I met Adam Kleinberg while speaking at the Agency Summit at iMedia. This was the presentation where I led a room full of digital agency executives through “mindfulness-based stress reduction” meditations.

Worried that they’d think I was some kind of California trippy dippy, Adam was in that room, giving me his full presence, awesome eye contact and appreciation. I liked him immediately and appreciated him playing full out during the presentation.

Later that night we had a chance to hang out and I learned more about the story of Traction, his full service SF-based advertising and branding agency. (Traction just won “Best Agency” from B-to-B Magazine.)

Adam started as a Flash developer, quickly ascending through the ranks at SF shops and ultimately launching Tribal DDB’s first SF office.  Since starting Traction, he has landed some amazing accounts including Apple (no small feat), Adobe and recently, Alibaba, one of China’s largest sites.  Adam brings a passion for the agency business to his conversations about his work. It’s refreshing to hear him talking about his hope to be remembered for the legacy he builds at Traction.

I had the opportunity to go to Traction’s headquarters, right near the California Street Cable Car line to record our episode of DishyMix together. As always, with DishyMix, the conversation ranged from agency talk to the latest in social media strategy to more personal issues such as stress management and life goals.

If you are an entrepreneur, in the digital marketing space, or you work with agencies in your job – this interview with Adam brings a level of humanity to the field that you’ll surely appreciate.

Click on any of the buttons below to listen now or add it to your iTunes line up.

Adam Kleinberg, Traction on the Best Book He Never Read, Tai Chi and Building a Successful 21st Century Agency