
Inside Client Services: A CSD's Take on Global Expansion, with Laura Smales
Creative Agency Account Manager PodcastShow Notes
Welcome to episode 140, with Laura Smales, Client Services Director at Creative search marketing agency, Rise At Seven.
This episode is going to be particularly interesting if you are a CSD in an agency and curious how another one operates.
Here’s what we covered in this episode:
How Rise at Seven differentiates themselves from other agencies
Why Laura and her client service team prioritise solving the client’s biggest business challenge and how her team works with their internal craft and strategy team
Laura also shares how the agency won over global clients and have extended their global footprint beyond the UK market to Europe and the US
A walk through their proprietary AI-driven methodologies and tools they use to help get clients the demand or discoverability they want
Laura’s practical tips for what makes a superb account manager in this AI-driven world and how to build trust and relationship stickiness with your clients
Do reach out to her on LinkedIn, if you’re keen to learn more about how Rise At Seven is shaping global agency-client partnerships.
And if you're curious about how AI can support account managers not only in retaining clients but also in growing global accounts – don’t miss my upcoming live webinar on 10th July 2025. You can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HqfuUMsbSDu_qKpnhZhlEg
More from Creative Agency Account Manager Podcast
Welcome to Episode 174. This episode is particularly useful if you're wondering how your clients are really adopting AI, and what that means for the future value of agencies.
Welcome to Episode 173. This episode will be genuinely useful if you're an agency owner thinking about how you'll eventually sell your business, or wondering whether AI is actually giving your agency an edge or just helping you do things faster.
Welcome to Episode 172. AI in agencies has moved on significantly from simply experimenting with ChatGPT and saving a bit of time. My guest is Roy Murphy, Co-founder at G3NR8 - AI innovator for brands including Samsung, Arsenal, and Perrigo. Roy helps businesses unlock exponential technologies as a driver of growth, guiding organisations to understand and act on AI through comprehensive training, strategy, and implementation initiatives. He serves as AI Advisor to the in-house agency network Inside Out and has delivered AI training for over 150 brands, including GSK, Lego and the Bank of England. Roy regularly speaks at AI roundtables, podcasts, and industry events, working with HR, communications, marketing, and operations teams to drive meaningful transformation. In this episode, we look at: • what comes next • why agencies need to rethink their business model and service lines • how connecting your existing client data can give account managers much better intelligence • and why agentic workflows could fundamentally change the way we manage and grow client relationships. We also talk about the skills account managers need to stay valuable as AI becomes embedded in everyday agency life. There’s a lot packed into this one. You can connect with Roy Murphy on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roymurphy/
Welcome to episode 171. I’m joined by Duncan Arbour, Head of AI Innovation in the Kinetic team at Syneos Health.
Welcome to Episode 170. This is a fascinating one if you work in or with design agencies, or if you’ve ever wondered why brilliant creative work doesn’t always get the influence it deserves inside client organisations.