’ll gain tools to help you manage and encourage the best performance by your employees.

Talent acquisition and retention

You’re on deadline and working around the clock to wrap up an episode while your inbox simultaneously fills with applications from the wrong candidates for a new job. Maybe you have your eye on one particular talent but they’re playing hardball. Maybe you don’t have the budget for a new hire and are trying to determine whether you can prepare an existing employee for a new role. I offer full-suite recruitment services and retention strategies to make sure that your employees are motivated and able to grow within your company and that you’re able to uncover their hidden talents. Additionally, we assess pay equity, growth tracks, and strategies for training and development so that you’re getting the most out of your team.

Production improvements

With so many moving parts in a production, it can be hard to tell where the bottlenecks exist in the production chain. Additionally, wishful thinking can lead to overly optimistic production timelines and last-minute shortcuts. All of a sudden, the passion project you envisioned is unrecognizable. Or maybe pitches have dried up or a guest backed out at the last minute and you don’t know what to deliver to a client. Maybe an employee didn’t understand editorial feedback and now you’re in your office at 2am recutting tape. Through a thorough assessment of your production procedures I help assess what improvements can be made to alleviate the strain on your team and to make sure that you can better carry out your creative vision.

Deal negotiation and risk assessment

We often refer to the podcast industry as the Wild Wild West, suggesting there are no ground rules to follow. This industrial environment can make contract negotiation fraught and unpredictable, with many creators falling victim to unfair deal terms. How can you ensure that you’re protected in work-for-hire and co-production deals? Does your agreement leave money on the table? Is your intellectual property protected? Are you adequately insured and represented should a deal go south? Through a comprehensive analysis of risks surrounding pending deals and throughout your business, I help define every vector of potential legal liability you face and help you work towards solutions so as to keep you and your employees safe.

Financial governance and product monetization

How can you build a budget that takes into consideration your overhead and personnel costs and which leaves room for worst-case scenarios? How can you accurately track the costs of each show among a portfolio of different podcasts? Are your financial governance structures keeping your money protected? Should you seek third-party investment? How can you ensure that you’re likely to get a return on your investment or that you’re comprehensively conceiving of all the ways your show can be monetized? I will look at your finances from top to bottom, assessing how to achieve items on your business wishlist and how to adequately plan for a rainy day.

Brand Development

Is your company clearly advertising your services to prospective clients? Are you doing everything you need to be doing to develop your audience and retain interest in your company? In short…. are you getting the word out about your expertise and your superlatively talented team? When you’re on the inside of a company it can be hard to assess how it may look to the outside world and whether you’re doing all that you can to promote your work. Brand optics are essential to bringing in new business. Audience engagement is essential to bringing in new listeners. Together we assess the best way to market your brand and stay up-to-date with industry-wide trends.