Heather Thill, BrandJuice Director of Creative Services, is the spotlight of our July employee profile. We sat down for a Q&A to deep dive into her refreshing way of thinking and insightful vision that drives our team every day.
Tell us about where you grew up?
I was born in north central Iowa, lived on a dairy farm until a tornado demolished it, then my family moved to Virginia where my Dad managed large estates and old plantations. We lived in a small town for the majority of my childhood and I spent every moment I possibly could being a farmer’s daughter. If home is where the heart is, my home consists of cows in the field, the smell of manure, old barns filled with machinery, and zero neighbors in sight.
What brand is your personality most aligned with?
If John Deere and Audi had a baby…
What led you to choosing this profession?
Most of my childhood I wanted to be Marine Biologist, but life decided to right-rudder that path. It’s been somewhat of a natural progression, from loving to color and draw as a kid, to being President of the Art Club in high school, to working for architecture firms in administrative or marketing roles and becoming infatuated to all things design, to teaching myself graphic design software and realizing I aint so bad at it. Fast forward 15+ years and here I am.
Who inspires you? Who do you aspire to be like?
For my career, it’s more about what inspires me than who – I don’t aspire to be like anyone but the best version of myself. Visually, I’m moved by everything from a billboard to a blade of grass. Emotionally, my family, friends and game-changing individuals or businesses inspire me daily in different ways.
What’s your most irrational fear?
That the universe is just a giant snow globe carried around in some alien’s pocket.
If you could keep only 5 possessions, what would they be?
My Mom’s wedding band, an iPod loaded with music, a Moleskine, an EnerGel Metal Tip 0.7mm ball pen, an endless bottle of Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch.
What are you drinking come five o’clock?
See above. Or, craft beer.
Best restaurant in Denver?
I can’t play the “best” or favorites game, I lose every time.
What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year?
This year: It’s Okay to Laugh, Crying is Cool Too by Nora McInerny Purmort
Ever: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
When you’re in need of creative inspiration, where do you go? What do you do?
Into nature, away from the noise. I’ll take a break/retreat/vacation and go off the grid entirely…with artsy fartsy magazines and books in tow.
What was the last picture you took with your phone?
A screenshot of a poem
If you could give your younger self any advice, what would it be?
Use less credit cards
What’s the best part about working at BrandJuice?
The people. Great people inevitably do great work. And great work with great people = great reward.
Follow along on our social media over the coming weeks to find out more about what Heather’s life is like when she’s not cultivating creative genius at BrandJuice.