We recently had the chance to connect with Callie Himsl and have shared our conversation below.
Callie, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Right now I am most proud of motherhood. I never would have understood this until becoming a mother. But being in our current culture and economy, being a dual income household is a must. Therefore, I had to continue my same amount of work, gym time, cooking, cleaning, and raising two human being as well as other social roles such as a daughter and wife. People do not see the sleepless nights, the trips to the ER, the worried and stressful moments, and just the general extreme overstimulation of having small kids. They just see the end result, one of which you hope you dont mess up!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Callie Himsl, a business strategist, brand builder, and community advocate with more than 20 years in marketing and business and over 15 years of international work. My passion is helping organizations and individuals bridge the gap between influence and impact by combining purpose-driven strategy with creative execution.
Growing up in rural Minnesota, I was always looking for a “broader world” to explore. That curiosity carried me overseas where I spent years leading a social-enterprise in Haiti, working across cultures, navigating complexity, and driving both growth and social good. Along the way I’ve helped launch global e-commerce platforms, built brands that prioritize both profit and purpose, and supported community development in challenging environments. During my time there I helped lead upwards of 300 employees and increased our sales from $250k to over 2 million.
Today I run a boutique consulting agency, where I work with nonprofits, corporations, and emerging social enterprises to develop brand identity, marketing strategy, community outreach, and organizational systems. What makes our work special is that we don’t just talk about change, we design for it, and we implement it. We believe that investing in human capital, creating strong narratives, and elevating community voices can turn small ripples into waves of transformation.
Currently, I’m focused on helping mission-driven organizations scale their brand, deepen their community impact, and build systems that sustain growth long-term. I’d love your readers to know: no matter your size or sector, meaningful change happens when you align heart and strategy, and I’m here to make sure you do just that.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
I wouldn’t say that one person in particular taught me what I know about work, but rather a culmination of many relationships. I grew up in a blue-collar family in the midwest and was at the first college graduate. My mom and dad taught me the meaning of working hard and doing it even when no one is looking. My work ethic and integrity I get from them.
I discovered at an early age, 14 being my first formal job cleaning offices, that I could learn from anywhere I work. Sometimes people think they are above a low-paying job, or even doing free work or volunteering. But, you can learn from every situation and every interaction. You have a. good manager-that is great, study them and adapt what makes them a good leader to your life. you have a bad manager? Even better, realize why people don’t like working with them and refuse to become that.
Even something as simple as buying a cup of coffee can teach you what you need to know about work. How was your experience? What made the environment inviting? Was the coffee shop ran efficiently? Did people seem happy? How long were their breaks? Was their bathroom clean? All of these details go into creating a work environment and can be implemented or avoided when growing your business.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
When I was 25 my brother was killed in an accident at his work. He was 2 years older than me and my only sibling. That changed my life forever. I wanted to know there was something more to life and so I took it upon myself to explore what that meant. I began traveling, doing mission work and volunteering. This eventually led to me moving to Haiti full-time where I lived for almost a decade and developed my skills and experience leading, running a business, imports and exports and working with high-profile clients.
I was able to use the pain I experienced from grief to connect with others. When I could open up my struggles, it allowed others to be vulnerable and created a sense of community and equality.
My pain had now become a strength.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
For me, the difference between fads and real foundational shifts comes down to perspective, and mine was shaped by years of living in one of the toughest environments in the world, Haiti. I spent nearly a decade in a country where every day was defined by resilience, where people were dying of preventable diseases, famine, and the constant effects of instability. That experience gave me a baseline for reality that most people simply don’t have the gift of developing.
When you’ve seen life stripped down to its essentials, you start to recognize what truly lasts and what doesn’t. Fads tend to fade because they’re built on excitement, not substance. Foundational shifts endure because they meet a real need, solve a real problem, or serve real people. Living in that kind of context taught me to look past the surface — to see whether something has the depth, the humanity, and the endurance to hold up when things get hard.
That perspective now shapes how I approach trends, leadership, and innovation. I don’t chase what’s shiny; I look for what’s true. Or at least try to.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
After the earthquake in Haiti, there was a surge of attention from foundations, celebrities, and global leaders who wanted to “give back.” During that time, I had the opportunity to work alongside presidents, ambassadors, actors, and other high-profile individuals. They were every bit as impressive as I imagined, but also far more human than I expected.
Being around people with that level of influence taught me something: no one really has it all figured out. Not in a hopeless way, but in a deeply human way. We’re all doing our best, learning as we go, and trying to make sense of the world around us.
Seeing the humanity behind the headlines, the same doubts, hopes, and imperfections we all share, helped me realize that I was just as capable of pursuing my purpose as anyone else. Those experiences stripped away the illusion that greatness is reserved for a few. It reminded me that influence isn’t about fame or status; it’s about using what you have, wherever you are, to make the world a little better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://harkcreativecouncil.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harkcreativecouncil/
- Other: https://www.calliehimsl.com
Image Credits
Jessica Eileen Photo
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