January 7th, 2025
Women Who Build: Drew DeFir
Welcome to Le Femme Foundry, where we shine a spotlight on trailblazing women reshaping their industries and redefining leadership. This week, we’re thrilled to feature Drew DeFir, a visionary marketing coach and the dynamic CEO of Luna Marketing Studio whose journey is nothing short of inspiring.
With over a decade of experience in the marketing industry, Drew is dedicated to amplifying the voices of female founders, guiding them to build and scale their brands with clarity, confidence, and connection. Her journey is marked by resilience and an unwavering commitment to empowering women in business.
Can you remember the first moment you thought, “oh this is going to work?”
I’ve had several of these moments throughout the years of building Luna. When I booked our first very large client within the luxury space. When client wins started rolling in… when I would hit the jackpot with an amazing hire that I knew would help take us to the next level. This past year, we’ve brought on 3 new rockstars and added 2 new services. I had that feeling again the other day… our team—they really do make this dream work.
What’s the riskiest thing you’ve done in business?
Working with my husband—HA! Since Farron and I married, he has always played a critical role in the wellbeing of Luna. He is our CFO and manages all of our finances, payroll, taxes, etc. He has been instrumental in taking important tasks and decisions off my plate so that I can focus on my team, our clients, and networking. Obviously, working with your spouse is tricky. We have done our best to operate like a team and communicate respectfully and work within boundaries. He’s truly Luna’s #1 supporter.
Who has mentored you, and how have they shaped your view on business and being a female founder?
I’ve always had a mentor, and they have all poured into me. Ali Worthington was my very first official business mentor, and she taught me the invaluable lesson of keep going. When I was working with her, I was very insecure as a leader. I constantly felt like I needed to have the answers, and I chronically over explained myself all the time. She helped me become an empowering leader—a leader that truly gives my team members a chance to excel while supporting them and offering accountability along the way. She also taught me how to think about finances and prioritize what to invest in and when.
What’s one thing about your day-to-day as a founder that would surprise people?
I am a working mama… and have a tendency to be a workaholic! I pulled my 2-year-old son out of daycare this past fall to help me adjust my priorities and really rely on my team to carry the day-to-day operations. So chances are, while I’m on a coaching call with you, my son Teddy will either be coloring in our art room, playing with our dogs, or watching his favorite show on TV. He likes to pop on camera every now and then to say hello.
How do you celebrate wins, both big and small, in your business?
This is something I’ve not been good at EVER. I’ve had this unhealthy ideal that if I celebrate, then that must mean I’ve made it… This year, my husband and I have made it a priority to celebrate Luna’s wins big and small. Sometimes that looks like a bottle of wine on the way home, a nice dinner, a new purse, or a FaceTime phone call with my trusted friends and colleagues. Celebrating doesn’t have to be over the top… but it certainly can be!
What’s a skill you didn’t realize you’d need as a founder, but now consider indispensable?
An “everything is figureoutable” mentality. Thank you Marie Forlea for that. If you do not have grit, determination, and the will to push through all the hard, frustrating moments and people you’ll encounter, you will not make it no matter how amazing your business is. I’ve wanted to give up so many times. People can be cruel, and the pressure to please and be liked is real. But cultivating an inner peace and resilience to disappointments and knowing that every single problem has a solution is a game-changer that will catapult you forward and through every single hardship you face. Delegating is a super close second.
How do you define and measure success?
I used to define success purely by money. Are we growing? By how much? But now, I not only look at our revenue, I look at our relationships with our clients, our track record with repeat customers, what our clients and potential clients are saying about Luna. What is our company’s reputation?
What’s a business decision you made purely on gut instinct, and how did it turn out?
I’ve made SO many decisions on gut feelings, and those are usually the best decisions… My first hire, Heather, was a serendipitous encounter and a gut feeling that I am so thankful I acted on. Heather didn’t have a lot of experience in professional marketing, but I knew she had the hard skills it would take to work alongside me and help me build. Heather has a “figure it out or bust” mentality, and together we have trailblazed paths that have led us to where we are today. Listen to your gut every single day when you’re hiring. Some of our worst hires looked perfect on paper.
What’s your guilty pleasure after a long day of hustle?
Depends on the day. Some days it’s a hot shower with early PJs, cocktails with a friend after work, or a spontaneous outing with my kids. However, lately I love a good solo shopping trip and making a purchase that I will treasure for the long haul. My current obsession is investing in those timeless pieces that elevate your outfit and give you a boost of confidence.
How do you set boundaries between your personal life and business when everything feels intertwined?
This is SO hard yet so important. The truth is… some women love to cook or shop… I love to work. But, it’s so important to know your identity outside of your career. So instead of setting hard boundaries (because that doesn’t work for me), I make a lot of effort to do things outside of work that energize and inspire me. Playing with my kids, exercising, getting together with girlfriends, dating my husband, hiring a stylist to revamp my wardrobe, decorating my home. If you try to tell me not to work in the evening hours, good luck. 🙂 But I’m trying to play hard and love my people as hard (if not harder) than I work.
Thank you for joining us on this journey of amplifying women’s voices and highlighting their incredible achievements. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories in the weeks to come—because when women rise, we all rise.
