Sixteen years ago, I could never have imagined where this journey would lead. Running Gossip Genie has been as valuable as any formal education I could have received — teaching me everything from the back end to the front end of building a business: accounting and bookkeeping, hiring and firing, delegating and managing, prospecting and closing, navigating growing pains, and learning how to flourish. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has always been worth it. It’s the best road I’ve ever traveled.
What I’ve learned most, though — and what has remained true since the very beginning — is that a business is only as strong as the people behind it. Gossip Genie is nothing without the team that brings the work to life every day.
Sixteen years in, one of the things I’m most proud of is our people. We are a team of ten, and no one has been here less than three years. Half of our team has been with us for close to a decade: Anneliese, Janelle, and Violet. Anthony, my business partner and personal ride-or-die, has been here for going on 14 years. In an industry known for constant turnover, that kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built on trust, mutual respect, transparency, and the belief that great work happens when people feel supported, valued, and empowered.
I’m equally proud of our growth. Over 16 years, we’ve experienced consistent, year-over-year progress. Every year has been profitable, and each has surpassed the last — not because we chased shortcuts, but because we made thoughtful decisions, grew deliberately, and stayed committed to doing what’s right for our clients and for one another. That steady growth is a direct reflection of the team behind it.
Along the way, this business has taken us everywhere. We’ve logged countless miles, mastered early-morning flights and delayed connections, worked from airport lounges and hotel rooms, and learned that some of our best ideas happen somewhere around 30,000 feet in the air. It’s been a journey fueled by creativity, caffeine, collaboration — and the understanding that the work is worth the miles.
From embracing flexibility long before it became the norm, to building a culture rooted in trust and accountability, to insisting on fairness and integrity at every level, Gossip Genie has always been about more than just delivering results. It’s been about building something sustainable — something that allows space for growth, balance, humor, and humanity.
Sixteen years later, I’m incredibly grateful — for the lessons learned, the challenges that shaped us, the clients who trusted us, and most of all, the people who chose to take this journey with me. This milestone belongs to all of you.
Here’s to 16 years of growth, loyalty, hard work, laughter, and belief — and to everything still ahead. 🥂
