RelationshipOps of the Week #35.

Adam Smith.

This week, we’re featuring Adam Smith, Director at &Allies… a strategic branding and advertising agency helping B2C brands sharpen their identity, evolve their proposition, and bring their story to life with confidence.

If you don’t know Adam yet, you’ve probably seen the results of his team’s work. 

Under his leadership, &Allies has guided purpose-driven consumer brands like Charlotte Mills, Hippodrome Casino, La Mort, and more through high-stakes moments… from repositioning to market expansion to full rebrands. Whether the challenge is clarity, confidence, or growth, &Allies helps brands show up with conviction.

Before founding &Allies, Adam built his career across both in-house and agency roles, giving him a rare perspective on how brand and business intersect. That mix shaped his belief that brand is what drives trust, clarity, and long-term growth.

In this week’s edition, Adam shares how a single connection opened the door to a billion-pound client… how he manages relationships weekly without making it transactional… and the one principle he’d anchor everything on if he could do it all over again.

Let’s get into it.

Billion-Pound Client.

Leonard Chin: What’s an instance when a relationship led to a big win or a really great opportunity for your business?

Adam Smith:

“We made a deliberate decision to invest in a mentor who was not only excellent from a business perspective, but also incredibly well connected. By building a genuine relationship with him and consistently proving our capability, he felt confident enough to introduce us to the founder of a £1bn+ recruitment company.

That introduction led to us securing the work and, more importantly, forming a long-lasting relationship with the client. It reinforced for me that trust and relationships compound over time when you show up and deliver.”

Weekly Rhythm.

Leonard Chin: What's your daily/weekly routine for maintaining relationships that help your business?

Adam Smith:

“I prioritise relationships as part of my weekly rhythm. I attend relevant industry events and approach networking with a simple mindset: how can I add value to the person in front of me?

I also post on LinkedIn daily, sharing insights and perspectives that I believe are genuinely useful to the community. Beyond that, I keep a running list of conversations I’ve had, so I can intentionally follow up, check in, and see how people are doing - or connect them with someone who might be helpful.

For me, maintaining relationships is about consistency and thoughtfulness, not volume.”

Time & Relationships.

Leonard Chin: What tips would you give to your younger self around relationships and how they impact business?

Adam Smith:

“Relationships are everything. I live by the philosophy that the only two things we truly have in life are relationships and time. If you invest wisely in both, you can build a wonderful life - professionally and personally.

I’d tell my younger self to always approach relationships with the mindset of “What can I do for you?” rather than “What can you do for me?” The returns might not be immediate, but they’re always far more meaningful and long-lasting.”

Key Takeaways.

We’re glad to have Adam Smith with us on this week’s series, and here are the few key takeaways:

• Trust compounds. By investing in a mentor relationship and delivering consistently, Adam earned a warm intro that led to a long-term partnership with a £1bn+ client. 

• Thoughtful, not transactional. His weekly rhythm includes attending events, posting daily on LinkedIn, and following up with intention… all focused on adding value. 

• Time and relationships matter most. His core belief? Long-term success stems from showing up with generosity and patience, not chasing short-term wins. 

That’s all for now.

If you're open to sharing your experiences in one of our future articles… or know of someone who is, feel free to drop me an email here.

Author.

Leonard Chin
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