When Kendra Schaaf joined Mojo Supermarket in May 2020, there were just three full-time employees and zero clients on retainer. Fast-forward to the present and Schaaf has helped the agency grow to nearly 60 full-time employees and secured notable clients including StockX, Match, the Truth Initiaitive and Hydrow.
Beyond helping the agency increase its revenue from $1 million in 2020 to $10 million in 2021, Schaaf has helped hire diverse talent. Currently, the agency is 53% BIPOC and 57% women. The shop is also retaining talent with only two people leaving in the past two years. Earlier this year, Schaaf mandated that every three-day weekend at the agency be turned into a four-day weekend.
“A big part of my job is knowing when to call it,” Schaaf said. “Knowing when to say yes and when to say no are equally important. I think we've been judicious about what we say yes to, and true to our values. I think that has helped us experience the growth that we have.”
What advice would you give your younger self?
Shoot your shot.
What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
Professionally? Joining Mojo Supermarket.
If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you be doing and why?
I’d run some type of small business, but I have no idea what. Why? Because I like a good challenge and want to create an impact at a local level.
What should the industry do to encourage more women and people of color into its ranks?
Promote them and pay them. When you invest in women and people of color, everyone benefits.
What is the biggest lesson you have taken away from the pandemic?
When we are apart we can still do great work together. The pandemic let all the stuff that doesn’t matter fall by the wayside … the big fancy offices and fancy things and posturing. None of that mattered—or matters anymore. This great equalizer has allowed us to focus on our commitment to the people and the work.