#853: Sköna CEO Jenny Sagström on design consistency in high-growth brands

#853: Sköna CEO Jenny Sagström on design consistency in high-growth brands

Author: The Agile Brand May 1, 2026 Duration: 27:48
In the race for B2B growth, we often prioritize speed over everything else. But what's the real cost when your brand starts to look like a collection of spare parts cobbled together by different teams? Agility requires a strong, foundational framework to enable speed without sacrificing coherence. It's about empowering teams to move quickly and independently, while still ensuring every customer touchpoint feels like it comes from one unified brand. Today, we're going to talk about why brand and design consistency is often the first casualty of high-growth B2B environments, and paradoxically, one of the most critical assets to protect. We'll explore how that fragmentation happens, from different teams launching products to rapid hiring, and discuss why building a consistent brand isn't just a "nice-to-have"—it's a direct line to building trust and long-term value with your customers.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Jenny Sagström, CEO at Sköna. About Jenny Sagström Jenny is cofounder and CEO of Sköna, a B2B creative agency that’s been building brave brands for innovative technology companies since 2004. Jenny entered the agency world in 1998 with Kraftverket in her native Stockholm, Sweden, shortly after graduating with a BA in Economics and International Relations from the University of Reading. In 2000, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to work at Corsi & Partners, where she was responsible for a multitude of clients, including the Oakland Raiders. Since founding Sköna, Jenny has helped lead it from a two-person shop to a flourishing global business, where she currently oversees strategy, account management, and global expansion. An occasional public speaker, article writer, and podcaster, she spends her spare time skiing, tinkering with (and even completing!) DIY projects, and enjoying the company of her husband and two daughters. Jenny Sagström on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennysagstrom/ Resources Sköna: www.skona.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74 We’re proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873f Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Each conversation on The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström®: Expert Mode Marketing Technology, AI, & CX moves beyond surface-level trends to explore the practical realities of modern marketing. Host Greg Kihlström guides discussions with executives and thought leaders from prominent brands and technology platforms, focusing on the tangible strategies that drive growth. You’ll hear detailed explorations of topics like the real-world adoption of AI, the construction of effective first-party data strategies, and the evolving landscape of customer experience. This podcast is built for leaders who need to translate complex technological shifts into sustainable business value and deeper customer relationships. Rather than offering quick fixes, these episodes provide a deeper understanding of how to integrate marketing technology, artificial intelligence, and customer-centric thinking into a cohesive strategy. The dialogue consistently centers on building customer lifetime value, ensuring that every technological investment contributes to long-term brand strength. If you're looking for a clear, expert-level analysis of what actually works in today's market, this series delivers substantive insights directly from the professionals shaping the industry.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström®: Expert Mode Marketing Technology, AI, & CX
Podcast Episodes
Introducing The Interface from the BBC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:08
I would like to recommend a new podcast called The Interface from the BBC. It's the BBC's fiercly informed, fast and funny take on how technology is impacting all of us. I have become regular listeners and hope you enjoy…
Resident Expert: Bill Staikos on the CX landscape in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:48
As a leader, you often spend so much time on the strategies and tactics that keep your brand growing that it’s difficult to keep up with what’s going on in the background with the platforms and the companies behind them.…
Tealium's Zack Wenthe on the hidden challenge of AI-driven commerce [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:17
As you race to adopt AI-powered shopping experiences, are you creating a new data black box that will make your customer journey less understood, not more? Agility requires not just the speed to adopt new channels like g…
#854: PGA TOUR's Zach Carlson on creating an amazing fan experience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:31
In an era dominated by high-definition home entertainment and endless digital distractions, what does it take to convince a fan that a live, in-person experience is not just worth their time and money, but is something t…
#852: Zoom Room CEO Mark Van Wye on agile dogs and agile brands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:10
What if your most visible, most exciting product wasn't your real product at all, but was actually a Trojan horse for building a much deeper, stickier customer relationship? Agility requires more than just a willingness…