From zero to top life sciences agency: How Sheldon Zhai scaled Supreme Optimization
In this conversation, Sheldon Zhai, founder of Supreme Optimization, shares how he landed his first clients, scaled his business, and navigated the challenges of building a high-growth agency. We also dive into his recent acquisitions, his vision for AI in life sciences marketing, and his approach to hiring top-tier talent—including why he insists on hiring PhD-level scientists as marketers. If you're thinking of starting your own life sciences marketing agency, Sheldon has some blunt, no-nonsense advice on what it really takes to succeed.In this episode:00:00 How Supreme Optimization started03:21 Finding your first client as an agency05:32 Common challenges for early-stage agencies08:05 Key milestones in the growth of Supreme Optimization10:13 Building a team of scientific marketers12:33 Scaling up the agency through a strategic investment17:06 Acquiring and integrating other agencies to scale up19:36 Lessons learned from six acquisitions in two years22:03 Scaling up your agency culture25:33 The role of AI in science marketing29:01 The future of Supreme Optimization30:07 Advice for aspiring marketing agency owners32:20 Book recommendation for marketing agenciesBooks recommended by Sheldon:- Who: The A Method for Hiring, by Geoff Smart- The Win Without Pitching Manifesto, by Blair EnnsTo connect with Sheldon:- LinkedIn- Supreme OptimizationTo connect with Joachim Eeckhout, host of the podcast:- LinkedIn- Contact form>>>Subscribe to The Science Marketer newsletter <<<