In this episode of Beyond the Build, Shawn Johnston talks with Connor Goway, founder of Junction Consulting and president of eLearningU, about what changes when clients get clear on goals and expectations before execution starts, and why that upstream work makes delivery healthier for everyone involved.
Connor shares how he moved from running a creative agency to deliberately stepping away, then spending the last decade helping clients get clear on what they actually need before they hire an agency. The conversation gets into why agency client relationships turn adversarial, what creates fear and micromanagement, and how a better process turns delivery into partnership instead of friction.
They also cover:
- How eLearningU grew into a training platform that helps destinations level up local operators
- How autonomy and psychological safety affect real AI leverage inside teams
- The two things Connor would prioritize if he were starting an agency today
- How to set expectations early so agencies can push back, guide, and protect the work when needed.
