WTL 5: Meet Hollis Thomases

     Five provocative questions answered by an inspiring and fabulous woman  – a woman with something to say.

Meet Hollis Thomases

Hollis Thomases started working in digital marketing back when it was called “Web marketing.” Predating even the existence of Google, in 1998 Hollis founded Web Ad.vantage to promote websites. Over the years, Hollis won acclaim for her business achievements (Maryland’s 2007 US SBA Small Business Person of the Year), her authorship (she wrote the book, Twitter Marketing: An Hour a Day) and her role as a female leader (Maryland’s Top 100 Women 2012).

Looking to evolve past tactical marketing execution, Hollis has recently embarked on a new journey of discovery. Currently brandishing the moniker “ROI Diva,” Hollis now seeks more consultative and advisory roles. Hollis has worked as a market analyst, a product creator and a trusted professional advisor to other women starting out in business.

People would be most surprised to know that:  Most people perceive me to be upbeat and optimistic, but I would consider myself equal doses of optimist and cynic. One friend helped me sum it up this way: “So you’re a realist!”

The WTL 5:

What’s the conversation that changed your life?

No single conversation comes to mind. A series of influences does instead, such as having a very successful grandfather who clearly valued women’s intellect and assertions, and who later advised me that the most valuable asset I brought to my work was my ideas. Or talking to my college internship advisor who made me aware that having a miserable internship experience at least let me know what I didn’t like or want to do with my future. My life is constantly changing and so, therefore, are my conversations. 

What are you most conscious of today?

Currently, I’m most conscious of what I’m going to “be” next – trying to figure out my next incarnation and along with it, my next identity. That said, if I’m being honest, in this very day, I have been made conscious of the fact that I’m too selfishly focused on “finding myself” and am neglecting other people who I ought to also be remembering. No man (or woman) can be an island. 

What part of you have you yet to give voice to?

I have been very successful in most everything I do — in school, in my career, in building a business, in having lasting personal relationships – but I also suffer from episodic depression, a topic I think is still pretty taboo among business leaders. I have wanted to give a voice to this problem to help others like me through it, but I haven’t been ready to. I’ll consider this acknowledgement my first tiny step. 

What’s the conversation women need to be having collectively?

There are SO MANY! Talking about things like how to say no, how to focus when we’re so used to multi-tasking, how to feel and act like winners, how to take when the opportunity is right in front of us, how to readily accept compliments…and how to stop blaming systems for shutting us out and just forging ahead regardless. 

What needs to be said bigger, louder, stronger?

We need more women in science and tech. We need women leading innovation because so many products we use today could have been made better with a little more female common sense involved. We need to help young girls to stop focusing so much on outward appearance and encourage instead the power of their brains. Great minds can accomplish anything; great looks will only take you so far.

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Thank you, Hollis, for sharing your powerful voice

with WomanTalk Live.