Today we’d like to introduce you to Hilary Gordon.
Hi Hilary, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It actually started because my sisters both created hyperlocal Instagram accounts in their own cities, and I watched what they were building and thought, that looks really fun I want to do that here in Phoenix.
So I started reaching out to small, women- and family-owned businesses to spotlight them on my page. It quickly grew into something bigger than I expected ,a real community of women business owners lifting each other up. I talk a lot about community over competition, and the page became this space full of motivation and encouragement for the hard days, because running a small business has a lot of those.
It also turned into a place where people could discover new businesses, especially if they’re intentional about supporting women- and family-owned shops. That’s what led me to create the directory: a single place to find Phoenix-area women- and family-owned businesses, free for anyone to browse and bookmark. At the end of the day, it comes down to visibility ,making sure small business owners know they exist, and helping them find their audience, which is often their own local community.
From there it grew into this little hyperlocal social-media marketing account. But honestly, my favorite part is watching business owners collaborate with each other. I run these Follow Friday posts, and I’ll see owners connecting in the comments and setting up collaborations .It’s one of my favorite things to witness. Going to markets and small business events and meeting these women in person, feeling like we’re all part of the same community working toward the same thing ,that’s been the best part of this whole journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s honestly been going pretty well, but that doesn’t mean it’s been without growth , a lot of it personal. When I first started this account, I didn’t even want to show my face. I was happy staying behind the scenes, just spotlighting other businesses.
But slowly, I started putting myself on camera ,introducing myself, talking directly to the audience, sharing real tips and tricks for how small businesses can actually get seen by their local community. Letting people see the woman behind Phoenix Women was a big step out of my comfort zone, and honestly one of the biggest areas of growth for me, not just as a business owner, but as a person.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
By day, I work as a licensed clinical social worker and therapist . I spend my time talking with people and helping them work through their mental health struggles. Phoenix Women is my outside-of-work passion project, and in a lot of ways it comes from the same place: I love creating community and empowering people. It’s just a different way of showing up for people ,instead of one-on-one in a therapy room, it’s a whole community of women business owners lifting each other up.
Phoenix Women exists to spotlight and connect women- and family-owned businesses across the greater Phoenix and Valley area. We serve local business owners who want visibility in their own community, and shoppers who are intentional about supporting women- and family-owned businesses. What we’re known for is being hyperlocal — we’re not trying to be a national brand or chase viral trends. Everything is rooted in real Phoenix neighborhoods: Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Tempe, all over the valley!
What sets us apart is the community-over-competition mindset. A lot of business accounts are just about promotion, but Phoenix Women is about connection ,Follow Friday posts where business owners find each other and collaborate, a free directory so anyone can discover and support local women-owned shops, and content that’s genuinely motivational for the hard days of running a small business. And because I bring my therapist background into it, there’s an authenticity and a “realness” to how I show up , I’m not just posting business tips, I’m building a community that feels like it actually cares about the person behind the business.
How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t about the follower counts or going viral, its about impact. If a small business owner tells me that they got a new customer because of Phoenix Women, or two business owners connect in my comments and end up collaborating, that’s success.
Its watching this community actually work, women feeling seen, supported and less alone in the hard parts of running a business. If I can help someone feel like they can keep going on a tough day, that success for me.
Pricing:
- Weekly Spotlight Package is a one time purchase- $37- the most popular option, giving businesses a dedicated feature to reach the Phoenix Women Audience
- The VIP Spotlight Package is a one time purchase- of $59- a more premium/extended feature for a business that is wanting maximum visbility
- The Phoenix Women Directory has an annual fee of $79.99
- The Small Business Content Toolkit – $19- a digital content toolkit with ready to use captions, reel ideas, posting system for local business owners who want consistency without chasing trends.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://greaterphoenixwomen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phoenixazwomen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572116338948
