![[Fully Managed] Kenn Kelly of Never Settle Ep. 211](https://penji.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BLOG-IMAGE-Kenn-Kelly-2.jpg)
Introduction
Daniela (D): Okay, Ken, to get us started, can you explain memes to me as if I was a Victorian child?
Ken Kelly (KK): I’ll try. A meme is a picture.
D: Does a Victorian child know what a picture is?
KK: I think so. Okay. Okay. Yeah. It’s a picture with moving animation where people have put words over it to make a joke of something that’s culturally or socially relevant.
D: Not bad. And where are they?
KK: Memes show up on devices like pads, paper that you can see that are moving. Yeah, it’s hard to explain a computer or the internet to a car.
D: Yeah, I know it’s hard. I tried. I played this with my friend the other day and I was like, I don’t know, like do Victorians… because I kept thinking it’s a child and they’re also from the Victorian era, so it’s extreme oversimplification.
KK: Yeah.
D: Well, Ken, that’s been great. Guys, welcome to Fully Managed. This is where we discuss marketing and business tips and we assist you in your business journeys. Y’all know me. I’m your host, Daniela, and I’m Penji’s partnership coordinator. And today we have a great guest. We have Ken Kelly from Never Settle. Hi, Ken. How are you?
KK: Doing great.
D: You guys already got to know him a little bit as he explained memes to us as Victorian children. But Ken, to get us started and get the ball rolling, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, about Never Settle, what inspired you to establish it? Just the whole shebang, whatever we need to know about you.
Founding Never Settle
KK: It’s great. So what inspired it was a little bit about me as first-generation student to go to college. I ended up getting a great opportunity to go into management consulting. Then I went to Silicon Valley, started a company there, and raised money on Sand Hill Road. Both were incredible experiences, but after many years of hundred-hour-plus weeks in a culture driven purely by performance, I felt like something was missing. Later on, I started Never Settle, based on the premise of not settling to do the right thing in business versus just going after the bottom line. We prioritize people, ethics, and moral values. We’re profitable, but that’s not our ultimate driving force. We’re more like a B Corp, funneling everything through our core values and mission, then making decisions in pursuit of profit. We built a creative tech and marketing agency that helps businesses grow through branding, design, marketing, web development, e-commerce, and more.
D: I think your agency is really cool because it’s targeted and specific to your mission. Many agencies I’ve seen are more generic. One of your core values is “never settling,” and that’s the company name. Does this philosophy of continuous growth ever hit roadblocks? Is there a time where you have to tell a business—or even yourselves—that settling in a specific area might be the best choice?
KK: I’ve been challenged by family, friends, and clients who say there are benefits in settling. Philosophically, I agree in some ways. “Never settle” doesn’t mean constant change—it’s a hunger and pursuit to get better. Choosing the right solution for the right budget and timeline isn’t settling; that’s wisdom. Almost any project could be better with more time and money, but agencies must maximize value within constraints. Yes, there have been times we’ve settled and regretted it. We wish we’d pushed harder.
D: I think your concept of it being about making the right choices, rather than big gestures, is a great philosophy.
KK: One of the greatest examples of this was telling my sister years ago not to settle in a relationship. It’s about making hard decisions, doing the right thing even when it’s tough.
D: That’s true in all areas of life, not just relationships. Settling for the sake of it is a disservice to yourself.
Advocacy Against Human Trafficking
D: You advocate strongly against human trafficking. What made you so passionate about this cause?
KK: I was exposed to it about nineteen years ago when someone came to my local church and shared how it happens globally and in Denver. I initially rejected the idea, did my own research, and found it was very real. Once exposed, I couldn’t ignore it. I started asking questions, got involved with nonprofits, and learned how to help. Our agency donates time and finances, providing our regular services to organizations making a real difference. I have zero regrets about the investments we’ve made in this cause over the last fourteen years.
D: What’s scary is many victims don’t even know they’re being trafficked.
KK: Yes, often it starts with force or coercion and escalates from there.
Balancing Growth and Values
D: I think companies can lose their founding values when they focus only on growth. Advocacy work helps keep the human side of a business alive.
KK: I agree. Treating people well leads to a better client and company experience, and ultimately makes you more profitable.
Working With Different-Sized Clients
D: You work with both small and large businesses. How is the work different?
KK: The work is similar—the difference is scale. A small business might spend $1,000/month on ads, an enterprise $200,000. Larger, bureaucratic organizations often move slower. Efficient clients, regardless of size, get the most value from us.
Navigating Clients Stuck in Their Ways
D: Have you had clients resistant to change, like older CEOs preferring traditional marketing over social media?
KK: Yes, but we approach it with curiosity. One solution doesn’t work for everyone. We educate clients on pros and cons, then let them decide—they know their business best. Sometimes the “modern” approach isn’t the right fit for their market.
The Role of ROI in Decision-Making
D: Social media success stories can make it seem like it’s the answer for all businesses, but that’s not always true.
KK: Exactly. Start with the customer’s current conversion paths. Focus resources where they’ll have the best ROI.
Closing
D: Ken, that’s a great note to end on. Before we finish, do you want to share where people can find you?
KK: Sure. NeverSettle.it is where you can find us. We love helping businesses build a bigger story through consulting, marketing, technology, web development, e-commerce, and design.
D: Awesome. I’ll link everything in the description. Thanks for being here, Ken.
KK: Thanks for having me.
D: Have a great day, everybody.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenn-kelly-20b1494
