Meet Haley Everheart

We recently connected with Haley Everheart and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Haley, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I was raised in Washington, DC, the center of power in the United States, if perhaps not its heart. I grew up in a diverse community with politically engaged parents and an early awareness that the world was deeply unjust. With the confidence of youth, the wiring of neurodivergence, and a deeply Capricorn / Type A / Eldest Daughter get-shit-done energy, I was fired up to change it all.

By college, I had protested wars, interned for senators, worked on presidential campaigns, and traveled to places like Palestine, Rwanda, and the Balkans to witness post-conflict rebuilding. I felt the urgency of everything that needed to be done to make the world a better place.

Simultaneously, I was steeping myself in the power of storytelling and art. I was performing in professional and community theatre, learning the power of creating something with others and sharing it in a way that felt transformative.

Then in 4th grade I wrote an essay about my grandmother dying. My teacher told me it made her cry. That moment stuck with me: I realized I could take something gutting and transform it into something that moved someone else. I could make meaning of it. I could turn pain into impact.

That’s what storytelling does. And it’s part of my family legacy. My great-grandfather ran a newspaper that was among the first to publicly oppose slavery. My father was a journalist, the first American journalist to visit North Vietnam during the war. My mother is a documentary filmmaker whose work whose work didn’t just document, it raised money for causes and helped get people out of prison. In our house, storytelling wasn’t just art—it was strategy, memory, power, and responsibility.

So while I studied PR and worked with journalists from DC to the West Bank, what I was really doing was learning how to shape narratives that drive action. I saw how much good work was happening in the world, and how little of it would matter if people didn’t know.

In college, I ran events and conferences, learning early Twitter and Facebook so people would show up. I studied Communications, wrote essays and plays, and performed on stages both local and abroad. These instincts grew: write the story, get it in the right hands, help the right people grow.

That’s what marketing is at its best. Storytelling that moves people. Strategy in service of something bigger. A spotlight on the good so more of it can happen.

I think that’s what finding our purpose is – it’s finding how we can have impact, finding what lights us up, and growing our skills so we can do more of both every day.

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’m a marketing leader focused on helping mission-driven brands grow with authenticity, creativity, and care. Over the years, I’ve worked with diverse organizations at the forefront of culture—from Planned Parenthood to Black Voters Matter, to my current role as VP of Marketing at FOLX Health.

FOLX is a digital healthcare company built by and for the LGBTQIA+ community. We’re creating a future where queer and trans people can access affirming, expert care without fear. I lead our marketing, growth, research, and community efforts—everything from campaigns and partnerships to performance and brand.

What excites me most about this work is the opportunity to blend story and strategy to drive real change. I believe marketing can be a force for good, not just selling something, but building connection, expanding access, and amplifying joy. I’m especially passionate about helping LGBTQIA+ people feel seen, supported, and powerful in the face of a world that often isn’t built for us.

Right now, FOLX is growing our mental health and therapy offerings as we continue increasing access to gender-affirming hormone therapy for trans people.

We’re also building partnerships with creators, clinicians, and employers to bring affirming care to more people in more places. If you’re working on something aligned—or want to—please reach out. I’m always excited to collaborate with others who believe in building a better world.

And personally, I’m speaking on stages, supporting aligned organizations, and growing a network of collaborators who believe in purpose-driven growth. Whether it’s a conversation, a campaign, or something still taking shape, I’m always open to where shared values and bold ideas might lead.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Storytelling

Understanding how to craft and share a compelling story has shaped everything I do. Whether it’s a brand campaign, a fundraising appeal, or a boardroom pitch, stories are how we connect, persuade, and move people to act.

Advice: Start by noticing the stories around you. What sticks with you, and why? Practice telling your own – about your work, your values, your vision. You don’t need to wait until you feel “ready” or important enough. Start where you are. Pay attention to what moves people. Pay attention to your gut, to stakes, to impact. Do that over and over again.

2. Systems Thinking

I’ve always been someone who steps back to see the bigger picture: how things connect, where the friction is, and what could be redesigned. Even before I had a name for it, I was drawn to patterns, power dynamics, and the structures beneath the surface. Systems thinking has shaped how I approach everything from brand strategy to team building. The ability to map connections and anticipate impact has made me a more effective leader and marketer.

Advice: Step back regularly. Ask why things are the way they are, and what might shift if one part of the system changed. Read widely, learn across disciplines, and don’t be afraid to ask seemingly simple questions. Systems thinking is a muscle you build over time.

3. Resilience

One of the most powerful lessons I think many of us have to learn (even if we are Type A and want it not to be true!) is that we can’t always control what happens. But we can choose how we respond. Even in the hardest moments, I can ground myself in connection, creativity, and gratitude. That orientation has helped me navigate uncertainty, loss, and big change without losing myself.

Advice: Practice turning toward what’s hard without being consumed by it. Build practices that keep you rooted and help you remember what matters. Try art, helping someone, gratitude, gardening, or mindfulness—anything that reconnects you to meaning. Resilience isn’t about being unaffected; it’s about staying connected to yourself and your purpose, even in the darkest storms.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m always energized by connecting with people and organizations working at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and social impact. Whether it’s a shared campaign, a creative partnership, or simply exchanging ideas, I find so much value in building with others who care deeply about the world we’re shaping.

I’m especially drawn to work rooted in LGBTQ+ communities, healthcare, and innovation—but I’ve collaborated across sectors, from grassroots campaigns to early-stage startups to national brands. I’m a firm believer that when we bring story and strategy together, we can grow not just audiences, but movements.

If something you’re working on resonates or you’re exploring ideas that align, I’m always open to conversation. Reach out to me via LinkedIn!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://folxhealth.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleyeverheart/