In 2014, I met another PR professional at a retreat and we decided to try something simple: weekly accountability calls.
We thought it might last a few months.
Twelve years later, we’re still meeting.
In this episode of Brand for Good, I sit down with my longtime accountability partner, Jennifer Marsik Friess, founder of JEMEF PR, to reflect on what has made this relationship endure — and why it has been one of the most valuable investments in my business and life.
What began as project-based accountability evolved into something much deeper: a true thought partnership. Over the years, we’ve helped each other raise rates, navigate difficult client conversations, process imposter syndrome, manage team challenges, move through grief, and recalibrate during life transitions.
We’ve only been in the same room four times in twelve years. But every week, we think together.
In this conversation, I share what I’ve learned about why these partnerships work when so many others fizzle — and how you can cultivate one of your own.
In this episode, I talk about:
Why accountability isn’t really about metrics — it’s about honesty
The power of showing up to give instead of keeping score
How long-term context sharpens decision-making
Why one-to-one partnerships often go deeper than masterminds
How to recognize when a relationship energizes you — or drains you
Why success is rarely built in isolation
I also reflect on how being a giver in this relationship changed me. It strengthened my communication, sharpened my leadership, and gave me the confidence to take up more space in my work.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re leading in a vacuum, carrying decisions alone, or wishing you had one person who really understood your business history and blind spots — this episode is for you.
Because no one can read the label from inside the container.
Sometimes you just need someone outside the bottle.
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