Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Haarala Jones
Hi Hannah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hannah Haarala Jones, native to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, received her bachelor’s degree in Media Production and a minor in Business Management from the University of Southern Mississippi.Shortly after graduating, Hannah moved to Dallas to seize a job opportunity at The Campbell Agency, a well-known print modeling agency. During her time there, she gained valuable experience in the publication industry working at Modern Luxury in the Dallas market, particularly in event management. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Hannah was furloughed that summer in 2020. In response to this challenge, she and her husband, Michael Jones, decided to launch the talent representation division of J1S, which was already gaining traction for its work with college athletes.
Following the rapid growth of J1S’s talent division in 2021 and 2022, discussions of acquisition with Wasserman began in 2023, sparked by their interest in entering the creator industry. Ultimately, Wasserman acquired J1S in the fourth quarter of 2023. As we enter the second year at Wasserman, the team has continued to expand significantly in both roster and personnel. Wasserman’s increasing presence in the creator industry is becoming more impactful each day, further solidifying their relevance in this dynamic space.
Hannah Haarala Jones currently holds the position of Senior Vice President of Digital Talent at Wasserman, where she oversees the partnership and monetization teams within Wasserman Creators. With her extensive experience, Hannah has supported some of the most influential digital creators across various verticals.
Hannah resides in Dallas with their son, Sage.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Launching J1S in July 2020 during the peak of COVID was a formidable challenge. The fundamental aspects of starting a business—like securing an office space and managing payroll—were particularly tough. Building a client roster and assembling a team from scratch added to the difficulty, especially when seeking out individuals who shared our vision and embraced the startup mentality.
Additionally, as newlyweds, Michael and I were navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship for the first time, which made the journey even more daunting yet rewarding.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Wasserman?
Wasserman Creators is a division of Wasserman, a global sports and entertainment agency. Our division focuses on managing and representing content creators, influencers, and digital talent across various platforms. We provide support in areas such as brand partnerships, content strategy, and audience development, helping creators maximize their potential and connect with brands looking to engage with their audiences. Essentially, Wasserman Creators acts as a bridge between talent and opportunities in the evolving landscape of digital media.
Hannah Haarala Jones currently serves as Senior Vice President of Digital Talent at Wasserman, directly overseeing the partnership and monetization teams within Wasserman Creators. Hannah has supported some of the most prolific digital creators across all verticals. Hannah’s diverse background in talent representation across lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and entertainment provides her with a unique perspective on the rapidly growing creator economy. One of our proudest moments was selling our startup agency, J1S, to one of the top agencies in the world after just over three years. Achieving this at such a young age was a significant milestone for us. We are immensely grateful for the warm welcome we’ve received from Wasserman, which has enabled us to offer even more resources and support for our talent today.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Family, being a mom and a wife, and my support system outside of work.
Supporting causes that I believe in – being able to take action and do things to make an impact.
Being able to provide the best work for our talent – the talent/entertainment industry can be very transactional, but we have always been very relationship-based and focus on the people.
Providing a great work culture and environment for our team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.teamwass.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahhaarala/
Image Credits
First photo: Eduardo Graciano
Last Photo: Chanelle Walker
