Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Foster Harley.
Kelly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2017, I started Social Creative with one computer, one camera, and determination, offering social media management to small businesses. Driven by my love for storytelling and branding, I began helping friends and family, which soon grew into supporting more local businesses. My grit, creativity, and belief in small business owners fueled my journey from the start.
Entrepreneurship was not my first chapter. I graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism and political science and spent nearly a decade as a news reporter and anchor. From there, I served as the Public Information Officer for Chatham Emergency Management Agency before becoming a Corporate Communications Specialist at Gulfstream, where I led the company’s social media efforts.
During my time there, the company’s social media following increased by 65 percent. Watching that growth unfold showed me just how powerful digital platforms were becoming. That experience marked a turning point, as I realized I could use my skills to help businesses tell their stories in a strategic and meaningful way.
That insight pushed me to launch Social Creative, turning passion into purpose.
Over the years, that one-woman operation became a full-service marketing studio supporting small- to medium-sized businesses. Today, we are an eight-person team specializing in branding, website design, social media, and ongoing marketing strategy, serving clients across Georgia, Florida, and beyond. Some of my first clients are still with me, and I am forever grateful they took a chance on me, often believing in me more than I did.
Entrepreneurship and motherhood have grown side by side for me. I am a mom to a teenager who keeps me busy with volleyball and cheer. For a few years, I coached rec cheer before realizing I loved being a cheer mom even more. Motherhood, much like building a business, has been a journey of figuring it out as I go. There were seasons when I answered client emails between practices and edited websites late at night after games, building a company in the middle of real life.
I am incredibly blessed with a daughter who challenges me, encourages me, and keeps me grounded. On my harder days, she looks at me and says, “I wish you could see yourself through my eyes.” That perspective shifts me instantly. It reminds me who I am and why I work so hard.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The past few years reshaped me in ways I never expected. My dad passed away in 2022. In 2024, my stepmother passed away on my birthday. A month later, I found myself cleaning out their home and closing out that chapter of my life. Not long after that, in the summer of 2024, my mom was diagnosed with cancer.
She was my sidekick and the person who helped me start this company. She even worked alongside me at Social Creative, handling our invoicing and finances. After spending much of her career as a bookkeeper for the school system, numbers were her thing, and she kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes. In the early days, when I doubted whether I could really build something on my own, she believed in me without hesitation. Her confidence in me gave me the courage to begin.
For a year, I stayed by her side for treatments and appointments. Many days, I brought my laptop and worked while she had chemo. I had plenty of sleepless nights, always listening for her. In August of 2025, after that year together, I sat beside my mom and held her hand as she took her final breath.
That season felt like never-ending grief and revealed just how stretched thin I was trying to keep everything moving. Revenue dropped. My energy shifted. For the first time, I had to let go and lean on my support system. When I was not at full capacity, my team stepped in. They took responsibility, supported our clients, and kept the business steady while my focus was elsewhere.
That season continues to reshape me in ways I am still discovering.
Losing the person who loved me unconditionally forced me to step up in a new way. No longer having my fallback meant I had to become stronger, more confident, and more intentional about how I spend my time.
Time is our most precious asset. Once it is gone, you do not get it back.
That realization sparked a strategic shift at Social Creative: I stopped pursuing growth for its own sake. Now, the business focuses on building deep, long-term partnerships with fewer clients and dedicates more time and strategy to each relationship.
Grief clarified what matters. Time matters. Presence matters. The way we build our businesses matters.
Now, I lead with stronger boundaries, clearer values, and conviction. I build intentionally, protect my time and my team’s time, and work to create something that would make my mom proud.
It has not been a smooth road.
In the early years, I undercharged, overworked, and lacked boundaries. I said yes to everything out of fear of missing opportunities. As the business grew, I learned to hire, build systems, and let go of control.
One of the biggest shifts came when I realized protecting my time is strategic, not selfish. Strengthening my boundaries improved everything: our standards rose, client relationships strengthened, and our work became more focused and impactful.
It makes a tremendous difference when you work with clients who value your expertise, your time, and your boundaries. That clarity has allowed us to build a business that is sustainable, not just busy.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Social Creative is a full-service marketing studio based just outside Savannah in Effingham County. We specialize in branding, website design, social media management, and marketing strategy for small- to medium-sized businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients through focused, impactful marketing that helps them grow confidently.
What sets us apart is the level of strategy and partnership we bring to our clients. We do not just deliver creative assets. We help clarify vision, strengthen positioning, and build marketing systems that actually work.
We intentionally serve a focused number of clients so we can provide strategic attention and thoughtful solutions. Our approach blends creative branding and marketing with clear systems, delivering results and building lasting partnerships.
In 2025, we were honored with a Best of Georgia recognition for marketing companies. We are also a proud member of the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. From one computer and one camera to a recognized full-service marketing studio, it was a humbling and meaningful milestone for our team.
I am building intentionally, for impact, sustainability, and the kind of legacy that honors those who believed in me.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is time and impact.
Walking through my mom’s cancer journey permanently changed my perspective on both. It reminded me that success is not just revenue or recognition. It is how you spend your days and who you spend them with.
I am building a business that supports my life, family, and team. I work with clients who care about what they are creating. I build brands that help small businesses thrive in their communities.
If I can build something that makes my daughter proud, honors the belief my mom had in me, and positively impacts the businesses we serve, that is success to me.
This journey has required a lot of grit and even more grace. It is a reminder I carry with me every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.socialcreativeco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialcreative_co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/socialcreativecompany
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/social-creative-co
Image Credits
Michelle Holloway Photography https://michellehollowayphoto.com/
