Meet Elizabeth Arway

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elizabeth Arway. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

Here’s an edited version of your reply for clarity and flow:

I am the youngest of three girls, raised by incredible parents who instilled a strong work ethic in my sisters and me. From a young age, we were outside doing yard work, helping my dad in his woodworking shop, assisting my mom with gardening, canning vegetables, housework, and cooking. Sitting around when things needed to be done was never an option.

We grew up in the country, about an hour south of Chicago, near the Indiana border. My mom was a homemaker, and my dad worked 45 minutes north as a water plant operator. After a full day at work, my dad would come home (to an amazing meal prepared by my mom), then head out to his shop to work on kitchen cabinets, earning extra income for the family. My mom would work side jobs or build crafts for local kraft shows to earn money for the holidays. We were definitely living paycheck to paycheck, but my parents tried not to burdened us with that stress. Instead, they taught us that we had to work for what we wanted.

I still remember getting my first job around the age of 14 or 15, washing dishes at a local restaurant. For me, working wasn’t just about earning “stuff” or gas money—it was about building skills, learning something new, and growing as a person. Each job I had while growing up taught me valuable lessons: responsibility, customer service, interpersonal skills, management, problem solving, and goal setting.

Of all the skills I’ve gained, problem-solving is what brings me the most energy and excitement. It’s something I’ve always excelled at, and it has been a key strength in every role I’ve taken on over the years.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am the owner of Creative Entourage, a branding agency dedicated to helping brands build trust with their audiences. What sets us apart is our commitment to deeply understanding our clients’ goals and inner workings. Often, what a client thinks they need might differ from what will truly move the needle, and we pride ourselves on bridging that gap.

We immerse ourselves in our clients’ businesses to create tailored plans that align with their internal capabilities. From strategy to execution, we focus on delivering creative and impactful tactics that help our clients achieve their goals. At Creative Entourage, we see our clients’ success as our own, which drives everything we do.

Ironically, we’re not great at marketing ourselves—our hope is that the results we deliver for our clients speak volumes about the talent and expertise we bring to the table.

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re focused on refining our systems to prepare for anticipated growth. We’re incredibly excited for the opportunities and challenges ahead and can’t wait to see what’s in store!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I love this question! Passing on wisdom to those starting out is so important—many people poured into me at the beginning of my journey, and I’m always happy to pay it forward.

1. Keep your overhead low.
If you’re starting your own business, this is critical. When I founded Creative Entourage in 2008, I knew I wanted a business without the high costs of a brick-and-mortar space and full-time staff. Instead, I worked from home (and coffee shops) and I built a team of 1099 contractors. This was very unconventional at the time—back then, people believed you needed an office to be a “real” business. I broke that mold, and it worked!
Gold nugget: Stay true to your vision, even if it goes against the norm.

2. Be honest.
Mistakes are inevitable, whether they’re small or BIG. The key is to own them. You’ll earn far more respect from clients and partners by being upfront. Don’t sweep issues under the rug—address them directly, fix what you can, and make sure you learn from the experience. Then, put processes in place to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Gold nugget: Honesty builds trust and resilience.

3. Outsource what you’re not good at.
One of the best lessons I’ve learned is to focus on what you do well and delegate the rest. For example, I’m not great at bookkeeping—it’s a skill that doesn’t align with my creative mindset. I realized early on that I needed to outsource tasks like that to people with the expertise to do them well.
Gold nugget: Identify your weaknesses and find the right people to fill those gaps.

For those just starting their journey, my advice is to stay flexible, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to challenge conventional wisdom when it doesn’t fit your goals.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

The biggest challenge I’m currently facing is keeping up with the rapid pace of technological change and the overwhelming number of tools available in the creative industry. Even though I prioritize continuing education and staying informed, there are times when I still feel like I’m behind.

I know I’m not alone in feeling this way—it seems like many of us are paddling upstream, trying to keep pace. It’s ironic to think back to 2020 when everything slowed down, and yet, I still don’t feel “caught up.” Ha!

For now, I’m focusing on prioritizing what truly matters, staying adaptable, and reminding myself that progress is better than perfection. It’s about embracing the journey and doing the best I can with the resources I have.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://creative-entourage.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-erickson-arway-24824529/

Image Credits

Creative Entourage
Jennifer Korman (headshot)