When we joined IPREX nearly 20 years ago, our motivation was straightforward: we were stepping away from a holding company and needed a new solution to serve our global clients. We wanted partners in key markets who could help us deliver work at the same standard—people we trusted, who operated like us. IPREX gave us that. And while the nature of global work has changed since then, our reasons for being part of this network have only grown.
For an independent agency, the value of global reach is obvious. What’s less visible—but just as powerful—is what that global reach makes possible internally: better thinking, faster learning, and stronger business performance.
Trusted Delivery, Global Scale
The communications business has never been more international. From launches that cross borders to stakeholders in multiple time zones, our clients increasingly expect agencies to show up globally. For Tunheim, being part of IPREX means we can say yes to those opportunities with confidence. We’re not outsourcing—we’re partnering.
We can call on teams in Singapore or Stockholm, Buenos Aires or Boston. We can deliver local insights in real time and ensure that messaging aligns across markets. And crucially, we’re not just sending work to someone we found online—we’re collaborating with professionals we know, have met, and trust. That’s a game-changer.
Big Thinking from Agencies Like Ours
Of course, global delivery is only part of the story. IPREX is also a brain trust.
We’re a nimble firm. That’s one of our strengths. But like many smaller agencies, we don’t have endless internal teams to test ideas with or pressure-test a plan. Through IPREX, we do.
I’ve sat around tables at IPREX conferences with agency leaders from Tokyo, New York, Cape Town, and Berlin, workshopping the same challenges we’re facing in Minneapolis: how to grow sustainably, how to support our teams, how to price our services more strategically. These aren’t theoretical conversations—they’re real, applicable insights we can take home and use.
Relationships That Make Business Better
It’s easy to talk about “networking.” But what we have in IPREX is much deeper than that. These are real relationships built over years of conferences, projects, and phone calls when something doesn’t go to plan. It’s those relationships that make this network feel less like a club and more like a team.
The result? Better work and better outcomes.
We’ve had IPREX partners help us win new business, shape a pitch, or even jump in on a project at a moment’s notice. We’ve also done the same for others. That kind of trust and reciprocity doesn’t happen overnight—but it does happen here.
A Bigger Business Without Getting Bigger
One of the things I appreciate most is how IPREX helps us punch above our weight.
We don’t need to be a massive agency to take on complex work. We just need to know the right people and how to mobilize them. With IPREX, we can scale up when needed and stay lean when we don’t. It gives us flexibility, without losing quality. Our clients see that—and so do our competitors.
Being part of IPREX means we’re never operating in isolation. We have access to experts in healthcare, policy, tech, and sustainability. We have a sounding board for new ideas and a support system for hard calls. And we’re not guessing at what works—we’re learning from peers who’ve tried it.
Shared Values. Independent Voices.
There’s a reason this works. IPREX partners are independent, entrepreneurial, and values-driven. We don’t all look the same, but we show up with the same spirit: hands-on, smart, and committed.
That alignment matters. It means when we refer a client to another IPREX firm, we know they’ll be in good hands. It means when we join a working group or a global pitch, we’re collaborating with equals—not competing for credit.
It also means we can be honest. Whether it’s pricing models or commitments, we have tough, transparent conversations. That helps us get better.
What Comes Next
The communications industry keeps evolving—AI, social platforms, changing expectations from clients and employees alike. But for us at Tunheim, one thing hasn’t changed: the power of partnership.
IPREX isn’t just a network we belong to. It’s a strategic advantage we use. And we use it often.
If you’re part of an independent agency trying to grow, serve clients globally, or simply connect with others who understand what you’re up against—this is the kind of network that makes a difference. It has for us. And 20 years on, we’re still learning from it.
Learn more about the IPREX global communication network at iprex.com.
