Beyond the Hustle: Serena Mastin on Building a Sustainable and Meaningful Business

In this episode, I spoke with Serena Marston, founder of Pulse Marketing, to discuss the challenges and triumphs of growing a business through resilience, transformation, and adaptability. Serena shares her incredible journey of navigating personal and professional hardships, rebuilding her agency from the ground up, and shifting towards a lean, remote-first model. We dive into topics like leadership, client retention, financial stability, and the evolving role of AI in marketing. Whether you’re scaling your business or looking for inspiration on how to build a strong, value-driven team, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.


Key Discussion Points

• The evolution of Pulse Marketing: from a traditional office to a fully remote agency.
• Overcoming personal and professional challenges while rebuilding a business.
• The power of an engaged and resilient team during times of crisis.
• Shifting from a broad service offering to a streamlined, client-focused model.
• The role of AI in marketing and how it’s shaping business efficiency.
• Moving from hourly-based pricing to value-based, outcome-driven retainers.
• The importance of community and leadership transparency in business success.
• How to balance personal well-being while scaling a business.