Collaboration Is the New Competition: Priscilla McKinney on Creativity, Resilience, & Reinventing Work

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“There’s always another way of looking at things. Collaborators win bigger—in business, families, communities, everywhere.”

In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike sits down with Priscilla McKinney—CEO and “Mama Bird” of Little Bird Marketing, author of Collaboration Is the New Competition, keynote speaker, podcaster, and lifelong creative. From growing up as part of a traveling Christian family band to building a thriving B2B marketing agency, Priscilla shares her remarkable journey of resilience, reinvention, and redefining what leadership looks like. She opens up about the tornado that destroyed her studio, the anthropology roots that shaped her worldview, the collaborative mindset behind her book, and the power of creating something from nothing.

Whether you’re a marketer, creative, entrepreneur, or leader, this conversation will inspire you to think differently about how work gets done—and why collaboration beats competition every time.

Key Themes:

1. Creative roots matter. Priscilla’s childhood—writing skits, spoofing commercials, performing with her family—instilled a lifelong belief that ideas can come from anywhere.
2. Anthropology shaped her business philosophy. Her cultural anthropology background trained her to see multiple perspectives and understand human behavior—an essential lens for modern marketing and collaboration.
3. Resilience can redefine your path. After a tornado destroyed 35% of her town and her studio burned down weeks later, Priscilla rebuilt with clarity and purpose, eventually creating Little Bird Marketing.
4. Collaboration outperforms competition. Her book breaks down the mindset shift required to work collaboratively and the “anchors” needed to make collaboration sustainable long‑term.
5. Writing is never a solitary act. From scribes to editors to industry peers, Priscilla highlights how creating a book is inherently collaborative—even when the ideas are your own.
6. Self‑publishing can be a strategic business choice. With an existing platform, team, and marketing machine, Priscilla turned her book into a powerful calling card for speaking, podcasting, and client growth.
7. Little Bird Marketing thrives in B2B. Her team blends creativity with serious revenue discipline, helping high‑ticket B2B brands stand out, differentiate, and grow.

Buy Collaboration Is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards a Cross-Pollinating Hive Mind & How Not to Get Left Behind

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tluPRR

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781544535418

Connect with Priscilla

Website: https://littlebirdmarketing.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscillamckinney/

Podcast: https://podcast.littlebirdmarketing.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlebirdmktg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlebirdmarketing

Connect with Mike

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/