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

Leslie, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Nine years ago, I took what felt like both the scariest and most natural risk of my career – leaving an unsupportive work environment to start Hive180. This wasn’t just about changing jobs; it was about fundamentally changing how I showed up in my industry and lived my values.

The backstory is deeply personal. I was working at an agency where I felt undervalued and restricted, watching my creativity and drive slowly drain away in an environment that didn’t align with my vision of how clients and employees should be treated. Every day reinforced the gap between what I knew was possible in branding and what I was allowed to deliver. The breaking point came when I realized I was compromising not just my work satisfaction, but my integrity.

Starting Hive180 wasn’t just about escape – it was about creating something better. Sure, there were sleepless nights wondering if we’d find enough clients. Yes, there was the financial uncertainty of walking away from a steady income. But there was also this incredible clarity that comes when you finally align your actions with your principles.

In the early days, we took on every project that came our way. Over time, we refined our approach, becoming more selective and focused. The risk paid off in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Beyond financial success, we’ve built an agency that transforms tired branding into brands with impact, all while maintaining the ethical standards and client relationships we envisioned.

This risk taught me something powerful: sometimes the biggest risk isn’t making a change – it’s staying somewhere that dims your light. Today, this experience shapes how we serve other “breakaway brands” – professionals who, like us, chose to leave situations that didn’t serve them to create something more aligned with their vision and passion.

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

I’m Leslie Silverman, co-owner of Hive180, a branding agency that transforms tired branding into brands with impact. We serve two distinct groups: established certified professionals ready to elevate their brand presence, and breakaway brands forging their own path. After spending my early career in publishing (at Conde Nast Traveler and Harper’s Bazaar) and then experiencing both the highs and lows of agency life, we founded Hive180 nine years ago with a clear vision: to create a different kind of branding agency, one built on audacious authenticity and crystal-clear vision.

What sets us apart is our approach to branding and website development – we believe in saying no to wrong-fit clients to make room for the right ones. We partner with professionals who understand the value of expertise, both in their field and ours. They’re not DIY’ers; they’re established experts who recognize that professional branding is an investment in their continued success. This philosophy came from my own journey of breaking away from unsupportive environments and building a successful agency. We’ve intentionally evolved from a traditional brick-and-mortar office with staff to a remote model that allows us to focus entirely on delivering exceptional results for clients who truly align with our values.

We solve two critical problems for our clients: first, we help them break free from generic, tired branding that makes them blend in with their competitors. Second, we give them the clarity and confidence to attract their ideal clients – what we call their “perfect hive.” Our process is swift and decisive, transforming brands in just one week because we understand that whether you’re an established professional ready to elevate your presence or a breakaway brand ready to launch, you shouldn’t have to wait months for results.

What I’m most proud of is how we’ve maintained our integrity while helping others find theirs. Every brand we create isn’t just visually striking – it’s a true reflection of the professional behind it. We’ve proven that you can build a successful business without compromising your integrity or sacrificing authenticity for profit.

For potential clients, here’s what matters most: we’re not just another branding or web development agency. We’re partners who understand the value of expertise – both yours and ours. Our approach combines strategic clarity with creative impact, delivered with the understanding that comes from serving established professionals and having walked the breakaway path ourselves. If you’re ready to stop blending in and start attracting the clients you really want to serve, we’re here to help you make that transformation.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Daniel Sanders and I met while working at our previous agency, where we quickly discovered we shared not just frustration with the status quo, but a vision for how things could be better. While I was building client relationships and developing marketing strategies, Daniel was crafting exceptional designs and pushing the boundaries of what was possible technically. We were like two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly – I’m the “client whisperer,” using my intuition and communication skills to understand exactly what clients need, while Daniel is our “design ninja,” transforming those needs into stunning visual solutions and seamless technical implementations.

Our complementary skills became evident when we found ourselves repeatedly collaborating to rescue projects that weren’t meeting client expectations. Working together, we developed a rhythm: I would clarify the client’s true needs and vision, while Daniel would bring those visions to life through design and code. This natural synergy made starting Hive180 together an obvious choice.

What makes our partnership work isn’t just our different skill sets – it’s our shared commitment to doing things right. We both believe in the power of authentic branding and have an unwavering standard for quality. When we decided to break away and start Hive180, we knew we could create something special by combining my ability to build strong client relationships with Daniel’s exceptional design and technical expertise. Nine years later, this balance of skills and shared vision continues to be the foundation of our success.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My most significant pivot came at the intersection of personal and professional transformation. After my divorce and becoming an empty nester in Steamboat Springs, I made the decisive move to the Denver metro area. This wasn’t just a change of location – it was a complete reimagining of both my life and our business model.

In Steamboat, our client base was primarily geographic. The move to Denver opened an opportunity to narrow our focus and deepen our expertise. Rather than trying to serve everyone in a small community, we could now work specifically with certified professionals and breakaway brands across the country. This shift aligned perfectly with our strengths and values.

The personal reconstruction was extensive – building a new social circle, creating a new home, and reshaping my daily routines. But the professional evolution was equally profound. We hired a business coach and joined a business mastery program specifically designed for 1-2 person branding agencies. This investment led us to transform our service model from traditional monthly retainers to intensive, high-impact brand transformations.

Perhaps most tellingly, after eight years in business, we took our own medicine and rebranded Hive180. This experience deepened our empathy and sharpened our expertise in guiding clients through their own pivots. We now intimately understand the courage it takes to evolve and grow, because we’ve done it ourselves.

This pivot taught me that personal and professional growth are intimately connected. When you honor both simultaneously, you create something more authentic and impactful than before. Today, we call in “perfect partnerships” with our clients, because we know firsthand the power of aligning your brand with who you truly are and where you’re going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hive180.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesliesilverman/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leslie.a.silverman
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-silverman-hive180/

Image Credits

Daniel Sanders