Named one of top 30 under 30 entrepreneurs by Inc.com, 20 year old Ashleigh Hansberger creator of Motto Agency is an inspiration to other female entrepreneurs.

Ashleigh got together with her partner Sunny Bonnell to launch an agency that would help companies which were failing to identify what was wrong with their business strategy and set up a new one while changing their logos and create new ones, more attractive ones.

“We don’t want to be the creative shop that gives you a new logo,” says Ashleigh, “That’s all well and good, but we’re useful to companies that have lost their way and need to figure it out again. There’s something special about helping someone build a brand.”

Ashleigh wanted to create an agency that would seek to help other companies grow and re-invent their brands through good old fashioned storytelling and innovative use of social media.

The company based in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach grew beyond everyone’s expectations up to date. Ashleigh and Bonnell faced a lot of resistance and discouragement from people because they were female entrepreneurs but in 2007 they were chosen among 8 winners of contest run by the count me in, a female entrepreneur organisation. This gave them publicity in publications like Readers Digest and Business Week.

Ashleigh and Bonnell have also developed a strong Facebook presence, generating over 1,200 lively, talkative fans for Motto. Recently, Motto started “Behind the Brand,” a Facebook initiative that features a different socially conscious company each month. “Behind the Brand” describes the inner workings of companies like the Khaya Cookie Company, Kopali Organics, and Sweetriot, to explore the systems and faces behind the products consumers buy.

“We’ve been able to develop some solid relationships from Facebook,” Ashleigh said. “It strengthens the bond between us and our clients.”

Article written by Christine Maema