A Life Built Off of a Conversation

Insight into the evolution of young entrepreneur Haley Hoffman Smith’s career and life after one life-changing conversation. 

Photo courtesy of Haley Hoffman Smith 

“I think I was made for more.”

On May 27, 2014, the streets of Denver, Colo. hosted an everyday conversation that evolved into the rebirth of all aspects of Haley Hoffman Smith’s lifestyle.

“I was very devoid of any type of purpose or ambition for my life,” Hoffman Smith said. “I was walking with a girl who was one of my friends from high school and she said to me, ‘You know, it's so funny because you tried in high school and I didn’t, and yet we're going to the same college.’ She, to this day, has no idea how much that one sentence changed my life.”

Afterwards, young Hoffman Smith’s mind was flooded with feelings of uncertainty and panic, feelings that would set the stage for what would come next. 

“I think I was made for more. It was the first time that thought had ever crossed into my mind. It’s almost like you have to be ready for when these things happen,” Hoffman Smith said. 

After attending the University of Colorado Boulder for two years, Hoffman Smith transferred to Brown University, studying Gender Studies and Entrepreneurship. Her career began to blossom at the onset of her senior year within the walls of Brown University’s Nelson Center of Entrepreneurship. 

Hoffman Smith developed a thesis that would later surface as the inspiration for her book: “Her Big Idea: The Next Generation of Entrepreneurs.”

Photo courtesy of Haley Hoffman Smith 

“When the book came out, it was a bit scary,” Hoffman Smith said. “I put out the super vulnerable story into the world. It’s very much a piece of my heart that I passed on to the world. The first line is ‘I think you’re screwing me over,’ and is the story of what happened with a co-founder. I wanted the book to be a manifesto of motivation for people who want to start their own businesses.”

The book release quickly gained public attention, including press coverage from the publication, Entrepreneur. Subsequently, the tides of Hoffman Smith’s career only continued to evolve. 

The fall of 2018, Hoffman Smith began her public speaking career, traveling to different college campuses and TedX events. Her speeches encourage listeners to break through the barriers of what dreams society defines as “realistic,” and to instead focus on “turning your pipeline dreams into reality,” along with her personal story. 

“I still get nervous, I really do,” Hoffman Smith said. “I remind myself that it's supposed to be fun, and I want to go onstage to educate and entertain.” 

Her main goal through these speeches is to present herself as an instrument to inspire others to begin chasing their dreams. Different business opportunities being yet another outcome.

For example, makeup has been a part of  Hoffman Smith’s life since she was 15 years old: false eyelashes specifically withstanding a significant spot in her makeup drawer. 

“I was giving a talk on personal branding and talked about how I wear false lashes every single day; in the audience happened to be a lash manufacturer who came up to me after the talk and asked me if I could start my own line of lashes through them. I decided to call it Her Big Lash.”

Photo courtesy of Haley Hoffman Smith

Now, at 23 years old, Hoffman Smith has only continued to grow her list of business ventures and is a distinguished member of the workplace. She is a newfangled New Yorker whose career brought a whirlwind of opportunities, all in favor of the alignment of her lifelong dream of becoming a talk show host. 

So, what is Hoffman Smith’s current “job?”

Brown University Graduate. 

Entrepreneur.

Business owner. 

Author.

Public speaker. 

New York Model Management Group Model and Host. 

And, has been featured in USA Today, Entrepreneur, Insider, CBS, and named by Forbes as one of the Most Influential Female Speakers. 

Personal branding has been a significant aspect of Hoffman Smith’s career which has allowed her to become her own boss and has begun paving the way towards future goals.

“It’s a huge honor, don’t get me wrong, I’ve just learned that the accomplishments that look really good on paper usually don’t feel as good as the ones that are shared in a moment when someone helped them,” Hoffman Smith said. 

“Turn your pipeline dreams into a reality,” is Hoffman Smith’s mantra. The mantra has proved to be her greatest success, as it entails a theme of helping others and provides a newfound confidence in herself. 

“My purpose is to help other people realize what they were born to be by following an epic dream. Hearing that I'm helping people makes all of it worth it, all the late nights, all the times I was super nervous to give a talk; it all mattered in some way...So my journey has really been figuring out like, who is Haley and what can Haley give by virtue of who she was born to be?”

Spiritual, fiery and purpose-driven, Hoffman Smith is continuing to work towards her goals by tackling evident layers of invalidation and trusting in the process. Her main piece of advice to young adults is: “The fact that you are working towards your goals is a huge step, trust the unfolding process of everything and journey back home to yourself.”