As one of the newest members of the Ecrubox team, I was especially excited to sit down with our founder, Heather Horton, for a one-on-one conversation. Starting at a new company is always a bit of a whirlwind, with new faces, new ways of working, and new stories to uncover, and I was eager to hear directly from the woman behind it all.
Founders have a way of setting the tone for everything, the culture, vision, and values, and within my first weeks here, it was clear that Heather’s influence runs deep at Ecrubox. But what struck me most during our chat wasn’t just her impressive track record in digital marketing. It was her openness, honesty, and the way she constantly credits the people around her for the agency’s success.
From Freelance Writer to Founder
When I asked Heather what first inspired her to pursue a career in marketing, she smiled and admitted that it wasn’t exactly a straight line. “I actually started my career as a freelance writer… My degree was in English Literature and Creative Writing, and I thought I’d be an author or an English professor. But I kept landing SEO writing projects. That was my first taste of digital.” I loved hearing this, because it reminded me that career paths are rarely linear. Heather’s story shows how curiosity and being open to unexpected opportunities can lead you somewhere entirely new.
Her early roles spanned brand communications, digital strategy, and social media before she built a global team of 25 at a flooring company. The leap to starting her own agency seemed almost inevitable. “I knew I wanted to start my own agency - and here we are.”
As someone who’s just starting out in my career, I found it encouraging to hear how much her path was shaped by exploration and learning on the go.
Life Between Two Worlds
Heather moved from the US to the UK in 2009. I asked her what that transition had been like, expecting perhaps stories of culture shock. Instead, she reflected with warmth: “My kids have grown up here, and despite the weather, I really value the work-life balance and culture.”
Her honesty about missing her family and the comfort of American food made me smile - it was one of those moments that reminded me that leaders are human first.
Advice for Marketers Starting Out
I couldn’t resist asking Heather for her advice to those of us just beginning our careers in marketing. She didn’t sugarcoat it, and I appreciated that. “The biggest mistake I see is people thinking they can start their own consultancy straight out of university. You need real-world experience and seasoned mentors. Surround yourself with people you can learn from.”
It was a powerful reminder for me personally: seek out the people who will challenge and guide you, not just the job titles that sound impressive.
Leadership, Culture & Rewarding Moments
When we shifted to the topic of leadership, Heather lit up. “Promoting SJ and Carrie into their Managing Director positions was huge for me… I can stay involved in the agency’s day-to-day while knowing the team is in excellent hands. ”I could feel how much joy she takes in seeing others grow. As a new joiner, that’s exactly the kind of leadership you want to work under.
On company culture, Heather emphasised something that resonated deeply with me: “We’ve never said, ‘This is our culture, and it’s set in stone.’ Every new voice shapes it.” As one of those new voices, it was empowering to hear.
Beyond the Agency
Outside of the boardroom, Heather is a mum of four with a love for yoga, books, and films. She confessed her bucket-list dream is to do a yoga retreat in India — something I instantly pictured her enjoying after years of balancing agency life and family.
Her wish to learn the acoustic guitar also struck a chord (no pun intended). It was refreshing to see that even with all her achievements, she still carries that hunger to learn and grow.
Final Thoughts
As our conversation wrapped up, Heather reflected on the role of mentors in her career. “I’ve been incredibly lucky with the women who hired me early on. Learning from others has been absolutely key to my journey.”
Walking away from our chat, I felt both inspired and reassured. Inspired by Heather’s resilience and drive, and reassured by her openness and belief in the power of learning from others. For me, as someone just beginning my own Ecrubox story, it set the tone for the kind of career I want to build here.
— Chloe, Team Ecrubox