Craig Cooke on Scaling an Agency and Leading with Balance

In this episode of Founders Future, host Zach Young sits down with Craig Cooke—seasoned entrepreneur, mentor, and former CEO and co-founder of Rhythm. Craig shares his journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to bootstrapping Rhythm in 1996 and scaling it into an award-winning digital agency. Under his leadership, Rhythm served major brands like American Honda, Beats by Dre, and Anthem Blue Cross, earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list five years in a row, won multiple Best Places to Work awards, and ultimately achieved a successful acquisition.Craig reflects on the evolution of the digital agency landscape—from the early days of convincing clients why websites mattered, through the rise of mobile, social media, and global competition, to today’s AI-driven shift. He offers candid insights on winning enterprise clients, scaling teams responsibly, and carrying the weight of leadership when others’ livelihoods are at stake. The conversation also explores his next chapter as founder of C-Squared Professional Consulting, where he advises and coaches CEOs, and his concept of Business Kung Fu—a leadership philosophy inspired by martial arts, Qigong, and energetic balance—designed to help leaders manage stress, stay grounded, and scale success without burning out.Connect with Craig Cooke: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigcooke