27. From Freelancer to VP: Building an Ag Marketing Career on Your Own Terms with Linay Williams

What happens when a livestock judge who swore she'd never do "creative stuff" ends up building a thriving ag marketing business? You get Linay Williams — founder of Black Creek Innovations, former Director of Marketing at Texas Tech's Davis College of Agriculture, and current VP of Advertising at Texas Farm Credit. In this episode, Linay gets real about the full arc of her career: freelancing right out of Texas Tech, growing Black Creek into a multi-client agency, burning out after baby number two, stepping back into a full-time role, and now consulting again on her own terms. She's the first to say that "doing it all" is a myth — and she's got the glass ball theory to prove it. In this episode, we cover: How internships at Capital Farm Credit and Purina Animal Nutrition shaped her path into marketing Why she started Black Creek Innovations after noticing a gap between ag marketing agencies and actual ag consumers Pricing yourself right when you're fresh out of college — and why being humble early pays off long-term The hard truth about saying no (and how not learning it led to her 2022 burnout) Hiring contractors vs. full-time employees — what she'd do differently The behind-the-scenes chaos of a Rolex-sponsored equine event booth (and duct tape saving the day) Why she stopped taking friends as clients — and the firm boundary she'd set again in a heartbeat Organic vs. paid advertising strategy for small ag businesses The "rifle vs. shotgun" approach to targeted ag marketing Looking outside the ag industry for marketing inspiration (Liquid Death, PRCA, and more) AI in advertising — exciting or terrifying? Why your priorities are allowed to shift — and your business should shift with them Connect with Linay: Instagram (entrepreneurship content): @blackcreekinnovations Instagram (personal): @linayannwilliams LinkedIn: Linay Williams Facebook: Linay Williams Books & Resources Mentioned: Atomic Habits by James Clear Masterclass (especially James Clear's session on building systems) Codie Sanchez — Big Deal Podcast Boss Babe Podcast