Hello,

My name is Linsi Brownson

and I help creative entrepreneurs strategize and streamline their business so they can enjoy their work and Create More with less stress.

My approach is always owner-first; I believe that YOU are your most valuable asset and your business should support the lifestyle and purpose you want in your life.

I loathe busywork, and look for solutions that are simple and dare I say it - fun!

About Me

  • I work exclusively with creative entrepreneurs, because the needs of creatives are often different than traditional small business.

  • I am the CEO and owner of Spark Collaborative since 2012. We started as a brand and marketing agency for creative businesses. After building my team, I shifted my role to business coaching and creative direction.

  • I am the COO/CFO and Co-Owner of Benchmark Fine Cabinetry since 2016. We are a high-end custom millwork company in Austin, Texas. We started with three people - my husband, me, and a part-time installer - today we have 20 full-time team members!

  • Scroll down if you want to learn more about my background and entrepreneurial journey.

Creative Industries I work with:

  • Architects

  • Architectural photographers

  • Art galleries and consultants

  • Authors and professional writers

  • Brand photographers

  • Functional Medicine and wellness practitioners

  • Graphic designers

  • High-end residential construction trades

  • Interior designers

  • Interior design retailers and showrooms

  • Interior stylists and home staging companies

  • Landscape Architects

  • Marketing agency owners

  • Personal chefs

  • PR agencies for creatives

  • Professional podcasters

  • Textile and Wallpaper designers

  • Visual artists

  • Website designers

The Bio Story

I graduated 2004 from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles with a degree in Visual Communications.

After starting my career in the entertainment industry, I quickly realized that “the industry” was not for me, and either was L.A.

I went back to school in Orange County, California and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Interior Design. I was lucky to start my career with an incredible small design firm where it was just the Principal Designer and me - I learned so much about “real world” interior design and the business of design - neither are taught in school!

In 2010 my husband and I launched an ecommerce company called Redefine Home. We sold custom, artisan, and refurbished furniture and home decor, along with Interior Design services.

I could share so many lessons learned from this business. I learned how to design and build websites, market a business through PR, email and social media, style and photograph products (in our apartment!), and really honed my branding skills.

The business was fun and successful in so many ways but we really struggled with work-life balance and our marriage. After 2 years we decided to close the store.

Fortunately, these skills are highly useful! I began freelancing and quickly got so busy that I needed to build a team.

Spark Collaborative launched in 2012 as a social media agency and eventually into full-service branding and creative agency.

With my team in place, I shifted my role to Creative Director and Branding Coach.

I loved working with small business owners to help them discover what is unique and meaningful about them, and turning that into a message they could share with the world. Through branding alone, their confidence, happiness, and revenue all grew - what a cool experience to share!

In 2018 I decided that I didn’t want to manage a team or run a big operation (it seemed big to me at the time :) anymore. I sold part of my business and wound down the creative services department.

I got certified as a life and business coach and have been coaching creative entrepreneurs 1:1 since then.

Jumping back a little…

In 2016 my husband and I moved from Southern California to Austin, Texas. Since closing our business he had been working as a carpenter building custom millwork. We launched Benchmark Fine Cabinetry (formerly Benchmark Kitchen and Bath), a high-end custom millwork company in Austin in 2016.

The business started with just the two of us and a part-time installation assistant. In 2020 the team started growing quickly, which created the immediate need for a dedicated COO and CFO, which was just enough in my wheelhouse to elect me to the job.

Today we have over 20 full-time team members! (Turns out I DO want to manage a team, lol. Funny how things can change.)