What Separates Top Agencies From Everyone Else | Mary Pedler & Oleg Bevz

In this episode of KNOWN by INPUT Global, we sit down with our co-founders Mary Pedler and Oleg Bevz to unpack what it takes to build, scale, and stay relevant as a broader communications agency.In this conversation, Host Stella Friaisse digs into the real decisions behind growth: from starting out as a small PR agency to evolving into a global communications partner working across markets and industries.Chapters:00:52 — Introduction: what being KNOWN actually means2:12 — The origin story of INPUT Global6:35 — Scaling a global communications team while staying fully remote9:45 — Are some companies simply impossible to market?13:28 — Building through uncertainty and surviving a bear market14:50 — What separates agencies that last from agencies that disappear16:27 — PR without numbers: strategy or amateurism?18:30 — The green and red flags when choosing a communications partner20:45 — When should companies start taking communications seriously?22:00 — KOLs in 2026: why you should stop treating them like KOLs28:00 — Why talented founders stay invisible32:15 — Fame vs infamy: being known for the right things33:35 — Mary and Oleg define what it means to be KNOWN34:40 — Rapid fire: how aligned are the INPUT Global co-founders?KNOWN brings together founders, marketers, and communication strategists to uncover how the strongest tech brands build narratives that shape their markets. Find us:KNOWN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/known__podcast/ INPUT Global on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/input.global/ Mary Pedler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marypedler/ Mary is the Founder of INPUT Global, a communications leader and entrepreneur with 10+ years of experience in emerging tech, known for building global narratives, advising Web3 and fintech teams, and shaping industry conversations through media, events, and thought leadership.Oleg Bevz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleg-bevz/ Oleg is the Co-Founder of INPUT Global, is a lifelong B2B marketing communications specialist with 11+ years of experience across tech, fintech, Web3, and iGaming. He is a seasoned CMO that built dozens of brands: from banks and exchanges to furniture and coffee.Stella Friaisse on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stella-friaisse/