Gentle Lion Communications

What Gentle Lion Communications does

Gentle Lion Communications is a Calgary-based strategic communications, marketing, and PR agency founded in 2016 by Lana Rogers. The firm operates as a fractional CMO partner, delivering outsourced marketing executive leadership to emerging brands and legacy brands seeking repositioning, alongside project-based campaign execution. Its service portfolio spans market research and insights, brand positioning and strategy, digital marketing (SEO, social, email, paid media across Meta, Google, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube), public relations, event activations, and creative partner coordination. The core methodology is delivered through four proprietary engagement processes — Linear Process, Flex Process, Sprint Process, and Campaigns Process — each tailored to different client maturity stages and engagement depths.

The company serves a diversified portfolio of primarily Western Canadian clients across hospitality and food and beverage (Village Ice Cream, Modelo Milk, Teatro Group, Brookwright), healthcare and wellness (Swish Oral Care, SABI Mind, Centennial Smiles), design and real estate (Holland Licensed Interior Design, Taza Development, Amanda Hamilton), security and professional services (XA Security, Incito Executive and Leadership Development, Julie Shipley-Strickland), and nonprofit and cultural organizations (Alzheimer Calgary, The Alex Community Food Centre, Reuben and the Dark). Customer mix spans SMB, startup, enterprise, and nonprofit tiers. The go-to-market is sales-led via reputation, case studies, and referral networks, supplemented by owned community events (Champagne Friday, Morning Toast) and a newsletter. Distribution is direct, with a small e-commerce merchandise sideline (ballcaps, stickers) sold via the corporate website.

The business is founder-owned, privately held, headquartered in Calgary at Suite 301, 239 10 Avenue SE, with a core team of approximately seven named individuals handling strategy, client management, content, digital, and operations. Revenue model is professional services — fractional CMO retainers and project-based engagements — with pricing not publicly disclosed; no external funding, debt, or institutional investors are evidenced. The firm marked its tenth operating anniversary in June 2026.

Name

Gentle Lion Communications

Legal name

Gentle Lion Communications

Website

https://gentlelion.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gentle Lion Communications is a Calgary-based strategic communications, marketing, and PR agency founded in 2016 that operates as a fractional CMO partner, serving emerging and legacy brands across Western Canada in hospitality, healthcare, design, and nonprofit sectors through proprietary engagement processes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marketing & Communications Agency Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Public Relations Agencies (54182), Other Services Related to Advertising (54189)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Strategic communications agency
• Marketing public relations
• Fractional CMO services
• Brand strategy consulting
• Digital marketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Strategic Marketing & Communications Consulting: Fractional CMO and strategic consulting services delivered through custom engagement processes. Services include insights gathering, strategy development, execution, digital marketing, and public relations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Gentle Lion Communications is a Calgary-based strategic communications and marketing agency that operates as a fractional CMO partner for emerging and legacy brands. It delivers customized marketing and communications strategies through four proprietary engagement models (Linear, Flex, Sprint, and Campaigns) covering insights, strategy, execution, digital marketing, public relations, event activations, and creative partner coordination. The agency also sells branded merchandise (ballcaps and stickers) through its online shop.

Product overview

Gentle Lion Communications operates as a strategic communications, marketing, and PR agency offering fractional CMO partnership services. Their core offering is built around a repertoire of proprietary process models (Linear Process, Flex Process, Sprint Process, and Campaigns) that provide customized marketing and communications strategies. The service portfolio spans insights gathering, strategic planning, execution across digital marketing, public relations, and creative services. The company also maintains a merchandise line including branded ballcaps and stickers sold through their online shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fractional CMO Services Outsourced marketing executive partnership uncovering what makes brands extraordinary and executing the strategy to prove it. Delivered as the firm's core offer spanning insights, strategy, execution, digital marketing, and public relations for emerging and legacy brands.
• Linear Process
• Flex Process
• Sprint Process
• Campaigns Process
• Insights Services
• Strategy Services
• Execution Services
• Digital Marketing
• Public Relations
• Gentle Lion Ballcap
• Gentle Lion Stickers

Quantifiable outcome

• XA Security achieved 3x growth since implementing first marketing plan
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, flagship and core.

• PhosphenesupportingTechnology or IntegrationWebsite redesign partner for XA Security's digital presence overhaul.
• San PellegrinoflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner3-year title sponsorship of Model Milk's Plate Swap event with expansion across Canada, covering event execution costs.
• Brown Bagging for Calgary's KidscoreOthersCharity partner for Model Milk's Plate Swap event, receiving proceeds and donations. Over 100,000 kids fed through the partnership.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Citizen Relations: Canadian PR and integrated communications agency with comparable strategic communications, brand, and influencer offerings to mid-market and enterprise clients. Directly competes with Gentle Lion in the Canadian integrated agency space.
• Bensimon Byrne: Canadian boutique creative and communications agency serving national brands with integrated campaigns. Closely comparable in size, independence, and full-service creative offering.
• Veritas Communications: Toronto-based PR and communications agency offering brand strategy, media relations, and integrated marketing — directly comparable in offering and Canadian client mix.
• North Strategic: Canadian public relations and communications firm serving brands across consumer, tech, and lifestyle verticals. Comparable in service mix (media relations, brand strategy, content) and Canadian mid-market client base.

Broad incumbents

• Ogilvy Canada: Canadian operations of global advertising network Ogilvy. Provides full-service advertising, PR, and digital that overlaps with Gentle Lion's integrated offering but at significantly larger scale and scope.
• DDB Canada: Canadian arm of global creative network DDB. Comparable integrated advertising/communications offering but with much larger headcount and national client base.
• TAXI (Yellow Pages): Canadian full-service advertising and communications agency offering brand strategy, creative, digital, and PR — comparable in offering but with broader national scope than Gentle Lion's Calgary base.
• Edelman Canada: Canadian arm of global PR network Edelman. Operates broadly across PR, brand, and digital with much larger scale; overlaps with Gentle Lion's communications and brand positioning work but serves enterprise multinationals.

Regional players

• Trigger (Calgary): Calgary-based digital and marketing agency serving Western Canadian brands. Comparable on local market positioning and full-service marketing, though more performance-marketing oriented.
• PeakActivity: Calgary-based digital marketing and customer experience agency. Most comparable on geography and similar SMB-to-mid-market client mix, though more digital/tech execution-focused than Gentle Lion's brand-PR emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gentlelioncomms
• Instagraminstagram.com/gentlelioncomms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gentle Lion Communications