Carl Smith

Carl Smith is a community builder and philosophical futurist whose purpose is helping agency leaders connect, grow, and thrive. As the leader of The Bureau, Carl has hosted and attended over 500 workshops, webinars, conference talks, and masterminds, earning himself a front-row seat to the evolving playbook of agency leadership. His understanding of the shifting dynamics in creative and digital services and his passion for authentic connections and human-focused leadership make him a trusted voice in the industry.

Carl’s upcoming book, Built to Change: Designing The Agency of Tomorrow, explores the forces transforming knowledge work. From the real impact of AI, the collapse of the traditional agency model, and the rise of savvy clients, it offers a roadmap for those ready to reinvent their firms for the Intelligence Age. He believes the next decade belongs to those who build with curiosity, lead with empathy, and partner with humans and machines to unlock new potential.

When he’s not building community at The Bureau, Carl can be found running countless miles in the Florida heat, consuming everything he can find on the future of work and writing from the heart about leadership, loyalty, and second chances.

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Holy Moly! We're up to 150 registered attendees for Ops Week which takes place online from Jan 26-30. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, we've got an all star cast including Blair Enns, Jen Dary, David C. Baker, Katie Bedford and your host with the most... Rob Harr!

Along with a great program and amazing speakers, what seems to be resonating is that instead of Zooming in for the whole day, we break it up into shorter segments throughout the week. Each day will feature a keynote and a camp session focused on that day's theme, along with one or two lightning talks to keep the energy high and ideas flowing.

Plus it's really affordable with a single day ticket at only $49 for members. Or buy the week for $199 and trade off with other folks at your agency. We don't care! We just want everyone to start the year with the best info on agency operations available.

I hope you'll join us! https://lnkd.in/eDZdAm8V

P.S. We might have to cap attendance based on how many moderators we have for the smaller breakout sessions. You have been warned, so don't get saucy with me if you try and register late and can't get in. 😘

I ❤️ The Bureau. It's where leaders and their teams find connection, growth, and friendship. Recovering founder, zero successful exits, advocate for humanity in leadership.

The last few weeks in Minnesota have been a reminder of something we can forget until it is tested. Community is not an idea. It is a behavior.

When institutions feel distant, and outcomes feel out of our control, people close ranks. Neighbors check on neighbors. Small groups organize food, rides, childcare, and general support. Not because they are coordinated, but because they are connected. That is the real power of community. It shows up when the system feels heavy and personal at the same time.

Friends I have spoken with in the Twin Cities, all of them, each and every one, talk with a quiet sense of resolve and pride in how their community has come together. Not in a loud or performative way, but in the grounded confidence that comes from knowing people showed up for each other when it mattered.

A lot of us are watching friends, teammates, clients, and people in our circles carry fear, anger, and exhaustion right now. It is easy to feel helpless in the face of that. We are not. A message that says “I'm with you” matters. An offer to help, even if it is declined, matters. Letting someone know they are not carrying this alone matters more than we think.

There is another tension many business owners are quietly wrestling with. We still have to promote our businesses, our events, our services. Bills still exist. Payroll still runs. Turning everything off is not an option, but neither is pretending nothing is happening. That line between survival, support, and sensitivity is real.

One thing I keep coming back to is this. If we do not keep our businesses alive, we cannot give back in the ways that matter. Making money is not separate from caring. It is often what enables us to donate, to sponsor, to support causes and people when they need it most.

Being human does not require grand statements or perfectly worded posts. It can look like acknowledging the moment before sharing what you need to share. It can look like making space for support alongside promotion. It can look like choosing language that reflects awareness, not avoidance.

Community is not about stopping life. It is about moving through it together. We can keep building, selling, and showing up, while also reaching out, standing close, and reminding the people around us that they are seen and supported.

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