Aug. 19, 2025
This piece is sponsored by Sagency.
You know the feeling.
Your company is growing. The team is talented. The values are strong.
But something’s harder than it used to be.
The decisions are slower. The roles are blurrier.
The strategy still makes sense, but it’s not being lived out across the team like it once was.
Leaders are stretched, and the culture that once felt instinctive now takes effort.
This is what the team at Sagency calls the messy middle — the space between yesterday’s success and what it will take to get to the next growth milestone.
“It’s not a failure. It’s just a phase,” said Mike Meagher, founder and CEO of Sagency. “We’re often invited in when things aren’t broken, but they’re stuck. The questions are bigger, the stakes are higher, and leaders are trying to move forward without losing what matters most.”
Why now, why Sioux Falls
Sagency is a Fargo-founded leadership and strategy firm that works nationally with midsized companies, enterprise nonprofits, ESOPs and family-owned businesses. In recent years, its work in South Dakota and Sioux Falls in particular has grown.
“We’ve worked with organizations in Sioux Falls for years and always felt aligned with the values of this business community,” Meagher said. “And we kept hearing the same thing from leaders: ‘We’ve got momentum, but leadership is getting more complex. We can’t afford to get it wrong.’ These leaders are not just looking for information. They want a steady, trusted partner to help them think clearly and lead well through what’s next.”
With that need in mind, Sagency formally has expanded its local presence and team in Sioux Falls.
Leadership work that sticks
Sagency’s work begins where many leadership programs end, inside real conversations, real transitions and the complexity of growth.
The firm partners with leadership teams and boards during critical moments such as strategic planning, culture work, succession, executive team alignment and long-term leadership development.
“We’re not here to fix people,” said Dr. Matt Skoy, partner and head of leadership and talent development. “We’re here to help good leaders lead better with more clarity, more alignment and more impact.”
Deep roots, local presence
At Children’s Home Society of South Dakota, CEO Michelle Lavallee was selected through an executive search led by Sagency and a board search committee in 2019.
Since then, the organization has engaged Sagency for strategic planning, coaching and building a custom leadership institute that has shaped development at all levels of the organization.
“Our work with Sagency has made a real difference,” Lavallee said. “They helped us strengthen our leadership team, grow the capabilities of individual leaders and align more effectively across the organization. They’re smart, they care, and they show up like true partners. The impact has been clear, from stronger engagement and retention to greater mission clarity.”
In 2023, Children’s Home Society and Lavallee received the Champion Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau for outstanding leadership and workforce transformation. This was the only organization in the nation to receive the prestigious recognition, honoring innovative and impactful ways to attract, retain and support a workforce committed to the health and well-being of children and families.
The recognition reflects the dedication of the CHS team, supported by intentional leadership and strategy work that have helped fuel its momentum.
Expanding the team with a familiar face
To support its local growth, Sagency recently added Jackie Payne as director of leadership and talent development in Sioux Falls. A well-known presence in the business and nonprofit community, Payne has held senior leadership roles at FranklinCovey, Midco, Wells Fargo and Augustana University.
What drew me to Sagency was how human and practical the work is,” Payne said. “We don’t just show up with a PowerPoint; we walk alongside leadership teams, helping them move forward in ways that truly reflect who they are.”
Mike Meagher, Jackie Payne and Dr. Matt Skoy
Already, she’s partnering with companies in a variety of industries to strengthen leadership and align teams.
“Many leaders reach out saying, ‘I’m not exactly sure what we need, but we can’t keep doing it like this,’” Payne noted. “We don’t see that as a problem but as a moment of clarity, a sign they’re ready for meaningful growth and change.”
How Sagency helps
Sagency partners with organizations to strengthen leadership, build alignment and lead through complexity with clarity and confidence. Here’s how:
- Clarifying where the business is going and how to get there.
- Strengthening the leadership bench through intentional talent acquisition and development.
- Hardwiring ownership into how the organization runs.
- Navigating leadership and organizational transitions with more intention and less disruption.
Though they use proven frameworks, their work is never one-size-fits-all. What sets it apart is the way the team engages, with humility, candor and a focus on lasting results.
“What we offer isn’t magic,” Payne said. “It’s trust, perspective and practical support for leaders doing the real work.”
About Sagency
Sagency partners with midsized companies, nonprofits, ESOPs and family businesses. The firm works with leadership teams to align strategy, strengthen leadership and create the clarity and momentum needed to grow the right way. They call this healthy growth. Learn more at sagencytalent.com.
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