From Managing to Leading: How Katie Elzer-Peters Built a More Sustainable Micro Agency

When Katie Elzer-Peters, CEO of The Garden of Words, joined the Micro Agency Mastermind in late 2022, she was navigating major business transitions. With a thriving micro agency specializing in marketing for horticulture clients, she needed support to restructure her team and refine her leadership.

Katie had built a thriving business with a strong operations and tech lead, but after that team member exited in mid-2022, she brought in a replacement who ultimately wasn’t the right fit. By late 2022, she realized she needed to make another change and wanted support in handling these transitions while maintaining her business stability.

“I needed support from someone who had run a micro agency and from others who were running agencies at the same time. I wasn’t looking for a coach—I needed a consultant and a peer group to help me make smart, strategic decisions,” Katie explained.

A Peer-Led, Consultant-Guided Mastermind

Joining the Micro Agency Mastermind provided Katie with exactly what she was looking for—a mix of expert-led sessions, peer support, and one-on-one guidance from Maggie and her team.

“The mastermind was incredibly helpful. Maggie carefully curates the group, ensuring a good mix of backgrounds, industries, and perspectives. That diversity was key; it wasn’t just an echo chamber of people running the same business.”

Katie also appreciated the professionalism and structure of the mastermind: “It’s highly strategic and concrete. The workshops were excellent, and Maggie, along with the rest of the team, brought in new perspectives on operations, leadership, and decision-making.”

One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the community support. “Having the Slack channel for real-time feedback and discussions was invaluable. There were times when I needed urgent help, like when I had to let someone go, and a mastermind member jumped on a call with me for 45 minutes to discuss the situation. That kind of support is rare.”

A Stronger Team, Better Clients, and Sustainable Growth

During the Micro Agency Mastermind, Katie strengthened her leadership, improving communication and team clarity.

“I became a true leader, establishing clearer communication structures and ensuring my team understood their roles and responsibilities.”

Through her work with the group, Katie also refined her client base by focusing on clients who were the best fit for her service. She was also able to successfully pause and restart services as needed. 

“We transitioned to working with clients that better align with our expertise and working style. I had to fire web development contractors during seven website builds. With the mastermind’s support, I could finish those projects and confidently pause that service line for a year.”

Another big goal for Katie was to maintain her four-day workweek, and the mastermind helped her stay accountable and stick to it. “I already had a four-day workweek, but the mastermind helped me reinforce it, even while navigating major transitions.”

One of the most impactful lessons Katie took away from the mastermind was learning how to ensure her clients didn’t only rely on her. “A major challenge for micro agency owners is getting clients to trust the team instead of just the founder. The mastermind helped me set up structures so clients trust and engage with my team members, not just me. That shift has been game-changing.”

With the strategy and support she received in the Micro Agency mastermind, Katie built a strong and effective team and got herself out of day-to-day operations. This gave her the space and capacity to start a podcast and eventually co-found a new business, an e-commerce platform for the horticulture market. 

Most importantly, Katie met her overarching business goal. “My goal wasn’t to grow revenue dramatically—it was to build a business that supports a high quality of life. And that’s exactly what I achieved with the mastermind’s help.”

The Value of One-on-One Support

Katie also found Maggie’s support incredibly valuable. “Sometimes, you need a private space to discuss things you wouldn’t discuss in a group. Maggie’s one-on-one guidance gave me the confidence to make tough decisions, and working with someone who has run this type of business was refreshing.”

Unlike many group programs, the Micro Agency Mastermind ensures the lead mentor is actively involved. “Maggie doesn’t just sell you the program and disappear. She’s in it with you. That makes all the difference.”

When asked what she would tell someone thinking of joining the Micro Agency mastermind, she had this to say: 

“If you talk with Maggie and vibe with her, do it. Other programs might exist, but they cost 10X as much and don’t offer nearly as much hands-on support. You have to be committed to examining your business, making changes, and implementing what you learn. If you do that, this mastermind will work for you.”