116 - The Hidden Power Struggle: Handling High-Value Clients with Stephen Skeel and Michael Ayjian

What if the biggest mistake agencies make isn't failing to land Fortune 500 clients—but succeeding too early?Emmy-winning filmmakers Stephen Skeel and Michael Ayjian from Seven Wonders Cinema have transformed content for Mercedes, Disney, and other Fortune 500 brands, driving valuations from $25 million to $1 billion. But their path to the top wasn't what you'd expect. Instead of chasing logos, they built strategic stepping stones that made big clients chase them.In this episode, discover why 73% of agencies lose profits to client overreach, the counterintuitive reason big companies are sometimes easier to close than small ones, and the political skills you need to navigate bureaucracy without sacrificing your creative vision. Stephen and Michael reveal the specific strategies they use to maintain control while delivering results that keep Fortune 500 CMOs coming back for more.Keywords: high-value clients, Fortune 500, agency management, client relationships, creative control, Stephen Skeel, Michael Ayjian, Seven Wonders Cinema, business development, client acquisition