Heart Creative was born over sipping a cup of coffee at a cozy side table at Dragonfly in January 2012. All it took was that first conversation for Mollie Harris and Jen Bryman to spark an energy that set our path into motion. We had a closely aligned passion and vision for how we wanted to use our careers to make a positive impact, and yet, our experiences, skills, and even personalities could not have been more different. That was our secret sauce. So without hesitation, we filed our business and got right to work.
Our founding purpose was to disrupt the shame-centered media surrounding “health” and the rigid interpretation of what food fits and doesn’t within that. We wanted to introduce what food experiences and wellness could look and feel like when it is inclusive, holistic, sustainable, and pleasurable. After all, food is personal and powerful–it directly impacts our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. But can two people possibly impact the way America views and experiences food? Rather than thinking of a million reasons why not, we chose to answer YES and tackle this lofty goal through standout, positive content amplified by strategic social and digital marketing. We identified brands whose products and purpose aligned with ours, and set out to accelerate their growth.
Our first aha moment was tapping into a major gap in the market. The naturals industry was booming and yet there were no agencies fully and exclusively designed to better serve the specialized needs of these food, beverage, and wellness brands. So we built Heart Creative: An award-winning, women and POC-owned Content + Digital Marketing Agency, powered by radical goodness. Based on our creative culinary expertise and industry-specific services, we grew quickly. Within five years, we were serving hundreds of food and beverage brands, from local startups to B Corps to billion dollar, global businesses. In 2020, Portland Business Journal identified Heart as the 39th Largest Women Owned Business in OR/WA and the 16th Fastest Growing Private Company, not to mention one of the coolest places to work.
This growth brought excitement and challenges. And through it, even emerged an expansion of our mission. While the food on the table was our original passion, our driving purpose as we grew became even more about the wellbeing of the people sitting with us around our table. We are committed to actively being a welcoming and thriving place for ALL people to work. This requires continuous questioning, listening, learning, and action.
To ensure that our values continue to inform and push our decisions, processes, and perspectives, it was a natural step to seek our B Corp Certification, which continues to stretch us and keep us accountable.
Now that we are about ten years into this journey, one thing we have realized loud and clear is that we could never do this alone and our impact can be so much greater when we come together. We will never run our business as an isolated operation. Our roots and branches extend out in every direction to leverage and lift up others who are doing HEART work through client, agency, and community partnerships. Can’t wait to see where our intersecting paths and passions continue to lead us.
Now it’s your turn. Share your story with us. Maybe we can team up!
