Today we’d like to introduce you to Steph Hausman.
Hi Steph, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I graduated from Syracuse University in 2020 with dual degrees in advertising and marketing, right at the peak of the pandemic. Not exactly the easiest time to enter the workforce, but I jumped in headfirst. My first role was at D2 Interieurs, where I wore a million hats. One day I’d be managing social media, the next I’d be measuring and creating floor plans for incredible homes across New York and Connecticut.
After that, I joined NBCUniversal as a Digital Production Assistant working on shows like Maury, The Jerry Springer Show, Karamo, and The Steve Wilkos Show. I got to write, produce, and edit original digital content alongside hosts and talent, which really sharpened my skills as both a designer and storyteller.
After a few years, though, I started feeling restless. I wanted to travel, challenge myself, and experience something completely different. That led me to apply for a fellowship with American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, which brought me to Melbourne, Australia from 2023–2025. I worked for The Joint Australia handling marketing and design, while freelancing on the side for former clients and slowly building my own roster of social media and creative clients.
Living across the street from the beach in Australia, meeting people from all over the world, and doing work that felt meaningful completely shifted my perspective. When my fellowship ended, I realized I wasn’t ready to return to the U.S. or to traditional corporate life. So I took a leap of faith and turned freelancing into a full-time business, which became Creative Haus.
Now, almost two years later, I’m back in Brooklyn running a thriving digital studio with clients in both the U.S. and Australia. My work blends social media strategy, graphic design, web design, branding, content creation, and creative direction, so every day looks completely different. Some days I’m building out a brand identity or designing a website, other days I’m producing campaign visuals, editing video content, brainstorming marketing concepts, or helping a client shape the bigger vision for their business. I love being able to combine strategy with creativity and constantly shift between different mediums and ideas.
There were definitely a lot of twists and turns along the way, but looking back, every experience shaped how I run my business today.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
t definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Starting my own business while living abroad came with a pretty steep learning curve, especially because creative work is only one part of running a business. There’s also a ton of admin involved (cough accounting) which is not exactly my strong suit, but something I’ve had to learn to navigate along the way.
Running a business mostly on my own can also be challenging and, at times, a little lonely. I’m a very collaborative person, so I genuinely love being around other creatives and bouncing ideas off people in real life when I can. Over time, I’ve learned that being a good business owner also means knowing what not to do yourself and delegating the things you’re not great at.
There’s also a lot of discipline involved in creating your own structure when no one else is setting your schedule for you. When your days are flexible, it’s easy to underestimate how much self-management goes into staying creative, productive, and present for clients.
That said, learning as I go is also one of my favorite parts of being a business owner. Sure, sometimes it would be easier to walk over to ask a manager for help, but there’s something really satisfying about figuring things out yourself. Every challenge has made me more confident, resourceful, and adaptable.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started Creative Haus, a digital marketing and creative studio, in 2024. I’m currently based in Brooklyn, but I work with small and medium-sized businesses across both the U.S. and Australia. My work blends strong creative direction with technical and strategic expertise, helping brands not only look visually compelling, but also build a stronger presence online.
Creative Haus specializes in social media management, graphic design, web design, branding, content creation, creative direction, video editing, and digital marketing strategy. Because I work across so many creative mediums, I’m able to help clients build cohesive brands that feel intentional across every touchpoint. One day I might be designing a website or building out a visual identity, the next I’m producing campaign content, editing video, or developing a social strategy.
What really sets Creative Haus apart is our agility and willingness to experiment. I started the business because I saw how slow and overly layered traditional agency structures can sometimes be. I wanted to create something more collaborative, fast-moving, and creatively ambitious. If a client has an idea, we can execute quickly. If there’s a new platform, design trend, or AI tool emerging, we’re already testing it and figuring out how to integrate it in a way that actually benefits the brand.
I’m especially passionate about blending new technology with strong design. AI is changing the creative industry so rapidly, and instead of resisting it, I’ve embraced learning these tools and incorporating them into my workflow in thoughtful ways. That said, great design and original thinking will always come first. Tools can enhance creativity, but they can’t replace strong ideas, taste, and strategy, which is something I care deeply about.
More than anything, I want people to know that Creative Haus is built to help brands stand out in an oversaturated digital world. The internet moves fast, and I love helping businesses evolve creatively while still feeling authentic, intentional, and visually distinctive.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Curiosity, without a doubt. The digital landscape changes so rapidly that staying comfortable is the fastest way to fall behind. I’m constantly researching, testing new platforms, experimenting with emerging AI tools, and paying attention to shifts in design, culture, and how people interact online.
I think a huge part of my success has come from not being afraid to try things before everyone else does. I genuinely love learning, experimenting, and figuring things out as I go. That curiosity keeps both me and my work evolving, which is incredibly important in a creative industry that never stands still.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.creativehaus.io/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/creative.haus.studio
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-hausman/
