It’s not about us,
it’s about you.
We started The New HQ because, honestly, we were pretty clueless about how to start working for ourselves. It was a lot of late-night phone calls, frantic Googling, and figuring it out as we went. And it felt a little isolating: no one quite understood how (or why) we were working independently.
But once we found our rhythm, we realized something huge: especially as we added little kids to the mix, this way of working felt like a life hack. It allowed us to grow in our careers while being fully present at home. And the more we networked, the more we realized: there are a growing number of people working differently!
Yet, we couldn’t believe there weren’t more resources out there for professionals to navigate this path. So, we’re creating what we wished we had.
And here’s the thing: we are very much not claiming to be experts. Just because we’re “doing it” doesn’t mean we’ve mastered it. We’re learning alongside you – sharing ideas, testing what works, and embracing the mess. Together, we’ll figure out how to work smarter, be kinder to ourselves, balance the juggle, build profitability, and redesign work so it actually makes sense for our lives.
This is the future of work.
Let’s build it together.
But if you’re curious about us…
Meet Leslie
Leslie Zaikis is a strategy and marketing consultant who’s spent over a decade building a flexible, independent career—and helping others do the same.
A master of both systems and storytelling, she has a sixth sense for what makes things click. She partners with purpose-driven leaders to clarify their message, grow strategically, and focus on what’s actually worth their time and money. Leslie began her career as a management consultant and went on to build a client portfolio spanning startups and high-growth teams across publishing, fitness, fashion, education, tech, and beyond. She brings clarity, heart, and just the right amount of wit to every project.
Today, she’s built a career that fits her life—raising two young kids and a very good dog, and channeling her love of color-coded spreadsheets into marketing plans and weekend logistics alike.
Meet Kaylin
Kaylin Aarts is an organizational development consultant, facilitator, and coach who helps individuals and teams work with greater clarity and impact. With a background in project management and operations, she brings structure to complexity—blending strategic insight with a people-first approach to leadership and collaboration. Kaylin is passionate about helping individuals and teams cultivate intention, action, and fulfillment in their work. In 2018, Kaylin transitioned to working independently and as a trusted affiliate partner with the intention of building a better relationship to work and a deep curiosity about creating a portfolio career, rather than following a traditional corporate path.
She lives in New York with her husband and three boys (two human, one Bernedoodle), navigating work and life with equal parts curiosity, humor, and a solid to-do list.