#95: Why Clients Don’t Want Collaborators | Michael Palma, Founder of The Palma Group

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Soul & Science: Fast Forward Your Marketing Mind

Mekanism and Jason Harris

138 episodes

22 hours ago

Soul & Science is an award-winning podcast where marketing’s brightest minds reveal what it takes to build breakthrough brands. Hosted by Jason Harris, each episode explores the balance between brand building (Soul) and business performance (Science). From legacy brands to emerging disruptors, we delve into the insights, culture, and vision behind the most successful brand stories.

Soul & Science is a Mekanism podcast produced by Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson, and Lily Jablonski. The show is edited by Daniel Ferreira, with theme music by Kyle Merritt.

Brought to you by Mekanism.

All content for Soul & Science: Fast Forward Your Marketing Mind is the property of Mekanism and Jason Harris and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

#95: Why Clients Don’t Want Collaborators | Michael Palma, Founder of The Palma Group

Soul & Science: Fast Forward Your Marketing Mind

37 minutes

2 months ago

#95: Why Clients Don’t Want Collaborators | Michael Palma, Founder of The Palma Group

What do basketball, brand reviews, and $400M in agency wins have in common? Michael Palma.

From being a Parade All-American athlete to coaching under Jim Valvano, Michael Palma pivoted into advertising recruitment—eventually placing more than 1,300 top talents and helping agencies win over $400 million in revenue. Today, as founder of The Palma Group, he manages reviews for global brands like Coca-Cola, Heineken, Peugeot, and Zaxby’s.

In this episode of Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Michael to unpack what makes partnerships last, how to spot red flags before they sink a pitch, and why true leaders walk with a “humble swagger.”

Key Takeaways:

✅ Clients don’t want collaborators—they want leadership that listens
✅ There’s no “perfect” agency, only the ideal fit for the moment
✅ Good agencies get comfortable; great ones never stop bringing ideas
✅ A pitch is won or lost in the first five minutes of emotional connection
✅ Agency culture—not case studies—ultimately drives client choice

Memorable Moments:

💡 “Clients want leadership that listens. They don’t want collaborators.”
💡 “If you’re gonna lose, lose as you. Don’t lose pretending to be someone else.”
💡 “There is no perfect agency—only the best possible fit.”
💡 “The mortal enemy of good agencies is efficiency. Great ones never stop caring.”

Brought to you by Mekanism.