In the latest installment of our Columbus Creatives: A Day in the Life series, we talk with Haley Boehning, the Co-Founder of Storyforge. In her spare time, Haley keeps busy with all of the events Columbus as to offer. She’s a great example of all the creatives in Columbus who work hard + play hard!
I’m a transplanted New Yorker who moved to Columbus in 1997 thinking I’d stay for a few years … but fell in love with Columbus and the Short North specifically. I was fortunate to make my home in such an open, vibrant and creative neighborhood just as the rest of the city discovered that walkable, dense urban living was the way to go. It’s been fun watching the neighborhood, and our city, evolve. I came to Columbus to work for L Brands, and after 16 years left the corporate world and co-founded Storyforge, a purpose agency that works with businesses to forge meaningful stories so they can have a greater impact and build a brand that matters. I can’t imagine a better, more supportive community to start a business in, especially one as ambitious – and specialized – as ours.
Morning
I wake in the morning to NPR and before breakfast roll out my yoga mat to practice or head to Yoga on High for a class. I walked into the Yoga on High studio last year knowing next to nothing about yoga – and having a life-long aversion to gyms and “working out” in general – and found that I absolutely loved it. It’s a supportive and open environment, combines the mental and physical in one experience … and is a five-minute walk from my house so I have no excuse. On the way back, I sometimes stop at Mission Coffee for a decaffeinated pour-over or a chai to reward myself or have a partner meeting with my co-founder Barry Chandler (who also lives nearby.)
Afternoon
We’ve recently moved Storyforge offices to the Columbus Idea Foundry, a wonderful community of like-minded people with a passion for making things, and doing things, that matter. It also works perfectly for our unpredictable schedules and the way we like to work. I try to block my Wednesday lunchtime for the Columbus Metropolitan Club forums to connect with new people and ideas. After lunch you might find me back at the Idea Foundry facilitating an off-site strategy session for a client in the classroom, coaching a leader over coffee downstairs at Stauff’s or finding a quiet corner to review research, meet with my Storyforge teammates and write.
Evening
The weekly calendar of events in Columbus – music, art openings, performing arts, lectures and talks, culinary events, etc. – is remarkable. There are never enough evenings to fit it all in! I always try to make time for two purpose-driven organizations I am passionate about. I am vice chair of the board for Conscious Capitalism Columbus, the newest chapter of an international movement to advance the crazy idea that business can, and should, be a force for good in the world; and I’m a proud founding member of The Matriots, Ohio’s first nonpartisan political action committee dedicated to electing more women to public office who will promote a healthy economy in which women can thrive and prosper (and have equal opportunities and rights!).
