How do you build an agency where people don't just work – they genuinely want to belong?

Julie Oxberry is Co-Founder of Household, the brand experience design agency in London and New York. 22 years after launching the business, she shares how culture is built through trust, communications and giving creative people the freedom to do their best work.


In this episode, Julie shares how she:

• Builds belonging through deliberate rituals, from weekly agency-wide meetings to fast-paced Pecha Kucha sessions that help people get to know each other
• Uses transparency, shared ownership and B Corp principles to create a culture built on trust rather than hierarchy
• Links everyone’s objectives directly back to the agency's growth plan, ensuring performance is measured through both results and values
• Believes creativity thrives when people have clear commercial boundaries, fast decision-making and the freedom to move without micromanagement
• Applies the idea of creating "fans, not customers" internally, building a team that stays committed because it understands and believes in the business
• Learnt that leadership means communicating before every answer is known and stepping back so others can step forward

Julie offers a thoughtful perspective on building an enduring creative business - showing that trust, transparency and a genuine sense of belonging create a stronger business than control ever can.