The Immortal Life of Agencies

X&O's Co-Founders: Embracing your superpowers – Eric Segal & Brett Banker

August 4, 2026·47 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Today’s guests are Eric Segal and Brett Banker, Co-Founders of X&O – the sprint-based agency with an expert-only model, bringing together specialist talent to solve client challenges in double quick time.Drawing on more than 20 years leading teams inside traditional agencies, they share why they chose not to replicate what exists, but to rethink how the work gets done.Brett and Eric explore the shift from selling time to selling outcomes, why conviction matters more than compromise when defining a commercial model, and how freeing experts from meetings, multitasking and management responsibilities unlocks better thinking.They also discuss the future of agency talent, arguing that the industry's best people shouldn't have to leave the work they love behind simply to climb the career ladder.HIGHLIGHTS:[01:45] A new model agency[07:55] The winds of change[10:27] Solving problems[13:14] Specificity over availability[20:21] Consistency builds trust[28:34] Climbing the wrong ladder[32:30] The C-suite’s secret weapon[37:35] No long game[42:24] Conviction over consensusMORE ABOUT ERIC & BRETT:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eric-segalLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brett-bankerWebsite: heyxo.coHOST SOCIALS:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robinbonnTwitter: twitter.com/robonnMORE ABOUT CO:DEFINERY:Website: codefinery.comBook: Market of OneMentioned in this episode:Get Co:definery's diagnostic questionnaireIs your agency  really as differentiated as you think? And have you fully embraced the commercial disruption that AI is bringing? To find out, take five minutes to complete Co:definery's diagnostic questionnaire. It's quick, free, and thought provoking, and you get a tailored report with practical guidance for sharpening your competitive edge. Visit codefinery.com/dq

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