Why Managing Your Energy - Not Your Time - Is the Real Master Skill and more Career Lessons from Firebrand CEO & PRSA Agency of the Year Winner Morgan McLintic

Morgan McLintic built a global communications empire from a 10-person startup operating out of a boss's house in the UK, grew the US presence of Team Lewis to 250 people and $35 million in revenue, and is now doing it all over again with his own boutique firm, Firebrand. In this conversation, Morgan shares the hard-won lessons behind his remarkable journey - from arriving in America with one phone number and a giant desktop computer, to winning PRSA's Boutique Agency of the Year. If you're navigating a career in a world that keeps reinventing itself, this episode will leave you both grounded and inspired.Guest BioMorgan McLintic is the CEO of Firebrand, a boutique integrated marketing agency serving tech startups across FinTech, cybersecurity, AI/ML, and infrastructure. Firebrand was recently named PRSA's Boutique Agency of the Year, and its clients include Emburse, Human Interest, and Planful. Prior to founding Firebrand, Morgan built the US presence of global communications firm Team Lewis from the ground up, scaling it to over 250 staff and $35 million in revenue over a 20-year tenure. A British native based in San Francisco, Morgan brings three decades of communications expertise and a passion for building - whether it's agencies, teams, or (on weekends) extreme gardening projects on his few acres of land.🔗 Connect with Morgan: Firebrand Communicationshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/morganmclintic/Content Sample:Morgan tells the truth about what it actually takes to build something over decades, and some of his insights are ones you rarely hear discussed:Energy is your most renewable resource - but only if you protect it. Morgan shares how he learned this lesson the hard way.Insecurity might be your hidden leadership superpower. A wonderfully counterintuitive moment that provides a great deal of insight. AI isn't killing PR - it's making it essential. Morgan explains exactly why PR people may be the ones leading this next chapter.Key Takeaways[00:06:00] Bounce back fast. The speed of your recovery from setbacks is what determines your long-term career trajectory. [00:16:30] Managing energy, not just time, is the real career skill. Morgan shares his personal framework for staying recharged.[00:26:00] Recessions are a terrible thing to waste. Morgan shares how to lead a team through uncertainty without projecting fear.[00:31:00] Hire spiky people. Morgan shares his hiring secrets.[00:35:00] Vibe coding is for everyone. Learn what he's developed!Host and Platform InformationThis session was hosted by Jolie Downs with Paradigm, sharing insights on career evolution and growth. You can connect with Jolie here: linkedin.com/in/joliedownsIf you enjoy learning from others, please give us a like, subscribe, and share with a friend. Every week we bring you insightful conversations from extraordinary professionals. And if you're looking to build out your PR, marketing, communications, public affairs, sales, or business development team with exceptional talent — fast — visit paradigmstaffing.com to submit a request. Paradigm Staffing specializes in connecting companies with the best talent in the industry.