Here at Boundless, we thrive on constantly improving our workflows and looking for innovative strategies that will let us satisfy and inspire our clients with efficiency. I took a moment to ask Mike Upchurch (Creative Director), Kyleigh Dooley (Director of Project Management), and Sarah Pike (VP, Group Account Director) questions about how they have been continuously evolving to keep their teams at the top of their game.
Jenna: What creative approaches have you implemented that have been successfully received?
Mike: Encouraging the creatives to seek inspiration outside our industry helps keep perspectives fresh. Getting outside our own business bubble is just generally a good rule for creativity. Good ideas can originate just about anywhere, even when they have to be suited to the highly regulated and evidence-driven world of healthcare, and the exercise of adapting an external inspiration to our own clients’ specialized strategic needs is great for keeping creative muscles strong. It can employ a lot of the tried-and-true methods for brainstorming—combination and substitution of attributes, challenging norms, etc—that build good creative habits.
Jenna: What innovative approach have you implemented that has significantly improved efficiency or outcomes on your projects?
Kyleigh: One thing that’s been a game-changer for the PM team is using custom AI tools such as GPTs. We built a version tailored specifically for creating timelines and estimates. It’s taken so much of the manual effort off our plates and made the process faster and more consistent.
For example, instead of spending hours piecing together timelines or adjusting estimates, we can input a few key details, and the tool does the heavy lifting. It’s super helpful when clients need quick turnarounds or when we’re juggling multiple projects.
The best part? Getting it up and running was a team effort—everyone from Account to Creative had a say in what would make it work best for them. Not only has it improved our workflows, but it’s also been a great way to spark new ideas about how we can keep improving.
Jenna: How have you innovatively approached and addressed a client's unique challenge?
Sarah: Always communicating with intent. I encourage myself and my team to address a client’s challenge with a thoughtful and comprehensive approach. This begins with active listening to fully understand the problem, gathering relevant information to uncover key details, and demonstrating empathy to genuinely connect with their pain points. Once the issue is clearly understood, we collaborate with the client to establish clear, prioritized goals and craft tailored, innovative solutions that align with their unique needs. Throughout the process, we prioritize transparent and consistent communication, providing regular updates and managing expectations effectively. After implementation, we review the outcomes with the client, gather feedback, and identify opportunities to optimize or expand the solution. This approach not only resolves the immediate challenge but also fosters a long-term partnership rooted in trust and a shared commitment to their success.
As Mike, Kyleigh, and Sarah describe, our passion for improving ourselves and supporting each other in our work is truly boundless. Learn more about the Boundless approach and what makes us different.
