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A layoff isn’t always a setback. Sometimes it’s the boost you need!
After being laid off from a strategic advisory firm, Madilyn pulled her existing LLC off the shelf and made the decision to stop climbing the corporate ladder. With a master’s in marketing and years of experience working alongside business creators, she stepped into entrepreneurship with a clear focus: helping agency owners finally give their own brands the same strategic attention they give their clients.
Today, Madilyn leads M & Co, a North Carolina brand strategy consultancy for marketing and creative agency owners. Acting as a “second brain,” she helps founders sharpen their positioning, clarify their messaging, and maintain a brand presence that reflects the quality of work they are already delivering for others.
In this episode, Kevin sits down with Madilyn to unpack how she landed two clients within four months of launching, moved from theory-heavy business courses into real client work, worked through pricing imposter syndrome, and built a relationship-first outreach approach that feels more human than traditional cold calling.
Key Takeaways
- Solve one problem exceptionally well. Clarity on your specific solution and niche beats trying to appeal to everyone.
- Relationships are your first marketing channel. Networks, testimonials, and case studies build credibility long before any formal campaign does.
- Treat the business like a business on day one. Real systems and a professional mindset early create momentum that compounds.
- Lead with value. Ungated resources and quick wins earn trust faster than pitching ever will.
- Comfort follows the scary decision, not the other way around. Clarity and confidence show up after you act, not before.
- Price for where you’re going. Don’t anchor your rates to an old corporate salary; build them around the business you’re actually creating.
- Delegation is freedom. Clean SOPs get routine work off your plate so you can focus on growth.
Listen to the Episode
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risingtidestartups
- Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rising-tide-startups/id1330525474 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eq7unl70TRPsBhjLEsNZR
- Website: https://risingtidestartups.com/
Connect with Madilyn Kent
- Website: https://mandco.io
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madilynkent/
Closing Thought
“Take the jump. Take the leap. It is worth it. There will be struggles, but nothing in life comes without them. So do it.”
Sponsor Shoutouts
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