Hayden Van Hulzen of Scottsdale, AZ on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Hayden Van Hulzen. Check out our conversation below.

Hayden, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity first, always. Without it, intelligence can become manipulation, and energy can be misdirected. But when someone has integrity, you can trust their intentions—and that creates a foundation for everything else. Intelligence is a close second for me. I love working with people who think critically, solve problems creatively, and push things forward. But if I had to choose, I’ll take someone I can trust over someone who’s just smart.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Hayden Van Hulzen, the founder and CEO of HVH Media & Marketing, a modern marketing agency built for brands that want substance behind their style. We specialize in high-conversion social media, influencer campaigns, and digital strategy for aesthetic, dental, and luxury lifestyle businesses.

What makes us different is that we don’t chase trends—we build brands with depth, clarity, and intention. My background is a mix of storytelling, strategy, and brand psychology, and I’ve always believed that great marketing isn’t just about visibility—it’s about resonance. Our clients trust us to elevate their online presence while driving real growth, and we take that responsibility seriously.

Right now, we’re focused on scaling the agency and working on expanding our educational platforms for service-based entrepreneurs who are ready to grow but not quite ready for a full agency partner. We’re also deepening our work in cosmetic healthcare and personal brand building—where the stakes are emotional, the visuals matter, and trust is everything.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that needs to be released is the superdoer—the one who tries to be everywhere, do everything, and hold it all together. I’ve realized that constantly stepping into every role out of a sense of responsibility—or guilt—actually limits my ability to lead.

I have what I call a “janitor complex.” I never want my team to think I wouldn’t roll up my sleeves and do the work I ask of them. But that mindset, while well-intentioned, keeps me operating in the weeds when I need to be holding the vision. It’s time to let go of the need to prove that I can do it all, and instead lean into being the CEO my team truly needs—clear, strategic, and fully in my leadership.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the most defining wounds of my life was growing up with a mother who was a narcissistic perfectionist—someone for whom nothing I did was ever good enough. That environment shaped me early on to equate love with performance and approval with self-worth.

But becoming a successful adult—and especially a mother and business owner—has given me the clarity to see her behavior for what it really was: unprocessed insecurity and unhealed trauma that she projected onto me. She wasn’t equipped to deal with her own pain, so she displaced it onto others.

What once felt like a wound became a turning point. I didn’t break under the weight of it—instead, I evolved. I became someone who leads with strength, clarity, and love. I’ve built a life and business rooted in truth, care, and confidence. And most importantly, I’ve chosen to be a mother who uplifts, not undermines.

We are not the things we were victims of. And that realization has been my greatest freedom.

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. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’ve worked very hard to be able to say yes to this question. The version of me that shows up publicly is the real me—raw, flawed, evolving, and intentional.

For a long time, “flaws” carried a negative weight. But I’ve come to see them as the very things that make us human, relatable, and even marketable. Flaws make people feel safe to be themselves. And that’s powerful.

I’ve always shared intimate parts of my story—not for attention, but for connection. I want others to feel less alone in their own journey. The people who have followed me over the years have seen different versions of me, witnessed the pivots, the progress, and the setbacks. That visibility is important, because growth isn’t linear. There’s no perfect timeline for becoming who you’re meant to be.

For me, the goal has never been a polished destination—it’s been the courage to stay present in the process.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had ten years left, I’d immediately stop giving time and energy to anything that carelessly distracted me from what matters most—my children and the people I love.

No matter how much I love what I do, work will always be a means to support a beautiful, comfortable life—not the point of it. I work to live, not the other way around. If the next ten years were all I had, I’d spend them being fully present—with fewer obligations, more intentionality, and zero guilt for choosing my people over productivity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hvhmarketing.com
• Instagram: @hvhmarketing
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hvhmarketing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hvhmarketing

Image Credits
First photo: Jennifer Perkins Photography
Second photo: Christiana Anastasia Photography