by Kathleen Sarpy, Founder + CEO
In early 2001, I was running my new company out of my modest suburban basement with a goal of working with people who shared my values and understood the deep commitment I had to my young children. There clearly were challenges juggling a bustling business with a busy family life, but I knew I wanted my company to be different, driven by passion and heart.
One day, I asked a mentor, the incomparable Richard Melman, co-founder of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, for some sage advice on the best way to grow my team. He emphatically shared that I needed to identify what values I stood for as a leader and seek out others who exemplified what made me, “me.”
After much self-reflection, I came up with “5” values that offered a wink to my five children at the time (I now have a bonus sixth child through a happy second marriage!) and synthesized what I cared most about – leading with kindness, infusing creativity into everything, having a deep passion for the work, offering hustle without the bureaucracy of “big agencies” and being committed to integrity above all else. These five core values have served us well and remain my North Star, navigating the ups and downs of running a business.
Having a one-of-a-kind independent agency starts with hiring one-of-a-kind people who are equally compassionate, business savvy and creative – at every level. I’ve witnessed the domino effect this has on our team, our clients and our bottom line.
My advice for leading a business with authenticity and kindness? Simple: follow my father’s example—lead with respect, imagination and a loving heart, no matter someone’s position or what they can do for you. Assume good intent, honor your word, and understand that everyone goes through “it” while giving their best, so extend them extra grace during challenging seasons. Care deeply about your work but more importantly, care deeply about others. Give back when you can, offer genuine encouragement, smile at strangers, let others pass by if they are in a rush… you get the idea. It doesn’t have to be costly to be kind. But the effects are priceless if you make it a daily priority.
While the award-winning work we produce at H5 speaks for itself, it’s our unwavering dedication to our values—and to our team, clients, partners and community—that truly makes the difference. It’s not just what we deliver; it’s HOW we deliver it. That’s the H5 way, and it’s a reminder that kindness always has a place in business.
Want to learn more about our values? Check out how our H5 Team uses creativity to amplify brands.