Kate Watts, a trailblazer in the agency space, narrates her impressive rise from being the president of Huge, a top digital agency, to launching and subsequently selling her own agency, Faire Design, to The Atlantic.
She opens up about the challenges and triumphs she faced during the integration and spin-off process, eventually regaining majority ownership and rebranding as Long Dash. This conversation is filled with valuable insights on mergers, acquisitions, and navigating the entrepreneurial landscape.
2:44 Launching Fair Design in 2017
5:30 Rapid Growth and an Unexpected Acquisition Offer
7:51 Considering Whether Fair Was a Long-Term Play
9:10 How She Transitioned From Agency Leader to Acquiree
11:10 The Moment a Buyer Proposed Acquiring Fair
13:31 Learning How to Value and Negotiate Her Own Deal
14:54 The Atlantic’s Deep and Historic Legacy
19:01 The Challenges of Scaling as a Modern Brand
20:06 Choosing to Become Operationally Independent
22:02 Involving the Team in the Naming Process
23:00 The Journey to Regain Majority Ownership
24:05 What’s Next for Long Dash
27:14 Staying Open to Future Partnerships and Opportunities
