We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Holly Winter Huppert. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Holly Winter below.

Alright, Holly Winter thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Mission Driven Company

All three of my companies – Worthy Skin Care, Winuply Press and Winuply Education have one mission: help others. My teaching salary pays my mortgage; my businesses pay for my humanitarian work.

In 2022—just four months after the war on Ukraine began, I was at first unsettled. That feeling grow to fury.

How? Why?

My anger that one country could wage genocide on a neighboring country grew. I felt a calling to help.

I must help.

But how?

I closed all of my businesses for the summer and traveled to Poland to help the many refugees fleeing the brutality of war. After searching for organizations that offered support, I decided to partner with an organization out of Norway called: A Drop in the Bucket.

I worked in a free shop in Krakow, Poland for 7 weeks. I spent my time volunteering in any way they needed. I played with children while the mothers collected needed essentials. I stocked shelves. I swept floors. I bought supplies with donations.
After the summer was over, I felt drained – not from the work, but from all that still needed to be done.

I felt like I didn’t do enough.

I returned home, reopened my businesses and worked tirelessly so I might return to help, again.

I published a book, Unimaginable: Volunteering for Ukrainian Refugees. I took the proceeds from the book, which continues to sell well, and returned to help Ukraine. (This book is available everywhere good books are sold.)

In the summer of 2023, I joined a group of humanitarians and brought food to elderly people who lived within miles of the front lines. While we distributed the food to people who were starving, we could hear bombs going off nearby.

It was terrifying. Of course I wanted to return to safety, but it was also terrifying to think of these elderly people starving.

There were no grocery stores in the area. No gas stations. No electricity. The young people had all left; these elderly were along.

These people had to live in basements—without light or heat or conveniences—while they were shelled continuously.
During that summer, I went into Ukraine 3 different times. This kind of help sparked something inside of me: this is what I am here to do.

I am here to help.

How?

My continued support for Ukraine by writing.

My next book about my humanitarian work in Ukraine, I Won’t Wear Pajamas in the Warzone is due out Winter of 2024.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Me?

I am the kind of person who figures things out. And once I do, others want me to help them, too. This is how all of my businesses started.

#1: Publishing Company: After searching high and low for a particular writing book for children, I had to write it myself. Write Now: Ideas for Writers is available everywhere books are sold. Check out my books at winuplypress.com.

#2: Educational Consulting: At the start of my teaching career, I was nominated for a Teacher of the Year for the US. It was a strange time; I had only taught for two years. The nomination came directly from the Department of Education in Washington, DC.

In the end I turned down the nomination – thinking that I had so much to learn.

But somehow schools around the country heard about my high test scores and asked me to lead workshops.

So I did. I started a company: Winuply Education. I lead workshops for teachers, administrators and parents around the world.
See what I’m talking about? How others needed something, and I stepped up?

#3: Worthy Skin Care: I had a crazy reaction to a protein bar I bought at a dollar store (what was I thinking?) that caused a chemical reaction. My skin turned to a thick leather. Doctors said there was no way I could fix my skin.

So I began researching and experimenting and (fast version here….) I formulated a serum that reversed the damage. Friends wanted some. Their friends wanted some, too. I started the company Worthy Skin Care (Worthyskincare.store) where I sell a few products to people who love them.

#4: Skin Educator: I am also a Skin Educator on Instagram, YouTube and Tiktok. I got tired of friends asking me again and again: how do you double cleanse again? What’s the best face mask? What foods are best to help skin?

This project is a new one: I started the summer of 2024. I post a daily video with a skin tip. It is rewarding to help people around the world feel better in their skin by looking better. Check out the videos at @skintalkny on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

One Story:

At the start of the pandemic, my school where I am a special education teacher closed. It was a terrifying time: we were wiping down our mail—thinking that touch brought on the virus.

Since school was closed, I invited a great nephew to come visit me for the day. He was so confused about why he had to stay home. He shared his worries about the pandemic with me.

I took notes on his thoughts and ideas and wrote a book called, Hans Helps: A Coronavirus/Covid 10 Story.

It was excited that the book got the attention of the media. But one of the most exciting moments of my life was when the CDC—Centers for Disease Control—wanted a copy.

The thought of my book being used as a reference to the pandemic still makes me smile.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I have just started building my audience on social media, but my account is growing every day. I post one video a day and keep the topic relevant to what people want to know.

Find me on social media @SkinTalkNy on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

It took me a while to find my way. At first I was trying to be funny and entertaining. Sorry, that’s not a good fit for me. Sure, I can make people laugh, but on demand? Not so much.

I started adding LESS bells and whistles and more of who I really am. In this vein, I decided not to sell from Instagram or Tiktok. Rather people have to jump through hoops to find my products. These are the kinds of customers I love doing business with.

Currently I am suffering from complications from an eye infection that has left me with dark circles under my eyes. Yeah, I know… not what people are expecting from a skin educator. But… it’s where I am. So I am honest and keep posting.
People are responding.

My suggestions for anyone growing your personal brand:
• Don’t be boring
• Don’t talk too much
• Don’t drag on.
• Don’t stop learning

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hollywinter.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skintalkny
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-winter-huppert
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkinTalkNY
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skintalkny

Image Credits

All credits are mine.