Twenty-five Years – The Company We Keep

This year, Philosophy Communication turns 25, and while I reflect on the many milestones, it is less about what we have achieved and more about the people who got us here. It’s like that teenager who grows up and comes home, thanking her parents for well…everything.

That would be Philosophy, very, very thankful for everything, the good, the challenges, the people who acted like pills (you know who you are), and the many stretch moments pushing us to lead with love and compassion. I’m overcome with an immense sense of gratitude for the relationships that we have built along the way. From clients and the current team to past employees (Philosophy alums), I’m fully aware of the indelible mark they’ve made on the company, and grateful for the positive impact they’ve had on the company. I say confidently that Philosophy would not be what it is without every past contribution. They are what has made the Philosophy DNA and brought us here today. 

From the beginning, we wanted to create a place where we could do great work for clients and create a great life for our families. Serving our clients and caring about our community have always been our North Stars. The irony is that while most businesses measure success through climbing profits, my wisdom confidently understands that the real metric is about the people. 

Billy Crystal said in the movie “City Slickers” that the meaning of life is relationships, and this holds especially true with Philosophy. Relationships have guided us through everything from growth to recessions, and I couldn’t be more grateful for every relationship that has touched Philosophy. 

When I sat down to write out all of the people who have helped Philosophy Communication along the way, the list became extensive. Compiling it was humbling and leaves me a little verklempt to know that people really care about Philosophy and the positive difference we are trying to make in the world.

I would like to specifically call out my partners, Randall Erkelens and Tera Keatts. Randall, your creative genius is unparalleled, and your ability to see possibilities is a gift. I couldn’t be luckier to have worked alongside you. Seriously, pinch me! And, Tera, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside you from the client side to the agency side. I learn from you every day and love it when you lose your filter because it makes me and the team laugh at this upside-down world. I’m grateful to be your partner and also to be the beneficiary of your fashion sense. To my friend and co-founder, Jen Miller (cue tears), you also put up with the agency life for a time and taught me so much – especially the importance of bringing people together to listen and learn through good food. May we keep eating together for another 25 years.

So, in addition to all of this gratitude and adulation for our clients and the work, what’s next for this grown-up version of Philosophy? Well, as a communication agency, we have always felt that words can only take you so far. The partners thought we needed to do something BIG. We need a BIG IDEA that really thanks our team for being so focused on our clients with an action. That’s why we’ve spent the last year saving and making a few sacrifices (yes, this includes more homemade meals from the team) so that we can truly say thanks to our team, who have brought us here.

We’re going to Greece! That’s right! The Philosophy team will be conducting a life-long learning trip from April 10 through April 15 to study the great philosophers and the origin of thought, meet with entrepreneurs and international correspondents, and celebrate the relationships that mean so much to us.

So here’s to growing up and realizing that our success has never been about the company we built. These 25 years have proved successful because of the company we keep.