RelationshipOps of the Week #38.
Branding & Packaging Design Agency
|
Jul 10, 2026
“That relationship alone has driven some of our largest accounts and most exciting brand projects, including recent work developed under a major global entertainment brand.”
“That relationship alone has driven some of our largest accounts and most exciting brand projects, including recent work developed under a major global entertainment brand.”
Karen Hardie.
This week, we’re featuring Karen Hardie, Co Founder of xHeight Design, a branding and packaging design agency known for creating impactful, premium designs that help businesses stand out online and on the shelf.
With a focus on e-commerce, retail, and licensed products, xHeight Design partners with founder-led companies to elevate their brand presence and packaging.
Karen’s leadership at xHeight Design reflects a belief that brands are built through alignment, not just aesthetics. The studio’s growth has come from long term partnerships, trusted introductions, and being invited into rooms where meaningful brand decisions are made.
And in this piece, Karen shares how one friendship became one of the most commercially important relationships in her business… and why staying present, useful, and human continues to power xHeight Design’s growth.
Without further ado, let’s dive into her story and perspective about existing relationships.
Friendship First.
Leonard Chin: What’s an instance when a relationship led to a big win or a really great opportunity for your business?
Karen Hardie:
“One of our strongest business relationships didn’t start in a boardroom. It started through friendship.
Over time, that friendship evolved into work. And through that work, it became one of the most commercially important relationships in our business.
This person has:
Trusted us with significant projects
Introduced us into rooms we wouldn’t have accessed otherwise
Helped land some of our biggest wins, including major global brands
All because there was trust.
That relationship alone has driven some of our largest accounts and most exciting brand projects, including recent work developed under a major global entertainment brand. And it all came from simply showing up properly in the relationship first, not treating it like a transaction.
That’s the bit people underestimate I think.”
Stay Present, Be Useful.
Leonard Chin: What's your daily/weekly routine for maintaining relationships that help your business?
Karen Hardie:
“Weekly habits:
Checking in with our partners and clients without an agenda
Sharing useful intros between people in our network
Sending lots of “saw this and thought of you” messages
Keeping follow-ups tight (so no one is left hanging)
Monthly habits:
More lengthy catch-ups (virtual or in person) and celebrating our partners’ and clients’ wins publicly
A lot of outreach today can feel engineered in my opinion. Ours is simple: stay present, be useful and keep it human.
It’s always been the core growth engine of xHeight.”
Play the Long Term Game.
Leonard Chin: What tips would you give to your younger self around relationships and how they impact business?
Karen Hardie:
“Honestly? I’ve always prioritised relationships, simply because I enjoy human connection and helping people.
What I would say is this: Play the long-term game with relationships, don’t look for short-term wins. Also, don’t underestimate consistency. All of these short conversations and connections add up and create a snowball effect.
It’s interesting that 'relationship-led growth' is suddenly a talking point. For us, it’s never been a tactic. It’s been the foundation.
Business is people and always has been.
I believe that if you take care of the right relationships properly, generously and consistently then they’ll take care of you in ways no short term marketing or sales tactic ever could.”
Key Takeaways.
We’re glad to have Karen Hardie with us on this week’s series, and here are the few key takeaways:
Trust compounds. One friendship evolved into major global brand work because Karen showed up properly in the relationship before ever treating it like a transaction.
Make relationship building simple. Checking in without an agenda, sharing introductions, and celebrating wins publicly keeps xHeight Design top of mind without engineered outreach.
Quiet consistency wins. Long term relationships, nurtured generously and consistently, outperform any short term marketing or sales tactic.
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
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Karen Hardie.
This week, we’re featuring Karen Hardie, Co Founder of xHeight Design, a branding and packaging design agency known for creating impactful, premium designs that help businesses stand out online and on the shelf.
With a focus on e-commerce, retail, and licensed products, xHeight Design partners with founder-led companies to elevate their brand presence and packaging.
Karen’s leadership at xHeight Design reflects a belief that brands are built through alignment, not just aesthetics. The studio’s growth has come from long term partnerships, trusted introductions, and being invited into rooms where meaningful brand decisions are made.
And in this piece, Karen shares how one friendship became one of the most commercially important relationships in her business… and why staying present, useful, and human continues to power xHeight Design’s growth.
Without further ado, let’s dive into her story and perspective about existing relationships.
Friendship First.
Leonard Chin: What’s an instance when a relationship led to a big win or a really great opportunity for your business?
Karen Hardie:
“One of our strongest business relationships didn’t start in a boardroom. It started through friendship.
Over time, that friendship evolved into work. And through that work, it became one of the most commercially important relationships in our business.
This person has:
Trusted us with significant projects
Introduced us into rooms we wouldn’t have accessed otherwise
Helped land some of our biggest wins, including major global brands
All because there was trust.
That relationship alone has driven some of our largest accounts and most exciting brand projects, including recent work developed under a major global entertainment brand. And it all came from simply showing up properly in the relationship first, not treating it like a transaction.
That’s the bit people underestimate I think.”
Stay Present, Be Useful.
Leonard Chin: What's your daily/weekly routine for maintaining relationships that help your business?
Karen Hardie:
“Weekly habits:
Checking in with our partners and clients without an agenda
Sharing useful intros between people in our network
Sending lots of “saw this and thought of you” messages
Keeping follow-ups tight (so no one is left hanging)
Monthly habits:
More lengthy catch-ups (virtual or in person) and celebrating our partners’ and clients’ wins publicly
A lot of outreach today can feel engineered in my opinion. Ours is simple: stay present, be useful and keep it human.
It’s always been the core growth engine of xHeight.”
Play the Long Term Game.
Leonard Chin: What tips would you give to your younger self around relationships and how they impact business?
Karen Hardie:
“Honestly? I’ve always prioritised relationships, simply because I enjoy human connection and helping people.
What I would say is this: Play the long-term game with relationships, don’t look for short-term wins. Also, don’t underestimate consistency. All of these short conversations and connections add up and create a snowball effect.
It’s interesting that 'relationship-led growth' is suddenly a talking point. For us, it’s never been a tactic. It’s been the foundation.
Business is people and always has been.
I believe that if you take care of the right relationships properly, generously and consistently then they’ll take care of you in ways no short term marketing or sales tactic ever could.”
Key Takeaways.
We’re glad to have Karen Hardie with us on this week’s series, and here are the few key takeaways:
Trust compounds. One friendship evolved into major global brand work because Karen showed up properly in the relationship before ever treating it like a transaction.
Make relationship building simple. Checking in without an agenda, sharing introductions, and celebrating wins publicly keeps xHeight Design top of mind without engineered outreach.
Quiet consistency wins. Long term relationships, nurtured generously and consistently, outperform any short term marketing or sales tactic.
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
Follow me on LinkedIn.