“I’m sure you’ve heard the Dunder Mifflin argument before. It’s about how a smaller company is able to compete against the titans of industry because it’s more nimble, flexible, attentive and passionate. Well, it’s true.”
Some of our most meaningful wins have come when we were the smallest agency in the room. Not because we had a flashier deck or a more famous name, but because we knew the client’s world. We brought ideas that were specific, grounded and built to move. And the people in the room? They were the same ones who’d be doing the work if we got the job. That matters.
I love being in the thick of it — working directly with a client’s leadership to build a new strategy, then turning around and making it real. No waiting, no red tape, no bloated slide decks. Just a clear goal and a team of smart people making it happen.
That kind of work only happens when you’re built for speed. And small agencies are.
At SE10, we have clients across the world — most of them with multi-billion-dollar revenues — who trust us with global strategy, regional execution and everything in between. Our teams in Chicago, London and Singapore collaborate daily, meaning we can truly support clients 24/7. You might work with two people on paper, but behind them is a deep bench of 10–15 strategists, writers and media pros who know your industry.
We’ve had clients stay with us for more than a decade. Not because we’re the biggest agency in town — but because we pick up the phone. Because we know their sector. Because they don’t have to explain what a hydraulic breaker is or why compressor efficiency matters.
And because we care.
Over the years, we’ve heard a lot of companies say the same thing:
We went with a big name and got burned. Slow responses. Junior teams. No chemistry. No real connection to the work.
That’s not how we do it.
Here’s what we don’t do:
- We don’t show up to a meeting with six people who’ve never read the brief
- We don’t expect you to train our junior staff as you go
- We don’t need two weeks and a scope rewrite to respond to change
We’re not the cruise ship that takes forever to turn. We’re the Coast Guard response boat — agile, ready and precise.
To be clear — we’re not anti-big-agency.
Some of our best work has come from collaborating alongside larger firms. One handles investor relations, we handle media. One builds the brand film, we build the editorial narrative. That kind of setup works well when everyone navigates in their lane and shows up strong.
So when should companies consider a smaller agency — even if they already have a big one?
- When you need answers fast
- When you want a team who knows your industry
- When you want to launch something — and keep it going for years
- When you want to skip the hierarchy and talk directly to the people doing the work
- When you want more than a campaign — you want a partner
- When you’re tired of explaining what you do and just want someone who gets it
The communications landscape is shifting fast — AI, forums like Reddit and new forms of content are changing how stories travel and how audiences engage. The companies that thrive in this environment will be the ones willing to evolve, adapt and test bold strategies in real time.
That’s where smaller agencies thrive.
That’s where we do our best work.
