Scott Shamberg on Private Equity, Independence & Building Mile Marker

Private equity has reshaped agency land—but the story is more nuanced than headlines about roll-ups and margin pressure. On this episode of Agency Alchemy, Scott Shamberg, CEO + President of Mile Marker, joins us to unpack what private equity actually gets right about the agency business—and where it sometimes misses the mark. Drawing on his experience inside holding companies and now leading a PE-backed independent, Scott explains why long-term vision beats short-term reporting cycles, why integration plans matter more than acquisition headlines, and how mid-market brands are quietly becoming the most dynamic opportunity in media. We also explore: Why independent agencies are becoming a magnet for top talent How MileMarker merged traditional and digital into a “low-code, high-sophistication” model What agency leaders should ask before selling or partnering with private equity And how AI is being deployed to give strategists time back—not replace them