Relationships That Scale: What It Really Takes to Build a Fast-Growing Agency
Feb 12, 2026
In this episode of This Mother Means Business, I sat down with someone I met for about 30 seconds at an event and immediately thought, “I like you. We should be friends.” That someone is Stephanie Fournier—founder and CEO of People Agency—and I’m so grateful we actually did the “let’s connect later” thing… because this conversation is packed with wisdom.
Stephanie is one of those women who makes you sit up straighter when you hear her story. Not because she’s chasing hustle for the sake of it—but because she is clear, sharp, and deeply intentional about how she builds. She’s also a mom, and she’s building a business that has grown fast (like, jaw-dropping fast) in under two years.
And while we did talk about strategy, the real theme of this episode is something I’ve been saying all year:
Relationships are a growth lever.
Relationships are not “soft”—they’re structural
Stephanie and I both come from agency backgrounds, and one thing we agreed on quickly is that the skills transfer… but the experience of being the owner is wildly different. Running teams and accounts is one thing. Being responsible for everything—the admin, the legal set-up, the banking, the systems, the payroll, the decisions, the risk—is another.
Stephanie shared that “move one” was literally: resign.
Then came the less glamorous work that nobody posts about—incorporating, getting an HST number, setting up commercial banking, registering domains, building the site, getting the brand ready. The stuff that takes time, energy, and brain space before you even “turn the lights on.”
It was such a good reminder that entrepreneurship doesn’t start with marketing. It starts with foundation.
Staying in your lane is a growth strategy
People Agency is a sales agency. Door-to-door canvassing, retail, government relations, sales assist—real consumer interaction and conversion work. It’s not the shiny “Instagram marketing” side of the internet, and Stephanie is very clear about that.
But what stood out to me is how much her growth has been supported by clarity.
A lot of agencies try to do everything—creative, digital, events, sales, merchandising. And I get why: it feels hard to say no. But Stephanie’s point was powerful: when you stay laser-focused on what you’re actually built for, it becomes easy for the right clients to say yes.
People know exactly what she does and exactly where she fits.
The quiet secret behind fast growth: long-term trust
When I asked Stephanie how her business grew so quickly, the answer wasn’t a viral post or a funnel or a magic tactic.
It was trust.
She’s worked with many of the same clients for years—some of them for her entire career. And over time, those client relationships became personal relationships. Friends. People she genuinely enjoys spending time with.
She also shared something I think more entrepreneurs need to hear: she keeps her client roster intentionally small. Under 10. That blew my mind and also made perfect sense.
Because when you’re building a business through relationships, depth matters more than volume.
And here’s what happens when you treat people well and do excellent work:
You get referrals.
Stephanie shared that referrals have been a huge part of her growth in this “new life” as a business owner. People are cheering for her. They want her to win. They’re connecting her to budgets, opportunities, and decision-makers.
That doesn’t happen if you’re not delivering—and it doesn’t happen if you’re not a good human.
Your reputation is one of your most valuable assets
We talked a lot about referrals, and I said something I still stand by: I’m stingy with my referrals.
I refer people constantly, but I do it carefully—because my name is attached to it. If I send someone a referral and that person does sloppy work or creates a bad experience, it reflects back on me.
Stephanie’s story is such a reminder that your reputation is quietly doing work on your behalf even when you’re not in the room. It’s the reason doors open. It’s the reason people say, “You need to talk to her.”
And it’s why burning bridges is never worth it. The people beside you now are often the same people you’ll be sitting beside five or ten years from now.
Leadership as a woman comes with a double standard
This part of the conversation hit hard.
Stephanie talked about how challenging it is to lead—especially as a woman—in rooms that are still often male-dominated. She shared how she’s called “aggressive” constantly, and how triggering that word can be when you know what it really means.
A man is decisive and confident.
A woman is “too much.”
She also shared a story about being assumed to be a consultant on a call—then correcting the room: “Let me stop you right there. I’m the founder and the owner.”
And honestly? Good.
We talked about that instinct to take up space, especially in environments where women are still underestimated. You don’t have to soften your authority to make other people more comfortable.
The sacrifices are real—and there’s no one “right” way
Stephanie was incredibly honest about what it takes to run a large team and keep up with the pace of her business growth.
She wakes up early. She works hard. She doesn’t unplug the way she wishes she could. And she also holds a lot of emotion about what that costs—like missing some of the spontaneous “mom moments” other families get to have.
But she also shared something important: she blocks time every day to be fully present with her son. She wakes him up in the morning, makes breakfast, and is offline and focused on him.
That’s the nuance I want every mom listening to hear:
There is no one definition of being a good mom or a good business owner.
There are trade-offs, and those trade-offs will look different for each of us.
Why Stephanie’s vision matters
One of the most powerful parts of this episode was hearing Stephanie talk about what she’s building beyond her own success.
Her goal isn’t just to grow People Agency. It’s to incubate other female-owned businesses. To provide fractional support and resources to women who want to scale faster. To teach financial literacy. To help people build independence and control over their time and future.
And I said it (and I’ll say it again):
More money in the hands of women will change the world.
Stephanie is not just building a company. She’s building a pathway.
Final thoughts
If there’s one thing I hope you take from this episode, it’s this:
You don’t have to grow alone.
The relationships you build—how you treat people, how you show up, the reputation you earn—will become one of the most powerful engines behind your growth.
Stephanie is living proof that business success doesn’t always come from doing more. Sometimes it comes from going deeper.
