Can you please share a little about your background and how you landed in the talent agency world?
Britt- I saw Jerry Maguire when I was around ten years old, and thought, that’s what I want to do. I went to law school with that aim, and during that time, I began consulting for brands on their first “influencer marketing” efforts. It was something I was interested in, but it was also the beginnings of the influencer world as we now know it. We were writing the rules as we went. Upon graduation, I became in-house counsel for an adtech company. My consulting company was still something I was passionate about, pulling all-nighters with my co-founder, Madison, and using any minute I could spare outside of my 9-5 job to gain more business and service our existing clients. We began the company offering social media marketing and influencer marketing services for brands, and were introduced to our first talent client, Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin. At a certain point, it became clear that this was no longer a side hustle, and SMITH&SAINT became official in 2018. We knew that we wanted to do talent representation in a way that was not the norm; providing a luxury, high-touch experience for cultural game changers. Since then, we’ve transitioned fully to the talent representation side, honing our offering of a 360-degree approach to representation that places the relationship at the center of everything we do.
Madison- Growing up in a home with two entrepreneurial parents, it was in my blood to pave my own path and do my own thing. Early on, I realized I had a passion for creativity, a strategic mindset, and a love for managing people, so I leveraged my unique skill set to embark on the entrepreneurial journey. During the third year of my JD/MBA program, I began consulting with small businesses in the Boston area and running ROI-driven influencer programs, creating marketing strategies, and crafting strategic sales plans for up-and-coming brands. Blending the two degrees together allowed me to build my expertise in the influencer marketing sector, which ultimately led me to recognize the need for a dynamic and forward-thinking approach in the talent representation world. In 2018, after months of planning and strategizing what we wanted our future company to be, what our mission would entail, and what the core service offerings of our business would be, Britt and I started SMITH&SAINT.
The creator economy is very fast paced and diverse, how does this kind of environment allow you to offer something unique?
Britt - Our strength lies in being at the forefront of the industry, ensuring we are in lock step with our creators through the ever-changing landscape. By taking a strategy drive approach, we are able to create a bespoke offering that best services the individual, which then allows us to best forecast a roadmap for continued success.
As sisters, how do you balance your professional and personal lives?
Britt- We grew up in an entrepreneurial home where the lines between business and personal life were always blurred, and not for the worse. We were exposed to conversations about losing customers, pivoting when something wasn’t working, and what to do when the proverbial shit hits the fan. These conversations paved the path for our future career, and put us through a School of Hard Knocks, so to speak, by having a front seat to the rollercoaster life of an entrepreneur. With that said, our relationship is built on a foundation of friendship and respect. We genuinely love being around each other, and building a business together is something we had always dreamed of doing. There’s not so much of a “balance” as it’s all very intertwined, but we do ensure that our priorities are always straight. As mothers, our children and our respective families are the reason why we do what we do every day. And while our time spent together as “sisters” is never just that—we try to workout together every day and it often turns into a meeting where we’re shouting to hear each other over the instructor’s music and getting looks that say, why aren’t you doing the exercise right now—but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re building our future together, and we’re grateful that we’ve created a career that allows us to talk every day in a meaningful way.
What unique skills do you bring to the table that make your partnership work? Do you each have different skill sets that compliment each other?
Britt- While I think that we both have a similar and unique skillset that make us great talent agents, we do have very different strengths that we bring to the internal workings of our business. Madison is an incredible people person; she is amazing at building our culture and ensuring that everyone feels valued and heard. We balance and compliment each other in many ways, and I’m so proud of the leader that she is to our team.
Madison - Britt is an amazing visionary with a sharp mind and a strategic approach that’s been key to SMITH&SAINT’s success. She has a unique ability to spot future opportunities and handle challenges with confidence and clarity. Her forward-thinking mindset keeps us ahead of the game, always pushing the company to reach new heights. Britt’s leadership inspires us all to think bigger and strive for excellence, and her guidance has played a huge role in the incredible growth we’ve seen at SMITH&SAINT.
The company is big on championing female talent - why is this so important to you?
Madison - At SMITH&SAINT, championing female talent is a core focus because we recognise that women have long been overlooked, especially in the sports sector. Historically, female athletes and talent have not received the same attention, resources, or platforms as their male counterparts. Our mission is to advocate for these women, highlight their incredible marketability, and showcase them as cultural game changers. We believe they deserve to be seen on an equal playing field, both in terms of recognition and opportunities. By amplifying their voices and talents, we’re striving to create a more inclusive and equitable landscape, where female talent is valued, celebrated, and given the recognition they’ve earned.
