Public relations has always been a crowded field, with agencies competing for attention in an industry projected to reach $129 billion by 2025. Standing out in such an environment requires more than visibility; it takes trust, collaboration, and long-term strategy. 

Few leaders understand this better than Brauch Owens, Partner at Ascend Agency, who has helped guide the firm’s rise into one of the fastest-growing PR agencies in the world.

Building Through Partnerships

For Ascend, recognition came quickly. The agency was recently named the second fastest-growing PR firm by Adweek and O’Dwyer’s, and Owens says partnerships have been the driving force. 

“One of the features of the digital era is that it is now significantly easier to create a brand and start a business,” Owens explains. “This saturation of the business space means that businesses and brands need to find a way to distinguish themselves while building visibility and credibility. This is where Ascend comes in.”

By securing exclusive publisher deals and collaborating with other agencies, Ascend created opportunities not only for itself but also for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to early-stage startups. That willingness to collaborate, rather than compete, positioned the agency as both a trusted service provider and an industry partner.

Competition Versus Collaboration

Brauch Owens acknowledges that PR is an intensely competitive business. “Every day, brands are being pitched with all sorts of offers from a plethora of PR agencies,” he explains. “The competition is fierce, and this is why we decided to take the high road and partner with agencies that would otherwise be our competition.”

This decision helped Ascend expand quickly. Instead of fighting over the same accounts, Owens and his team built a network of allies across publishers, media platforms, and agencies. These relationships ensured reliable placements and built a reputation for transparency in an industry often criticized for vague promises.

Recognition Backed by Results

The results speak for themselves. Within three years, Ascend reported a 7,534% two-year growth rate, earning the No. 18 spot on the Inc. 5000 and ranking No. 2 in the Pacific Region on the Inc. Regionals list. By 2025, the firm had also placed No. 4 on the Financial Times + Statista Americas’ Fastest-Growing Companies list.

Owens believes those milestones were possible because the agency never lost sight of its core principle: partnerships. Strategic alliances with publishing giants and other agencies gave Ascend a foundation to deliver visibility that mattered. “It’s not enough to land placements,” he says. “The goal should always be visibility that drives real engagement.”

Sustaining Growth Through Relationships

As Ascend looks ahead, Owens emphasizes that the company’s future will be built on the same principles that fueled its rise. Strategic partnerships remain at the center of both client success and the agency’s continued momentum. Through these collaborations, Ascend has elevated its own standing while also becoming a crucial intermediary for agencies seeking to amplify their messaging.

That vision of collaboration over competition has positioned the firm to sustain growth and set new benchmarks for the PR industry. For Owens, the lesson is clear: in a business built on persuasion and visibility, the most powerful strategy is still connection.