Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Martin.
Hi Dan , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been attracted to creativity that drives change and makes a real difference. Early in my career, I knew I wanted to work somewhere that blended creativity with business and that naturally pulled me toward advertising. With that mindset, I gravitated towards Austin because this city breathes creativity. It’s full of makers, thinkers and people who push progress forward—and that energy drew me here. I started in TV sales, then transitioned to a direct marketing firm, and later moved to GSD&M, where I worked on TV commercials and brand campaigns. After a few years of experience under my belt, I was searching for a new challenge that would enable me to make an impact on brands through every marketing touchpoint.
When I interviewed with Hiebing, a full-service marketing agency, something clicked. They had just opened a second office in Austin that would collaborate holistically with their Madison flagship and had one foundational client as an anchor: Hyatt Lost Pines. I’ve always had a bit of an underdog mindset and Hiebing embodied that in the best way—a smart, smaller group of talented people doing incredible work without the ego. I wanted to be a part of that and help build something new in a market I really believed in. At the end of the day, what keeps me energized is simple: the people I work with, the clients we get to partner with and the opportunity to build something real in a city I love.
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?
I don’t think anyone in advertising would say their path has been without bumps and roadblocks. Agency life comes with a lot of variability—clients drive opportunity; momentum shifts and your career grows in waves. I’ve learned that you have to genuinely love the day-to-day process to be successful.
Starting our Austin office meant stepping straight into the unknown. We were completely new here and we had to earn every inch. With Hyatt Lost Pines as our Austin foundational client, we were able to build a base and take on exciting work, like Chuy’s Tex-Mex, that helped us gain visibility in the market. If you show up consistently and deliver excellence every day, you’ll eventually end up exactly where you’re meant to be. Patience really is part of the job. Now, seeing more inbound leads and feeling the momentum continue to grow in spite of those early roadblocks—it’s incredibly rewarding.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Austin is full of untapped talent and interesting, unexpected stories. Helping brands grow here—and helping our team grow alongside them—has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. Getting to come to work on Barton Springs, right across from Zilker Park, is honestly one of the best parts of my day. We’ve renovated our building over the past couple of years and the space has become a huge source of creative energy for our team. When your office sits next to paddleboarders, runners and the heartbeat of the city, it’s hard not to feel inspired.
One thing that makes Hiebing special is how seamlessly Austin and Madison work together. We have teams that collaborate across both offices on shared clients, projects and pitches. It’s not “ATX vs. MSN”—it’s one unified team and our clients benefit from that combined horsepower. We get the grit and creativity of Austin, the deep strategic roots of Madison and a strong culture that ties it all together.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Working in a creative industry means taking risks every single day. We’re constantly stepping into spaces where there’s no playbook—solving problems while we simultaneously figure out what the right answer even looks like. That alone comes with inherent risk. What roots us in sharp answers to risk-taking are the strategic foundations that don’t shift in marketing: letting the motivations of the target audience guide our decision-making and leaning into the distinct brand promise we are making. With those two cornerstones, we are always taking risks from a strong platform. That’s the mindset I try to bring to every project, every challenge.
Being comfortable in a risky space isn’t just about bold thinking: it’s about believing in the process and trusting your team to move forward together when faced with uncertainty. The employee-ownership model at Hiebing encourages exactly that kind of trust and collaboration, allowing us to turn unknowns into opportunities for growth. At Hiebing, because we’re partners in our agency’s future, we can make decisions based on long-term thinking rather than short-term pressure. That structure gives us room to take the right risks—the ones that lead to meaningful, lasting growth for our clients and for our team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hiebing.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-martin-68612b6/
Image Credits
Rebecca Barnett, Hiebing
