Influential Woman · Marketing and design for Department of Defense and Air Force organizations
Shania Horner
Founder and Creative Director, Mustard Seed Marketing
Springfield, OH 45506
Her Story
About Shania
Shania Horner is the Founder and Creative Director of Mustard Seed Marketing, a company she launched in 2021 following the birth of her son. With more than 8 years of experience in communications, marketing, and visual storytelling, she has collaborated extensively with Department of Defense, Air Force, and government organizations, helping translate complex ideas and technical information into clear, compelling, and marketable content.
Through her work, she develops communications materials that effectively tell the stories behind important missions and initiatives, including annual reports, executive presentations, brand identities, digital content, and other strategic communications assets.
She earned her bachelor's degree from Anderson University in Indiana, where she double-majored in Visual Communications and Business Marketing and became the first member of her family to earn a bachelor's degree. She has also earned certifications in Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing through HubSpot Academy.
Her professional approach combines strategic thinking, creativity, empathy, and clear communication, enabling her to help organizations communicate complex ideas with greater clarity and build trust through meaningful storytelling.
She attributes her success to the unwavering support of her parents, husband, and family, whose encouragement has helped her pursue her goals and navigate her professional journey. She considers integrity one of the most important values in both her personal and professional life and strives to lead with honesty, authenticity, and accountability.
Beyond her career, she has devoted approximately 30 years to serving her home church, volunteering in its children's ministry and contributing to the worship team.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shania
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the unwavering support and encouragement of my parents, husband, and family, who have always believed in me and encouraged me to pursue my goals with confidence and determination. Their love, guidance, and continued support have been instrumental in helping me overcome challenges, remain focused, and achieve both my personal and professional aspirations.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to focus on solving the right problem rather than simply making something look perfect. Understanding the needs of your audience, identifying what truly matters, and building meaningful relationships are essential to creating solutions that have lasting value and impact.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to never underestimate the value of your perspective, skills, and unique experiences. Curiosity, empathy, and strong communication are powerful strengths that can set you apart and are not always developed through technical training alone. Trust your abilities, remain open to learning, and recognize that your perspective has the power to contribute meaningful value to your field.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest opportunities in my field right now is helping organizations communicate with greater clarity and purpose in an increasingly noisy and information-saturated world. As artificial intelligence continues to transform how content is created, technology can accelerate production, but it cannot replace strategic human thinking, empathy, or the ability to build trust through meaningful storytelling. I believe this creates a significant opportunity for professionals who can combine technology with human insight to help organizations communicate authentically, connect with their audiences, and make a lasting impact.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is the value I consider most important in both my professional and personal life. I believe in being honest, authentic, and accountable in my actions and decisions, and I strive to build trust by consistently doing what is right, even when it may be difficult.
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