Building radically better agencies with AI
Most agencies are experimenting with AI
I help leaders go further — moving from scattered experiments to systematic change. With 25+ years in the agency world and hands-on work with 50+ leadership teams, I know what works — and what doesn’t — when it comes to unlocking AI’s real value: grow faster, improve margin, build resilience.
How we Help
Agencies don’t need more AI experiments. They need focus, structure, and systems that deliver real impact. Here’s how I help leaders make it happen:
Workshops and coaching to cut through the hype and align your leadership team around where AI really adds value.
Hands-on projects to turn agency IP into working systems — building fast, testing with clients, and proving the value.
Ongoing support to make AI adoption stick — from playbooks and governance to acting as a fractional AI officer for your agency.
Case Studies
AI Culture (COM-B)
Problem
A design studio’s team felt anxious about AI. Many feared it might replace their roles rather than help them.
Build
We applied the COM-B model to support change:
• Capability – trained the team on practical AI tools and workflows.
• Opportunity – showed how AI could slot into their existing processes.
• Motivation – demonstrated live examples of AI boosting speed and quality.
Result
The team developed a positive culture around AI: people felt confident, began experimenting daily, and saw AI as a tool to strengthen their work — not a threat to it.
Asset Register
Problem
The agency was producing hundreds of creative 3D assets, but teams couldn’t easily find past work. This led to wasted time and repeated effort.
Build
We created an AI-powered Asset Register:
• Indexed and classified all existing assets automatically.
• Enabled natural-language search so anyone could find what they needed in seconds.
Result
Hundreds of hours saved. Assets were reused more effectively, and the creative team worked faster with far less duplication.
Digital Insight Tool
Problem
The strategy and marketing team were spending too much time pulling together client insights and reports. The repetitive tasks slowed delivery and reduced time for new thinking.
Build
We developed an AI Insight Tool:
• Aggregated data and insights into one place.
• Generated first drafts of reports and recommendations automatically.
• Standardised outputs across the team.
Result
Reports and recommendations produced in minutes, not days. Clients received faster, more consistent insights, while the team freed up time for refining their IP
About
I understand agencies because I’ve lived them.
I’ve spent 25+ years in digital agencies, including leading Great State to become one of the UK’s most respected independents. Since then, I’ve worked directly with over 50 agency leadership teams on their AI journey — from early experiments to building systems that scale.
I work as a partner to your leadership team, bringing frameworks, prototypes, and focus. My role is to help you harness AI not just to work faster, but to build a stronger, more resilient agency for the future.
How we Help The Detail:
Leadership Alignment
Why it matters
AI conversations are everywhere — but often unfocused. Leadership teams need clarity and alignment.understand
How it works:
Bespoke workshops and coaching sessions designed for your leadership team. Together we cut through the hype, identify the real opportunities, and map a practical AI roadmap.
Outcome:
Clear priorities, aligned leadership, and the confidence to move forward with focus.
Prototyping & Sprints
Why it matters
Agencies learn fastest by building. Prototypes create momentum and reveal the real value of AI.
How it works:
4–8 week sprints where we identify repeatable workflows, apply the CODE framework (Collect, Observe, Distil, Evolve), and build working systems — from proposal agents to client onboarding flows.
Outcome:
A working prototype, proven in your context, that saves time and demonstrates new value to clients.
Embedding & Scaling
Why it matters
AI only delivers long-term impact if it sticks. Without governance and process, experiments fizzle.
How it works:
Ongoing support as your fractional AI officer — creating playbooks, setting up governance, and embedding AI into culture and delivery.
Outcome:
AI adoption that lasts — delivering efficiency, resilience, and new revenue opportunities.
Contact
Lets start with a chat
Discovery Call
Book a 25 minute discover call where we can talk about your current challenges and ambitions for the future https://cal.mixmax.com/neilcollard
Drop me an email and we can start the conversation. info@curiousdata.co.uk
Or just connect on LinkedIn. LinkedIn.com
Curious Data Science 