Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Reardon.
Hi Holly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in a small town in Maine. From a young age, I felt like I was meant for a full life. Creative. Impactful. Free. I always had big dreams, but honestly, I didn’t know if I’d ever get there.
I studied film and writing outside of Boston and then moved to St. Louis for an unpaid internship. Most of my classmates were heading to L.A. or New York, but I wanted to be on set, not answering phones. That experience opened the door to production work, like commercials, promos, and even reality TV. It wasn’t glamorous, but I loved it.
Eventually, I landed in marketing and realized I had a knack for it. Strategy came naturally. I loved coming up with ideas and helping people tell their story in a way that worked. I worked in agencies, got my master’s degree, and just after COVID, I started freelancing.
That “freelancing” quickly turned into Hapacity Marketing.
What surprised me most is how much entrepreneurship taught me about myself. I didn’t take business classes. I didn’t know how to do taxes or lead a team. But I’ve always had this belief that everything is figureoutable. I’ve worked harder than I ever have. Learned more than I ever expected. I’ve pushed myself and proven that I’m more capable than I ever gave myself credit for.
I thought I was building a business, but I was actually building a more aligned version of me.
A few years ago, I didn’t believe in myself like I do now. Today, I lean into what calls me, even when it’s uncomfortable. Hapacity has been a mirror. It’s shown me my growth, resilience, and purpose.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it always been a smooth road? Definitely not. But, I don’t think it’s supposed to be.
I once read that entrepreneurship is a personal development tool in disguise, and I couldn’t agree more. The more you pour into your business, the more it uncovers about you. It reveals your strengths, blind spots, and the habits you didn’t know were holding you back. Selling challenges your self-worth. Hiring stretches your ability to trust and let go. Leading a team exposes how clearly you communicate. And scaling tests everything.
There’s no manual for this. And it’s not just a logistics game— it’s a mental and emotional one, too. But I genuinely believe some people are wired for this path. The same way some people are made to create art, raise families, or build houses, I think I was made to build businesses. And that doesn’t mean it’s been easy.
I recently took the CliftonStrengths test, and my top five strengths are Strategic, Developer, Positivity, Futuristic, and Achiever (in that order). They show up in me daily.
Strategic means I can see the big picture fast— but I get impatient with the details. Developer means I love growing my team— but I’ve also overinvested in people who weren’t ready. Positivity means I’m upbeat and encouraging— but I’ve been known to over-praise and under-clarify. Futuristic means I’m full of vision— but I have to remind myself to be present, too. And Achiever? Let’s just say I love what I do so much that I’ve had to learn how not to work myself into the ground.
The hard parts are real. But, so is the growth. I’m not interested in being perfect; I’m interested in getting better. And I’ve found that the best way to do that is by surrounding myself with people who balance me out, challenge me, and help me stay grounded in what matters.
As you know, we’re big fans of Hapacity Marketing. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Marketing can change lives. One message, one post, one idea can go viral and completely shift a business— or a business owner’s life. It can also genuinely help the people on the receiving end. When it’s done with intention, marketing isn’t just promotion; it’s impact. That belief is at the root of everything we do at Hapacity Marketing.
We’re a small but mighty marketing agency based in St. Louis, and we’ve been around for four years now. We specialize in helping purpose-driven brands tell their story, connect with their audience, and grow in a way that actually feels good.
Here’s what we do:
– Content strategy (so you’re not just guessing what to say)
– Social media marketing (full-service: planning, writing, designing, reporting)
– Personal branding & thought leadership (especially for founders or CEOs)
– Copywriting (websites, print collateral, captions, emails, you name it)
– Content creation (short-form video, photo, creative assets)
– SEO (because great brands deserves to be found)
– Email marketing (newsletters, automation)
What makes us different:
– We believe marketing should be fun. It’s one of our core values. You should feel energized after a meeting, not drained.
– We care about legacy, not just leads. We ask the bigger questions like “Why are you really doing this?” and “What impact do you want to leave behind?” before we ever write a strategy or launch a campaign.
– We’re story-first marketers with creative backgrounds— not just corporate ‘playbooks.’
– We work with clients based on shared values, not industry. Respect, creativity, honesty, curiosity, and dependability matter more to us than your niche.
– We use AI smartly— to work more efficiently, not to replace your voice and perspective.
– We’re small and agile, which means no red tape.
– We’re always learning, testing, and evolving. We stay on top of trends so our clients don’t have to.
At the end of the day, I’m most proud of the way we show up. We care. We challenge norms. We root for our clients. And we make the process something you can actually look forward to.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’m a bit of a closet introvert, so networking has always made me uncomfortable. When I moved to St. Louis, I didn’t know a single soul. I had to build my network completely from scratch, and big group events weren’t exactly my thing.
What’s worked best for me— by far —is one-on-one connection. That’s my arena.
Here’s what I do: I find people on LinkedIn who genuinely inspire me, and I send them a simple, heartfelt message. Something like:
“Hey! Just sending a note to say I’ve been loving [XYZ thing they’ve been doing] for a while now. You’re such an inspiration. If you’re open to it, I’d love to grab coffee and learn more about your journey. Either way, keep up the amazing work. I’m rooting for you!”
I can’t tell you how many incredible connections have come from that one small step. Most people respond kindly, and we actually meet, whether it’s in person in St. Louis or virtually. Those conversations have turned into real friendships, collaborations, and even referrals. It works because it’s genuine. I’m not trying to pitch anything. I’m just trying to connect human-to-human.
So, if big networking events make you cringe like they do for me, try reaching out to one person at a time. Make it personal. Make it kind. And most importantly, don’t make it about selling. Nothing kills the vibe faster than someone tossing their business card at you like it’s confetti. Big yikes.
That said, if you *are* headed to a networking event, make it count. Go in with intention. Identify one or two people you’d love to meet. Come with questions. Be curious. And don’t be afraid to say something like, “I’ve been meaning to tell you— I really admire the work you’re doing.” People remember real moments more than they remember perfect ones.
Perfection isn’t required. A willingness to try is. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hapacity.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapacitymarketing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hapacity/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hapacity/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HapacityMktg
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hapacitymarketing
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-reardon/
