Meet Heather Loveridge | Chief Storyteller/Founder of Magnolia Media Group

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Loveridge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’m an accidental entrepreneur. If you had told the just-graduated-college me that I’d be a business owner one day, I’d have laughed out loud. The same way I’d have laughed if you told me I’d have five children. I was a hard-core introvert who just wanted to tell other people’s stories and stay comfortably in the background.

And then – a year-and-a-half into my career as a copywriter (and a year into marriage) I got pregnant. I worked until the day I had our son and figured my arrangement with my boss to work remotely after maternity leave would give me the best of both worlds. But a few months into that arrangement, I realized it wasn’t going to work long term due to various issues. So, after thinking through all the scenarios with my husband, I decided to do something very scary (to me) – become a freelance writer and editor.

I kept freelancing through the next decade – and through the births of three more children – and my client list kept growing. I realized I had more work than I could handle and so needed to bring on some extra help. I also realized the world was changing – publications were shutting down and I needed to diversify. So I added social media marketing to my services. One thing led to another – including gaining a key client who opened doors into the nonprofit world and made me realize that was THE niche. It quickly became apparent that I wasn’t just a freelancer anymore and I actually had a growing marketing agency. So I incorporated as Magnolia Media Group and officially became a business owner (while pregnant with our fifth!).

Today, we specialize in helping nonprofits tell their story and are a small but mighty team of four women and several key contractors.

What should our readers know about your business?
Magnolia Media Group started out of a love of storytelling. One of my very favorite things to do is listen to someone’s story and then get to tell it. I’ve told Lyle Lovett’s story from the angle of owning reining horses; I’ve listened to single moms share their triumph stories of overcoming homelessness; I’ve seen the impact a family makes on a child’s life when they become foster parents, and so much more. EVERY single story is unique. What began as a single person – me – telling other’s stories has grown into our team getting to tell the stories of many nonprofits doing great work.

But our storytelling isn’t just about writing stories – it’s about “how do we weave that organization’s story into all of their marketing”? How do we help ensure every interaction possible within our scope is telling AND showing the story – whether it’s through an enewsletter, social media post, annual report, video or other marketing avenue? That’s what we do for our clients – and it’s led to award-winning work!

Getting here hasn’t been easy. It’s hard work growing a business, developing new skills and having a large family. I’ve learned just how vital it is to have the right people in the right seats on the bus. When people are working in their strengths you can do great things together – and we have an amazing team (which includes our nanny Lydia because it truly does take a village). I’ve also learned you just have to do it scared – like starting our Nonprofit Storytelling podcast. It’s been scary to put ourselves out there like that but it’s already been rewarding.

Fear can be paralyzing but if you push past it there are great things to be had. And I’ve also learned to believe in our worth – and that clients worth having will see the value and expertise we bring to the table and will pay for that.

I’m excited about MMG’s future, as well as my own continued growth. It’s challenging but worth it!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d start with waterfalls. Our family loves being outside and we also love exploring the state we live in so we’ve hiked to many waterfalls north of the city – in the mountains – as well as some south of the city. Sliding Rock on Wildcat Creek in Rabun is a must in the summer. It’s less of a “hike” but definitely a trek and the swimming hole is super fun.

Food is also a big deal to me so I’d probably take them to Saltyard in Atlanta, or maybe to Leon’s Full Service in Decatur. Ponce City Market is fun as well. One of my absolute favorite places, though, is Rico’s World Kitchen in downtown Buford. It’s in a converted garage (which seems to be a theme for Brandon and me and some of our favorite restaurants) and is consistently good.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband. I have had/currently have some incredible people in my life who have mentored and encouraged me along the way (Linda, Paige, Hailey) and have key books that have made a big impact but my husband will always be number one. Brandon has been my biggest cheerleader from the beginning. He has believed in me when I didn’t, encouraged me to get help when I needed it, pushed me to become a better version of myself, become a champion for other women, helped me learn and understand better the financial side of running a business, prayed with and for me, stepped up his game as we’ve worked to divide and conquer with parenting, cooking, chores and more, supported me through two amazing home births after three not-great hospital births, and helped me realize that I do have what it takes to be successful.

Website: magnoliamedia.group

Instagram: magnoliamediagroup

Linkedin: magnoliamediagroupga

Facebook: magnoliamediagroupga

Image Credits
Family photo: Kim Hymes Photography