Episode Details

In this episode of This Mother Means Business, Laura sits down with Stephanie Fournier, founder + CEO of People Agency, to talk about what it really looks like to build a fast-growing agency—without trying to do everything for everyone. They dig into long-term client relationships, referrals, reputation, leadership as a woman in male-dominated rooms, and the real sacrifices that come with building something big (while still being a present mom). It’s honest, scrappy, and full of “this is what it actually takes” energy.

In this episode you will hear:

(01:35) Who Stephanie is (and why intros are hard)

(02:03) The moment she decided to change her career path

(03:07) Corporate vs owning an agency

(04:55) Why staying in your lane matters

(05:51) Move one: resign + set up the business

(07:22) Long sales cycles in this industry

(08:45) Growth through long-term clients

(09:14) Full-circle relationships + peers becoming decision-makers

(11:59) Laura on sponsors: you’re always talking to humans

(14:01) Where Laura finds relationships (events + intentional follow-up)

(15:52) Reputation + integrity as the foundation

(16:35) Laura’s referral rule: protect your name

(18:44) Don’t burn bridges (your network comes back around)

(21:32) Women in leadership: “aggressive” double standards

(24:23) Women-owned business stats + male-dominated spaces

(26:52) Training women (especially moms) to sell

(27:35) The routines, the grind, and not unplugging

(29:22) The trade-offs (and how she stays connected to her son)

(30:40) Vision: incubating women-led businesses + fractional support

(34:06) Where to find Stephanie + People Agency

Stephanie's Links:

Website: https://peopleagency.ca/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/pplagency

Tickets for This Mother Means Business LIVE - Presented by CIBC Business Banking on April 1st, 2026 are available now! Get yours here:

https://www.thismothermeansbusiness.com/tmmb-2026 

Join This Mother Means Business : www.thismothermeansbusiness.com

Laura's Links:
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