We recently had the chance to connect with Courtney Hayek and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Courtney, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me right now is definitely full—and I’m constantly shifting gears. I’m juggling business owner duties, managing my team, being a mom, and still trying to carve out some time for myself (usually in the form of a workout).
Most weekdays start with getting my kids up and ready, having breakfast together, and dropping them off at their summer program. From there, I head straight to the gym to get my workout in—it’s my non-negotiable reset for the day.
Once I’m back home, it’s go time with work. I usually start with a team meeting or check-in to align on priorities, then dive into whatever projects or strategy work needs attention.
I wrap up around 4:30pm, pick up my boys, and shift right into mom mode—dinner, activities, and the usual evening chaos.
It’s a lot, but I wouldn’t trade it. Every day looks a little different, but one thing is consistent: it’s busy, intentional, and always full of purpose.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Courtney Hayek — the Founder & Chief Marketing Strategist of J&H Creative Consulting, a boutique marketing agency based in Houston, TX. I help service-based business owners grow through strategic, results-driven marketing. After spending over 15 years working behind the scenes as the right hand to multiple business owners, I finally stepped into entrepreneurship myself, and now I get to partner with other business owners to help them do the same—build something great.
At J&H Creative, we specialize in fractional CMO services, SEO, paid ads (Google & Facebook), and email marketing. What makes us unique is that we don’t just hand over strategy and wish you luck—we stay in the trenches with you, helping execute and optimize along the way.
Right now, I’m focused on growing my agency while continuing to serve small to mid-sized businesses that are ready to invest in real marketing strategy—but don’t need a full-time team. My passion is helping business owners build a strong marketing foundation that drives results and frees them up to focus on what they do best.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad definitely taught me the most about work. On my 15th birthday, he loaded me into the car and drove me around town to fill out job applications—while most of my classmates weren’t even thinking about working yet. That day set the tone for how I’ve approached work ever since. I’ve always had a strong desire to perform well, and once I started working, my work ethic really came to life. He showed me early on that showing up, putting in the effort, and taking pride in what you do matters—and that’s stuck with me ever since.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Life’s going to throw you curveballs—often. But it’s not the setbacks that define you; it’s how you respond to them. There will be moments when giving up feels easier, when the struggle feels like too much. But pushing through is what sets you apart. Most people stop at the hard part—don’t be one of them. Stay focused. Keep going. You’re stronger than you think.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
Honestly, my team. I rely on their ideas constantly. In the marketing world, creativity is everything—and I believe in hiring people who bring fresh perspectives and bold ideas to the table. Not everyone feels creative all the time, so having a team where we can bounce off each other and almost work in “shifts” creatively keeps the momentum going. That collaboration is a huge part of what helps my business grow and stay sharp.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What light inside you have you been dimming?
The light I’ve dimmed the most is the one that allows me to fully embrace being both a mom and a business owner—without guilt. There’s this constant tug-of-war where you feel like you’re never doing enough in either role. When I focus on work, I feel like I’m falling short as a mom. When I focus on my kids, I feel like I’m neglecting the business. On top of that, I’ve had people around me suggest I should “pick a lane,” which made me hesitant to fully celebrate both parts of my life.
For a long time, I downplayed my success in one area so it didn’t overshadow the other. But I’ve realized that loving both roles doesn’t make me any less committed to either—it makes me whole. I’ve been working hard to give myself permission to sit confidently in both seats and take pride in what I’m building at home and in business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jandhcreativeconsulting.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jhcreativeconsulting
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/j-h-creative-consulting
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JH-Creative-Consulting/61560308678722/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JHCreativeConsulting
Image Credits
KB Photography
By Blakely Photography
Afton Seeser Photography
