Redefining agency life: How two wāhine entrepreneurs built Refinery Creative

Five years ago, longtime collaborators Leslie Cariaga and Stevie-Lyn Takata set out to build a creative agency around the values they wanted to bring to their own careers: thoughtful work, genuine relationships, and a culture where people could thrive.

Today, their Honolulu-based firm, Refinery Creative, works with organizations ranging from major financial institutions and hospitality brands to nonprofits and community-focused organizations across Hawaiʻi. The agency brings together strategy, design, and compelling storytelling to help clients communicate ideas in ways that go beyond aesthetics alone. Along the way, the women-owned, AAPI-owned business has grown into a respected creative partner while staying true to the values that inspired its founding.

The foundation for that partnership was laid years before Refinery Creative existed. Cariaga and Takata met while serving on the board of Honolulu’s AIGA chapter, where they helped launch the city’s first Design Week. Working together on a major volunteer-driven initiative revealed something important: they shared not only complementary skills, but a common vision for leadership, creativity, and collaboration.

As both women were building successful careers, they were also stepping into motherhood. Those experiences prompted deeper conversations about flexibility, ambition, and what they wanted the next stage of their careers to look like — including whether professional success didn’t come at the expense of being present for family.

“I wanted to be a parent who was there not just physically, but actually there,” Cariaga says. “This company gave me that back, and it’s taught me things about patience and empathy that I don’t think I could have learned any other way.”

Built on shared values

From the beginning, Refinery Creative’s founders were intentional about the culture they wanted to create. They sought to prove that high-caliber creative work didn’t have to come at the expense of relationships, family life, or employee support.

As the agency grew, the founders found themselves navigating the realities of entrepreneurship.

“The biggest challenge was learning how to run a business while also doing the work of the business,” says Takata. “Creative agencies aren’t always built by people with MBAs, and there’s a real learning curve around things like contracts, pricing, HR, and financial planning.”

Still, the agency gained momentum quickly, earning the trust of some of Hawaiʻi’s most recognized organizations. Those client wins validated both the quality of Refinery Creative’s work and the approach the founders were building.

Today, when asked about their proudest accomplishment, neither points to revenue growth or marquee accounts.

“The team! Without question,” says Takata. “Building a place where talented people choose to work, and where they feel genuinely supported still strikes us as one of the most meaningful things we’ve done.”

That commitment extends beyond day-to-day operations. Refinery Creative regularly invests in professional development, leadership growth, and strategic learning opportunities for its team, reflecting a belief that great work begins with great people.

“I’m proud that we’ve proven you don’t have to sacrifice quality to build a humane workplace,” says Cariaga. “Those things aren’t in conflict. If anything, I think one enables the other.”

Supporting sustainable growth

As Refinery Creative evolved from startup to established business, the founders recognized they couldn’t and shouldn’t do everything themselves.

“We’re good at what we do: creative strategy, design, client relationships,” says Takata. “HR and payroll are not our areas of expertise, and we knew early on that trying to manage those things ourselves would cost us more in time and mistakes than bringing in the right partner.”

That’s when Refinery Creative partnered with ALTRES for payroll and HR support.

“It came down to knowing our limits,” says Takata. “ALTRES came recommended, and what kept us there is the relationship. We don’t feel like an account number; we feel like people they actually know and care about.”

Having a trusted HR and payroll partner has allowed the founders to stay focused on their employees, clients, and long-term vision.

“Peace of mind is underrated as a business asset,” says Cariaga. “When you’re not worried about whether payroll ran correctly or whether your HR practices are compliant, you can actually be present for the work that matters. ALTRES handles the infrastructure so we can focus on the relationships with our clients, our team, and each other.”

As Refinery Creative looks toward its next chapter, the founders hope to continue expanding the scope and complexity of their work while growing the agency’s presence beyond Hawaiʻi, bringing their relationship-driven approach and strategic creative expertise to clients across the country while remaining grounded in the values that shaped the business from day one.

“We want to keep building something that works for our families as much as it works for our clients,” says Takata. “That balance is core to why we started this, and it remains core to how we want to grow.”

Five years in, Refinery Creative’s story is about more than business growth. It’s a testament to what happens when local entrepreneurs build a company around their values, surround themselves with trusted partners, and create a workplace where both people and ideas can flourish.