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 Background
02:30 – From Side Projects to Full-Time Founder
05:00 – Building a Scalable, Flexible Team
07:00 – Leadership, Loyalty & Life Transitions
10:00 – Mental Health, Self-Care & PTO Culture
13:00 – Living a Full Life Outside of Work
16:00 – Personal Loss & Business Beginnings
18:30 – What Balance Means in 2025
19:30 – Where to Find Courtney

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/leogestetner

Website

leogestetner.com/leo

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