Meet Emily | Business/Agency Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, what do you attribute your success to?
At the core of what’s worked for me—and for Wave Makers Group—is this ability to make things feel less overwhelming for our clients. Branding, technology, operations… these things can often feel disconnected or overly complex. I’ve found that I’m good at helping people step back, see the bigger picture, and approach it in a more strategic (but still human) way. We aim to simplify the hard stuff without ever watering it down—and when we get that right, it’s incredibly rewarding.

What I’m probably most proud of is the relationships we’ve built. I’ve never loved the transactional nature of traditional agency work, and that’s always been something I wanted to do differently. We really try to show up as part of our clients’ teams—not just during the highlight moments, but through the tough ones too. That mutual trust and collaboration makes the work better, and I’ve learned that when you care deeply and invest fully, the long-term results tend to follow.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business, Wave Makers Group, was born out of a desire to bridge the gap between brand strategy, creative direction, and technology in a way that feels approachable and effective. We tend to work with companies that are at some kind of crossroads—whether they’re legacy businesses needing modernization or startups trying to scale quickly and intentionally. What we try to do really well is bring clarity and cohesion to things that can often feel overwhelming or disconnected. We pair bold storytelling with smart systems, and our goal is always to help our clients streamline in a way that actually supports creativity rather than stifling it.

If I had to pick something I’m most proud of, it would be the trust we’ve built with our clients. Our work goes far beyond surface-level marketing—we’re often invited into deeper conversations about how a business functions and evolves. That’s something I don’t take lightly. I’ve never wanted Wave Makers to feel like a typical agency. I know how transactional that can sometimes feel, and I was really intentional about doing things differently. We try to operate like a true extension of our clients’ teams, and that shared sense of purpose is something I think (and hope) comes through in the relationships we’ve built.

Of course, getting here wasn’t a straight path. Like most entrepreneurs, there were plenty of moments where I was wearing every hat—serving clients, building systems, figuring things out on the fly. It was messy at times, but I kept going back to what I believed: that creative work has to be grounded in strategy, that long-term relationships matter more than short-term wins, and that innovation doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to trust my instincts—and to surround myself with people who challenge me to keep evolving. I’ve also learned how important it is to say no when something doesn’t align with our values or our vision. That’s not always easy, especially in the early days, but it’s made our work and our partnerships so much stronger.

If there’s one thing I’d want people to know about Wave Makers Group, it’s that we care deeply about the businesses we support. We’re here to help them move faster, smarter, and with more clarity. We’re not afraid to question old systems or try new things—and we genuinely love helping our clients grow, not just in numbers, but in confidence, culture, and brand presence.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Pre-Palisades Fire, I would have said go to Moonshadows, hike Temescal Canyon, or grab lunch at Malibu Pier. These days, I’m based in Santa Monica, so we’d probably stick around here. I’d still want to keep things laid-back while showing my friend a mix of what the city offers.

We’d start off with a beach picnic in Santa Monica for sure—somewhere quiet to catch up and enjoy the ocean. A hike in the Santa Monica Mountains would be on the list to show off our nature trails, followed by a glass of wine at Shutters on the Beach. We’d wander around downtown Santa Monica—walking, shopping, eating… lots of eating.

A Dodgers game would definitely be on the list, and we’d swing by Silverlake for coffee and maybe some vintage shopping (they’d probably be in from NYC and would enjoy its artsy energy). At some point, we’d head up to Leo Carrillo so my dog could join in—she loves the beach. If there’s a good show playing, we’d wrap up one evening at the Hollywood Bowl for some live music.

Most nights would end back at home, hanging out by the fire with music and drinks, catching up and keeping things simple—that’s really the best way to enjoy LA, in my opinion.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to my team from the early days at BizEquity. Back then, the dot-com era had just fizzled out, but digital marketing was starting to take shape—and we were right on the edge of that wave. I was working at a small business bank that took a big leap by building a business development team—there were only five of us! Together, we created a business valuation platform that was both tech-forward and algorithm-heavy, while also being ahead of the curve in how we used digital media and marketing to launch and grow it.

That team felt like a family. We were scrappy, smart, and trusted to explore and innovate without a lot of red tape—which is rare, especially in the banking world. It taught me how powerful it is to be surrounded by brilliant people and to be given the freedom to build something exceptional from the ground up. So, shoutout to Pauli Tiefling, Ami Kassar, Arun Kumar, and Tom Taulli—you helped shape so much of how I approach business, creativity, and leadership today.

Website: https://www.wavemakersgroup.com