How to Use AI to Scale at Speed: The Human-First Framework
Why do so many good agencies hit a growth plateau and stay there? Often, it’s because the founder remains the bottleneck for every decision and crisis. Felix Velarde, Chairman of The 2Y3X Programme, argues that while AI is a revolutionary tool, the agencies that scale the fastest aren't the ones who automate the most—they are the ones who use AI to enhance, serve, and empower their people.
1. Enhance: Make People Better, Not Redundant
Cutting headcount by 30% might look good on a P&L today, but it’s a race to the bottom. Instead, use AI to offload mechanical tasks so your team can think more critically and solve bigger problems.
The Goal: Use AI as a teacher and a pattern-recognition partner to expand your team’s capacity.
The Result: Bigger ideas and a more valuable agency.
2. Serve: Create Competitive Advantage
You are in the service business. Don’t just ask how AI can make an asset cheaper; ask how it can give your clients an edge their competitors don't have.
Indispensability: If you focus AI on deeper insights and stronger experiences, you become a strategic partner rather than a commoditized vendor.
3. Empower: Let the Team Drive Growth
The "Founder Bottleneck" is the ultimate enemy of scale. Real growth happens when you empower the next generation of leaders to own the growth plan.
AI as the Navigator: Use AI to give your teams faster access to knowledge and proven frameworks (like 2Y3X.AI).
The Shift: You want AI in the engine room, but your people must stay in the pilot’s seat.
Get Ready for the 2026 Agency Growth Book
We are currently preparing the 2026 Edition of The Agency Growth Book, featuring all-new strategies for the year ahead. Please download our existing versions and follow us or register for our newsletter to get updates first.
