Today we’d like to introduce you to Deanna Hinsz.
Hi Deanna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2011, I worked in management for a company I loved. I had no idea that my life would drastically shift because of the words of one little boy. As a single mom of two young boys, it’s a challenge to find balance between work and family. I thought I found that balance. Sure, I was working a lot of hours, but I was able to purchase a home, take my two boys on vacation and not worry about how bills would get paid. In fact, it was the week before Christmas, a busy and stressful time for me, but my shopping was done for the first time in years and I didn’t have to worry. I was home that day, doing laundry, when my 10 year old son, Alex, came up to me super excited.
“Mom, I know what I want for Christmas and it’s only one thing.”
I could feel the stress creep up through me. My shopping was done. Now I have to start over. When would I ever find time to get this one gift? I started to think of who I could hire to do this for me.
In my irritated mom voice, I looked at him and asked “What do you want!?!”
That’s when he looked at me, still smiling, and said “All I want is one day home with you, to sit on the couch, watch a movie and have hot cocoa”
My heart dropped. That statement led to conversation with both Alex and his older brother Petey. They explained that they missed me and that they don’t see me anymore” As the conversation continued, I realized that what I thought was “balance” was missing the mark. That’s when I made this crazy decision. With no safety net in place- I quit my job.
I looked for a job with balance- but found nothing. That’s when I decided to start a small business making cakepops out of my home. I used social media to market my business and before I knew it, got a lot of local attention and started to grow my business.
During that time, I had a local marketing agency reach out to me to see if they could market my small business. Things may have looked great on the front end, but financially, I was still struggling. I told them that I couldn’t afford to hire them. The owner responded to me and said “as long as you keep playing on social media, no one will ever take you seriously”. Ouch!
He may have felt strongly in his opinion, but women that had small businesses started to call me to ask if they could “pick my brain”. After meeting more women than I could count, and getting coffeed out, I decided to host workshops and share what I was doing. I wasn’t even sure if what I was doing was right! I know now, that it was, as I watched each of them scale in ways that was unbelievable- all using social media.
Before long, I started creating content for these businesses, designing websites, and covering all of their marketing needs. Now, in 2024, I have a thriving boutique digital marketing agency (CarbonSilk) as well as a membership group (She is Collective) where I and our team of experts teach other women in business how to scale.
That one comment changed my entire life path. I’m grateful that both of my boys had the courage to share how they felt. Because of them, I found that balance and a career that is something that I love doing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Anthony Robbins said, “Every problem is a gift — without problems we would not grow.” If I didn’t look at struggles with that in mind in the earlier years, I may not be doing what I’m doing 11 years later. There were many struggles along the way with growing CarbonSilk. I was sharing about a platform that many smaller businesses weren’t using yet to promote their business. I was also learning how to design basic websites on WordPress. This was all new to me and I knew only a small percent more than the clients who were hiring me.
There were many challenges, like learning how to start and grow a business without any capital, treating myself as a business and not a charity or hobby and the biggest, was overcoming imposter syndrome. From the beginning, I compared myself to agencies that had a staff, a beautiful office and a great reputation, while my business consisted of just myself, my kitchen table and a learning curve I was tackling.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a national speaker, consultant, and entrepreneur, currently serving as the CEO of CarbonSilk and Founder of She Is Collective. My extensive experience in digital marketing and business leadership is complemented by a deep commitment to fostering diversity and innovation in the workplace.
I specialize in digital marketing strategies, business consulting, and organizational leadership. I am recognized for my ability to blend visionary thinking with practical solutions, helping businesses scale and adapt in dynamic markets. Through She Is Collective, I also champion the empowerment of women in business, providing resources and networking opportunities to support female professionals.
What sets me apart is my dual role as a business leader and a community advocate. My leadership at CarbonSilk showcases my expertise in driving technological and creative strategies, while my work with She Is Collective highlights my dedication to social impact and gender equality in the business world. I have started at the very beginning. I’ve walked in your shoes and now I’m sharing what I learned.
I am most proud of my ability to inspire change and drive innovation. My brands, CarbonSilk and She Is Collective, reflect my passion for pushing boundaries and my commitment to values-driven leadership. These organizations not only succeed in their respective markets but also set new standards for what is possible in integrating business success with meaningful societal contributions.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I wasn’t much different than any other kid. We lived in a neighborhood with many kids, so it was common for a game of baseball to happen in the street in front of our house on any given day. My parents owned their own businesses, and some of those business skills were passed down to my brother and me. One year, we decided to have a carnival to raise money to go to Cedar Point. I volunteered my parents back yard and started organizing what it would look like. Before we knew it, we had companies donating food, and prizes to help support us. We got media attention across three counties, and on the day of this small backyard carnival – the news showed up, and it was my first radio interview on WHOT FM in Youngstown, Ohio. It was a great time and I’m still surprised a bunch of kids were able to pull this off. We still never made it to Cedar Point that year- but it didn’t even matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://deannahinsz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannahinsz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deannahinsz
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannahinsz/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@deannahinsz
- Other: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/she-is-unstoppable
