When Hillary Applegate graduated from college in 2014, she entered the workforce as a social media coordinator within the PR department of a Phoenix ad firm. Social media had no real meaning and was thought of as a free incentive or “add-on” for sales funnels. Hillary saw its potential. Her keen insight into how brands could forge deeper connections with their consumers made her a force within the agency. Within just a few years, she was leading the agency’s new social media department and delivering innovative, multi-million dollar campaigns that turned social into one of the firm’s most profitable offerings. In 2020, Hillary Founded Digital HQ, a fully remote creative and strategic agency that now supports Fortune 500 brands and global agencies. Recognizing a seismic shift in how marketing work could and should be done just months prior to the pandemic, she built a business model prioritizing flexibility, autonomy and trust. The result? A collaborative flex agency system that genuinely works. Five years later, Digital HQ has maintained nearly 100% retention of both clients and contractors, and has even experienced revenue growth of 67% over the last 12 months, doubling the agency’s initial forecast. Hillary’s leadership approach has impacted over 18 contractors, with a waitlist over of 100. Of her current team, 90% are women and 30% are mothers. By offering flexible scopes that scale with client needs and building high-performing teams, Hillary gives clients access to top-tier talent, regardless of location, while allowing creatives to deliver their best work without the traditional agency grind.