Reflections on the Agency Hackers Ibiza Super Summit

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend the Agency Hackers Ibiza Super Summit – a four day gathering of more than 200 agency founders and leaders from across the UK and beyond.

On paper, it sounded both exciting and daunting. Four days in Ibiza, surrounded by people I didn’t yet know, with a packed schedule of talks, workshops and socialising. For someone who tends to stick to what they know, and who is more comfortable behind the work than in the spotlight, the idea of pool parties, late-night bar crawls, and high-energy networking filled me with anxiety. I worried it would be a pressurised environment, forcing me into situations that didn’t feel authentic to me.

What I found instead was quite the opposite.

Beyond the surface

The event was far from a forced networking marathon. Instead, it was a gentle and unstructured flow of conversations, meals, and shared experiences. A space where people could be candid about the realities of running an agency, including topics around the pressure of growth, the challenge of finding the right clients, and the constant balancing act of leading a team while keeping sight of your own vision.

While there were over 200 people in attendance, making it impossible to speak to everyone, the quality of connections far outweighed the quantity. Meeting such a diverse group of founders, each with their own story and perspective, was not only refreshing but hugely reassuring. We may all be operating in different sectors, but the trials and tribulations of agency life are remarkably familiar.

Honest conversations matter

What struck me most was the openness. There was no pretence, no façade of success without struggle. The people I met were honest about their challenges, whether around pricing and value, building and managing teams, or refining processes to deliver better work.

Peter Czapp pushed us with four difficult but important questions around value, clients, teams and processes. Mark Ritson’s session was equally valuable, offering sharp insights on the realities of agency life and the importance of planning for sustainable growth. These moments of provocation sparked conversations that cut through the noise and forced us all to think differently.

The power of community

For me, the real gift of the Super Summit was connection. Stepping outside of my comfort zone, I discovered a community of peers who understand the unique highs and lows of building and running a creative business. These weren’t transactional encounters, but genuine conversations that will no doubt lead to friendships and collaborations for years to come.

The experience reminded me that leadership can often feel isolating, but it doesn’t need to be. By surrounding ourselves with other founders who share our values, we create a support system that helps us face challenges with resilience and clarity.

Looking ahead

I left Ibiza not only with a notebook full of insights, but also with a renewed sense of optimism about the future of agency life. The conversations we started there will continue to evolve, and I cannot wait to see how these new relationships grow over time.

Sometimes the greatest value of stepping away from the day-to-day isn’t in learning something entirely new, but in being reminded that we’re not in this alone.

RELATED

NEWS