In the June-August 2026 issue of NZ Marketing magazine, we asked agency founders to tell us the story behind why they started their agency, their favourite thing, what they’ve learned and their best advice.
Convergence
- Founders: Erin Jamieson and Leigh Harris
- Year founded: 2001
Tell us the story behind founding your agency.
Jamieson: Timing was everything. I had always wanted to own my own business, and Leigh had just taken up an offer of voluntary redundancy from the International Marketing division of the NZ Wool Board. We were introduced through a mutual contact and quickly realised we could work well together, with strongly aligned values and complementary skills.
I made the decision to leave my job at Lyttelton Port Company and we were fortunate to secure them as our first client. That gave us the foundation and confidence to take the leap into self-employment. That was nearly 25 years ago in Christchurch.
Since then, we have grown into a national agency, expanding into Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown. Along the way, we have built a values-driven business, working across a diverse range of clients and projects and developing long-standing partnerships with an incredible variety of clients in different industries.
What’s your favourite thing about running your own agency?
Running our own agency gives us the freedom to shape our own path and build a business that reflects our values. It also gave me the ability to build a career while staying closely involved in my children’s lives, from school events to camps.
Another favourite thing is working with incredibly talented staff, many of whom have gone on to build successful careers around the world. Seeing that growth and knowing we played a part in shaping their careers is something we are very proud of.
We’re quite proud to be able to demonstrate great staff retention and three of our core team members have been with us for more than a decade, which speaks to the culture we have built. While our work changes every year and no year is every the same, it’s lovely to have developed strong, long-term partnerships with many clients, some spanning nearly two decades.
We have also been lucky to win numerous industry awards along the way, reflecting both the strength of our team and the quality of the work we deliver.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned?
Business is cyclical. There will always be highs and lows, but if you consistently deliver good work, act with integrity and are transparent with your clients, you can build something that lasts.
We have also experienced firsthand that not everything is within your control. From the Christchurch earthquakes, where we lost everything when our building came down, to being red stickered again after fitting out a new office two months later, through to Covid and recession years.
Those experiences reinforced the importance of resilience and perspective. You can face setbacks through no fault of your own, but there is always more work to be done and new opportunities ahead. Over time, we have learned that strong relationships and staying true to your values are what carry you through.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received or given out?
The best piece of advice we have received – and often give – is simple: do your best and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Jamieson: A bad hire can be devastating on a small business. Leigh was advised before we set up Convergence that “it won’t be a client that makes you want to walk out, close the door behind you and never go back, it will be an employee” and we’ve had a couple of those over the years.
Be very careful with recruitment. Similarly, you can only be as good as your client allows you to be. Not everything will go your way and you cannot control every outcome. It’s important to focus on what you can control, deliver consistently and maintain perspective.
Clear expectations, mutual trust and strong relationships make all the difference. Over time, those fundamentals matter far more than any single win or setback.
This story comes from NZ Marketing magazine issue 87, June-August 2026. Why not subscribe? Get four issues a year for just $50 (including delivery) if you autorenew.
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