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.
Momentum
- Founder: Natalia Taylor
- Year founded: 2016
Tell us the story behind founding your agency.
I didn’t set out to build an agency. But working inside larger organisations, I kept feeling the gap between what was right for clients and what I could deliver.
I wanted freedom to make decisions based on outcomes – not internal processes or someone else’s priorities.
Running an independent takes grit. No safety net, no holding company to lean on – just your team, your reputation and your commitment to doing the right thing. I’m proud to work alongside people who show up with that same energy every day.
We’re now in our tenth year – proud of the great clients we’ve supported and relationships built. With our industry changing at pace, we’re developing our own IP that continues what we set out to do. There’s so much talent and opportunity in New Zealand, and as a founder, I feel genuinely fortunate to be part of it every day.
What’s your favourite thing about running your own agency?
The freedom to do things properly.
Every decision – who we hire, which clients we take on, how we show up – reflects our values, not a holding company’s bottom line. I love that.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned?
The right people will carry you further than any strategy.
Culture isn’t something you build once, it’s something you protect every day. The decisions that feel hardest in the moment, saying no to the wrong client or the wrong hire, are usually the ones you’re most grateful for later. An independent is only as strong as the trust you build, internally and externally. Guard it fiercely.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received or given out?
Be bold. Back yourself.
There will always be doubt and a reason to wait – more revenue, more certainty, more validation. At some point, you just have to trust your instincts and go.
Anything else we should know?
I’m the sole founder of Momentum. We’re proud founding members of AIMA – Aotearoa Independent Media Agencies (Formerly IMANZ – Independent Media Agencies of New Zealand) – and strong believers that local independents are genuinely good for the New Zealand market.
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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