Building Dixon Schwabl, Shaping Culture, & Giving Back to Rochester - A Conversation with Lauren Dixon

Send a textIn this episode of The Wilmac Wire, hosts Emily Miller and Steve McDonnell sit down with Lauren Dixon, founder and board chair of Dixon Schwabel, for a conversation centered on brand, culture, and leadership.Lauren shares the story of building one of Rochester’s most recognized marketing agencies, from taking the leap to start her business in the late 1980s to creating a workplace culture that has been named a Great Place to Work for 15 consecutive years. She reflects on what it truly takes to build an environment where people feel empowered, respected, and excited to show up every day.The conversation explores how culture is shaped through listening, values-based hiring, and staying true to your principles, even when it means making difficult business decisions. Lauren also discusses her deep commitment to philanthropy and community involvement, serving on 11 boards and believing that successful businesses have a responsibility to give back.They close with a timely look at how AI is reshaping the marketing industry, why Dixon Schwabel has created department-specific AI policies, and how technology is transforming productivity, profitability, and the future of work.Here’s what you’ll hear about:Lauren’s journey from journalism to founding Dixon Schwabel How to build a culture people want to be part of Why values and respect matter more than anything Leadership lessons from scaling a people-first organization The role of community involvement and philanthropy in business How AI is changing marketing, operations, and team structureEpisode Breakdown:0:01 Welcome and guest introduction 4:20 Lauren’s early career and founding Dixon Schwabel 12:10 Building culture through empowerment and values 18:45 Creating a workplace recognized as a Great Place to Work 27:30 Hiring philosophy and leading with integrity 35:40 Giving back through philanthropy and board leadership 44:10 Rochester’s growth and the role of collaboration 52:30 AI policies, productivity shifts, and the future of agency work 58:40 Closing reflections and leadership legacyConnect with the speakers:Emily Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-miller-666b66152/ Steve McDonnell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-mcdonnell-8659042b/ Lauren Dixon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurendixon2/ 🎧 Listen to more episodes:https://open.spotify.com/show/2lhL8QkXa9LUYlXjSAp3OE?si=7706a8d980294a8f