FOUNDER · ADVISER · SPEAKER PORTLAND, OREGON / EST. 1996

YOU BUILTA BUSINESS.NOW WHAT?

KJLThe long view.
The human perspective.

I've spent nearly 30 years finding out what it really takes to build, lead and rethink a business. Now I work with people asking what comes next.

Kent Lewis addressing an audience at an industry event
01 / A LIFE IN BUSINESSLess theory.
More lived experience.
CONNECT · EDUCATE · ENTERTAIN
AN INDEPENDENT MIND FOR THE NEXT BIG QUESTION✳HONEST PERSPECTIVE, NO PLAYBOOK REQUIRED
THE SHORT VERSION001 — WHY WE'RE HERE

BUSINESS
IS PERSONAL.

There's no handbook for the moment when being a founder stops feeling like the job you signed up for.

You know your company better than anyone. But you're also in the middle of it. I know what that feels like: the decisions about people, the pressure to grow, the things you want to change and the things you're afraid to lose.

I've been a founder, employer, adviser, mentor and the guy who made the wrong call and had to live with it. Sometimes the most valuable thing I can offer is another perspective.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF ADVISORY ↗
THE RECEIPTS

I DIDN'T
JUST READ
ABOUT IT.

The work behind the perspective matters more than the job titles. Here's part of that journey.

READ THE WHOLE STORY ↗
1999Founded pdxMindShare.Built a community around connecting people and sharing opportunities.
2000Started Anvil Media.Built and led an agency through more than two decades of change.
2022A new chapter.Anvil's merger with Deksia created space to rethink the work ahead.
NOWPassing it on.Sharing the hard-won lessons through advisory work, talks, writing and community.
FIELD NOTE / 001ON WORK, FREEDOM & GETTING OLDER
“My mission has always been to connect, educate, and entertain.”
A FEW HARD-WON LESSONS03 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

GOOD STORIES.
BETTER QUESTIONS.

OPEN THE PLAYBOOK ↗
A / WORK & LIFE

Are you good at it—or do you actually love it?

Two exercises that might change your career and the business you build around it.

READ THE ESSAY ↗
B / LEADERSHIP

What happens when a culture reset goes sideways?

A candid account of ten lessons learned in ninety days.

READ THE STORY ↗
C / BUILDING YOUR BRAND

How to Leverage Thought Leadership to Build Your Brand in the Age of AI Search

Curating your brand image has many benefits.

READ THE ARTICLE ↗
Kent Lewis participating in a presentation
ON
STAGE↗
FOR THE ROOM

NOT ANOTHER
SLIDE DECK.

From conference keynotes to workshops for real-world operators, my favorite presentations are the ones where people leave with a better question—and something they'll actually try.

DIGITAL SUMMIT   /   NATDA   /   SMASH

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR EVENT ↗
ONE MORE THING04 / YOUR MOVE

WHAT'S
KEEPING
YOU UP?

If there's a decision you keep circling, I'd be happy to hear what you're working through. No grand promises, no complicated funnel. Just a conversation.

GET IN TOUCH ↗— KENT
FOUNDER ADVISORY

TWO CHALLENGES.
EXPERIENCED PERSPECTIVE.

Agency founder advisory ↗ — perspective for marketing and creative agency owners navigating growth, margins, leadership and the next chapter.

Founder dependency and delegation ↗ — practical decisions when everything in the business still depends on you.

EXPLORE FOUNDER ADVISORY ↗
FREE FOUNDER TOOLS

A BETTER
QUESTION STARTS HERE.

Clarify a difficult decision or bring sharper priorities to your next month. No sign-up, just practical tools.

TRY THE FOUNDER DECISION BRIEF ↗

Or open the Monthly Founder Review ↗

FREE FOUNDER TOOLS

PUT YOUR
NEXT MOVE ON PAPER.

Three useful ways to clarify the business you're building: planning, decisions and delegation.

TRY THE FREE TOOLS ↗