SHOCEO® Reading for Success: 7 (Seven) Minutes. YouTube Interview Below: 46 (Forty-Six) Minutes.
For this edition of the She’s Her Own CEO® Interview Series, we are excited to introduce you to Media Executive, Molly Dare Hillenbrand!
Molly Dare Hillenbrand is currently an Executive Producer with Red Knight Studios Company and working on the Docu Series, “The Social Movement” airing on Amazon Prime and other streaming channels. Known for her powerhouse PR Skills, she Founded hillenBRAND Media where she has aligned some of the biggest brands in the world to maximize their marketing potential. She is also known for her work both behind and in front of the camera! Molly has produced and hosted nationwide segments for the Eye On Channel, providing brand exposure for people and their businesses all over the country.
Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: Hi Molly, thank you for joining me today! What were some of your early career experiences that have contributed to your entrepreneurial success?
Molly Dare Hillenbrand, Media Executive: I was fortunate to learn the value of Marketing and brand exposure early on by opening my first retail stores in NJ and Chicago when I was in my late 20s. It was right in the beginning of the social media boom and I learned very quickly the incredible value of humanizing your brand. By putting myself and my story out there it created a loyal connection to my customer base and a loyalty to my brand.
Once I started helping others do the same with my Company, HillenBRAND Media, I was able to work both in front of and behind the camera! I learned how to produce a segment from start to finish and edit a segment to showcase both the Brand and the person behind the Brand. By sharing these segments across various social media channels, we quickly learned the value of strategic video marketing and the power of human connection in brand loyalty.
Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: On ShesHerOwnCEO.com, we often talk about how one can best Lead, Provide, and Create™. Each of us, in our respective world, has opportunities to Lead Ourselves, to Provide for Others, and Create for the Larger World. Molly, please share with me your favorite example of how you Lead, Provide, and Create™ in your professional and/or personal world!
Molly Dare Hillenbrand, Media Executive: One of my favorite aspects of She’s Her Own CEO® is your focus on how one can LEAD, PROVIDE & CREATE!
In my current role with Red Knight Studios Company, I work as the Director of Partnerships and get to LEAD brands to partner with us on our series, The Social Movement. We are already in pre-production of season 2!
We PROVIDE Brands & Companies an amazing opportunity to align their brands and their leaders with solving a global issue.
Together we CREATE a partnership where they get to share their genius in front of a global audience and align their Company with creating something both impactful and innovative.
Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: That is amazing, Molly! I love how you bring creativity to your leadership role. Being the CEO of your world can take many forms (for example, volunteering in your community, holding a formal corporate position, engaging in creative pursuits, or being a reliable mom/sister/daughter.
In your opinion, what is the best way to achieve success and to become the boss of your world?
Molly Dare Hillenbrand, Media Executive: From my own personal experience, as a single working mother of two girls, I’ve had no choice but to become the CEO of my life. This means managing a daily schedule where I can be there for my kids while attacking my daily work schedule. I find consistency is key. I get up at the same time every day, I have a morning routine that centers my mind before my girls even wake up and I plan my schedule so that I can be at drop-off and pick-up and at their after-school activities.
I have developed a work schedule which allows me to only travel when the kids are with their dad. This means I am traveling twice a month and am only away from my kids when they wouldn’t be with me anyway.
I have learned to adjust my schedule to my life instead of forcing my life to adjust to my schedule. Being very decisive on what is essential for me to do each day and what is not has been a big important part of working effectively. If something doesn’t add value to my family or work goals, it is a “no” for me to spend time on.
Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: Your girls are very lucky to have such a caring and motivated CEO for their mom! Any additional advice you can share with motivated, aspirational professionals?
Molly Dare Hillenbrand, Media Executive: Finally, to all the motivated and innovative professionals out there, my advice is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Don’t get sidetracked by what isn’t working. Instead, focus instead on what is. Keep looking for new opportunities and new ways to expand your vision. The moment you become complacent your brand starts to become outdated. Keep experimenting, keep challenging yourself and your vision and keep looking at where you want your brand to be years ahead from today.
Only say yes to what will get you there. Most importantly, keep yourself open to others’ ideas, really listen to your audience, and seek to understand what seems to really engage them. An engaged audience who grows along with you will create long-term brand loyalty.
Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: Molly, your beauty shows inside and out, and thank you for sharing your story of personal and professional success!
Learn more about Molly’s work here:
Personal: @mollydare
Business: @hillenbrandmedia
TV Series: @redknightstudioscompany @socialmovementtv
Looking for even more #CEO inspiration? Check out my other #CEO interviews and be sure you’re subscribed below!
xx Kathryn
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