Freedom Over Hustle: How This Founder Did It - Courtney Kehl - S2 - E4

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, we sit down with Courtney Kehl, founder of Expert Marketing Advisors, to uncover what it really takes to build a business rooted in freedom, flexibility, and purpose. If you’re an entrepreneur navigating the rollercoaster of growth, self-doubt, and personal evolution, this is the episode for you.Courtney shares her journey from Silicon Valley acquisitions to running a 40-person B2B marketing agency built on trust, partnership, and adaptability. We discuss the realities of leading during life’s toughest seasons—like the loss of a parent—and how she created a business that supports both high performance and personal well-being.You’ll learn: • The mindset shift that led Courtney to start her agency • How to build a team culture rooted in ethics, trust, and flexibility • The unspoken power of saying yes (and when to say no) • The reality of mental health and PTO in fast-moving companies • How family—blood and chosen—shapes her leadership • What balance actually looks like for high-performing founders⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Intro & Courtney’s Background02:30 – From Side Projects to Full-Time Founder05:00 – Building a Scalable, Flexible Team07:00 – Leadership, Loyalty & Life Transitions10:00 – Mental Health, Self-Care & PTO Culture13:00 – Living a Full Life Outside of Work16:00 – Personal Loss & Business Beginnings18:30 – What Balance Means in 202519:30 – Where to Find CourtneyLinkedInlinkedin.com/in/leogestetnerWebsiteleogestetner.com/leoSubscribe Now!youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1