Life and Work with Samantha Harper

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Harper.

Samantha, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Being a creative minded person you can only imagine that my journey hasn’t been straight and narrow. I took a creative route off the beaten path and made some trails of my own. I’ve been known to stir up a healthy dose of chaos to help people seek refuge in the unknown and make the uncomfortable, comfortable.

My background is in behavioral health. I got my Master’s degree in Professional Counselling with an emphasis in Expressive Art Therapy and Trauma. I worked in a highly specific niche and ended up burning out after providing about nine years of intensive therapy. My passion for the work was deep, but my desire for balance and self-care was necessary.

I made a career switch about two years ago and allowed the voice I had been silencing for so long to come out and play. I turned my passion projects into more than just a side hustle or dreams, I made them my reality. I have loved fashion since I was a child. My mom recently told me as an infant I would have several outfit changes throughout the day, and not because I made a mess but because the environment called for a different ensemble. My poor mom.

My love for creating was not only fun but really helped me heal in difficult times. I am a 3x cancer survivor and art in all forms and fashion, allowed me to process in ways words had failed me. When I took the risk to venture out I wanted to share my passion and empower others to unlock that part of themselves too. I’ve always believed that my story and journey isn’t mine to keep, but to share.

Now, I get to use my grab-bag of skills and excitement of creating to help others see their potential and hand over the megaphone to that voice inside so they can be heard!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’ve been pretty open about my struggles on social media but I still think there is a certain perception that can be made from looking at a highlight reel or a 9 photo grid. The road has been difficult and there has been a lot of doubt and tears along the way, but I think of it as “putting in my time.” I had to learn some hard lessons to realize what works for me and what most certainly does not work for me.

One of the biggest struggles I had was overcoming this idea that I was ” too much.” My opinions were too strong, I was moving ahead too fast, my ideas were too big, I was too much. I had to take risks to learn though. I had to learn to be strategic with my voice and find strength in restraint. There is something to be said about reading a room and giving them what they have the capacity to hear and when to push the limits a little… or a lot. Be bold in who you are, you are not too much.

Please tell us about Elly and Nora Creative.
I am the Chief Content Officer for Elly and Nora Creative. Elly and Nora is a boutique design, content, and brand strategy agency. We work with global leaders, non-profits, and lifestyle brands to create exceptional experiences online and off. What sets us apart is that we do a deep dive discovery of what problems our clients want to solve and how they can unlock their full potential to push past the pain point that has held them back. I get to utilize my experience as a therapist to seek out root issues and bridge the gap to provide our clients with a unique experience and insight into who they are. It’s as much about self-discovery as it is about building a brand. I get to have fun styling clients also. I make sure their outward appearance reflects who they are, which allows them to be in full alignment with confidence. We consider our approach to be holistic and well-rounded.

Who have you been inspired by?
I have a large range of women that influenced my life and inspired me along the way from dance teachers to coaches, to professors, and of course my mom. My mom taught me from a very young age that my success was going to come from working hard and being ferocious in my ability to go after what I wanted.

I have a group of women in my life now that I lovingly refer to as my hype-squad. They are honest, divinely creative, and encouraging. They celebrate my victories and shine a light on me when mine feels dim. I can’t say that I’m lucky because creating a community of strong women takes more than just chance. You have to seek it out, ask hard questions, and be able to offer something in return. But that is where the beauty is; all of the inspiring women in my circle have done the work and been vulnerable in sharing who they are and desire deep connections and significant relationships.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ellyandnoracreative.com
• Phone: 602.363.6639
• Email: sam@ellyandnoracreative.com
• Instagram: sam_e_pants

Image Credit:
Justin Hackworth (IG: justinhackworth), Charith Denson (IG: DensonCreative)

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