Hello Hilary!

As Co-Founder and Executive Partner, we thought it was about time that we got together for a chat.

We want to know: why did you decide to start Open Eye with your Co-Founder, Christian?

Christian and I, as we are now, are directors at i2Coalition and we’ve both been in the Internet infrastructure industry for approximately 20 years; we wanted to bring quantitative data to the industry, so we decided to start Open Eye to do so. Even though we started the company with that focus, we quickly shifted to expanding outside of that industry and wanted to work with other nonprofits that had similar values to ours, that had an element of social change. If I can have a hand in bringing a tiny bit of good in the world, I consider myself successful!

What does a really great collaboration look like for you?

Any client who is open to change, not resistant to advice, and wants to get in the weeds with us. We love when clients want to take an active role in any project we undertake with them, to bounce ideas off of and to challenge ours!

Tell us about your career path up until this point. Any highlights?

I would say the biggest highlight is working with all the talented people over the years. I’ve had a variety of positions: bartender (putting myself through school), managing a recording studio, art sales for a poster company, business development for an Internet industry publication, which lead me to where I am now.

What is a goal that you have for this year, and how are you making it happen?

Professionally, my goal is to get our operations down to a science - we’ve had so much growth over the last few years, we need to reevaluate our own systems. Personally, I’m trying to manage my time better in all realms of my life, so that I can have the energy to do the things that light me up.

How do you go about learning new things?

Books are my go-to, but I’ve also watched webinars, workshops, intensive accredited courses, learn at my own pace courses as well - I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and believe in lifelong learning!

As a cheerleader for positive change, how has Open Eye evolved and changed over the years since the vision you’ve had at launch?

We formed with the intention to specialize in quantitative data; however, we quickly realized that where our passion lies is in assisting clients at their inflection point, to help their business grow and succeed.

What is something that you enjoy doing and are really good at?

Interior design is something that I really enjoy, and I’ve been told I have a knack for it. I love taking an idea and bringing it to life, and customizing something that will suit how I live and move in a space.

We all know you have a deep love for music; how does music play a role in helping you live a well-balanced lifestyle?

I’ve been raving since I was 16 and I’m still going strong at 45, you’re as young as you feel! I would say dancing is a huge outlet for me, a great stress relief, and an opportunity to get a bunch of friends together.

Is there anything that you do just for the pure fun of it, regardless of how good you are at it?

During the pandemic, I started punch needling for something to do to occupy my time. I’m not overly proficient in it yet, but I enjoy the zen-like repetitive motions of it. I’ve been making little wall hangings and giving them to friends and family.

Final question. What is the most memorable feedback you’ve ever received from a client?

That we assisted with helping bring a world-class brand further than they could’ve done on their own. It was a big compliment considering they’ve been a successful, word-of-mouth-only brand for over 75 years!

Thank you, Hilary, for letting us pick your brain. We’re so happy you’ve brought us all together at Open Eye to create a positive impact in the world through our meaningful work.