Meet Jen Hannon

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jen Hannon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jen, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My whole life has been a game of balance. I started as a competitive swimmer at age 5, learning early on to juggle school, homework, and daily training.

The real challenge came in college. We practiced twice a day from 5:30 to 8 am, then classes from 8:30 to 2:30 pm, followed by another session at 3 pm. That’s when I learned that balance isn’t about doing everything perfectly; it’s about planning your week in advance so you have time for your priorities. When you know what matters most, saying no becomes easier because you understand what will throw off your balance and derail your goals.

Right now, with a toddler, my balance looks completely different. I prioritize my mornings and evenings with my daughter, from 6:30 to 8:30 am, she has my full attention. Then from 8:30 to 9:45, I work out or hike. From 10 to 3/4 pm, I take meetings and focus on work. Then 4/4:30 to 7 pm is family time again.

If I need to work after my daughter’s asleep, I’ll work from 8 to 10 pm, but I love mornings, so I often get up early to work instead. This allows me to spend quality uninterrupted time with my family.

Balance to me is figuring out what’s important, what you need each day to be your best self, and planning accordingly. Planning makes balancing everything way easier.

For me, balancing swimming, academics, personal life, and family in college looked nothing like it did in my twenties and early thirties. Now in my late thirties, with a daughter and my own business, the balancing act is harder, but I can always make it work. I’m intentional about my schedule. And if some weeks one part of my life needs more attention, I adjust the following weeks. That flexibility is what makes long-term balance sustainable for me.

What should our readers know about your business?
Becoming a mother has transformed me in the best way.

I thought I knew what life was about. I was one of the top female swimming recruits in the country coming out of high school. I worked at leading communications firms and tech companies. I built what looked like a great life from the outside.
But motherhood? It changed everything.

I’ve always had strong ethics. I’m constantly learning, staying positive yet realistic, and trying to stay humble. I’ve always worked hard, I didn’t know any different.

What motherhood taught me? To slow down. Work smarter. Ask for help. Laugh more. Be playful. Trust my intuition. Listen more than I talk. And to have patience, so much patience.

I learned that relationships matter. That giving back, whether it’s sharing ideas, helping others navigate their careers, or handing leftover food to someone on the street, costs nothing but can truly help someone.

When I face challenges, I’ve learned to look inward first. I ask myself the hard questions. Then I walk away, literally. I go for a hike or a run and clear my mind. I talk things through with trusted people in my life. And I ask God for guidance.

Here’s what else I know: Don’t judge people. You never know what they’re going through. Preparation eases anxiety. Clear communication comes from preparing and not rushing to hit send. Being the connector, the person who can bring everyone together to get things done or make decisions, is invaluable. This is important for you to grow: learning about your soul, what triggers you, how to regulate yourself and taking care of your mind, body and soul. Take time to build relationships and find your people.

Don’t take everything too seriously. As my grandma told me before she left this world: life teaches you to live.

What I’m most proud of:

Leading analyst relations during IBM’s acquisition of Red Hat ($34 billion in 2019)
Securing Leaders placements in Gartner Magic Quadrants, Forrester Waves, and numerous other evaluations
Launching my own business, named after my daughter
Building relationships in my community and bringing people together
Becoming a badass mother!

What excites me most right now?
Bridging the gap between corporate strategy, marketing, and analysts, especially with the emergence of independent and boutique firms (and answer engine search). I help organizations and startups navigate the analyst ecosystem and understand how it can accelerate their business. There’s so much misconception in this field. The more I can demystify it and help others, the more I can elevate this entire industry.

About my journey:
I’ve worked at small companies (50 to 200 people), big agencies (MSLGroup and Hill+Knowlton), and major tech firms (Splunk and Red Hat). Navigating different internal politics, business goals, resources, and systems was hard, but it made me smarter. I learned to adapt and build what was truly needed. Working with more than a hundred industry analysts taught me how the firms work, what really matters, and how to help my clients succeed.

I’m a student of life. I love to learn. I love deep conversations over good dinner, and sometimes a good glass of wine. I love being a mother. In many ways, I’m growing up right alongside her.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d start in Golden, where I live. Hike South Table Mountain, grab lunch at New Terrain, then stroll through downtown Golden to the creek. We’d stop for coffee at Cafe 13 before heading to dinner at Abrusci’s.

Next, two days in Breckenridge. We’d bike around town, looking at the changing fall colors, and, if it’s winter, try snow biking and dog sledding. We’d ski at winter park.

Day trip to explore Evergreen, Estes Park, or Grand Lake. Your choice.

Then, a relaxing day at Mount Princeton Hot Springs.

For the finale, we’d hit Denver. Pearl Street, Wash Park, then head to the Highlands for dinner at Happy Camper or Avanti

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My grandmother, Isabel.

She’s the reason I have confidence, wisdom, and grit. Isabel came to the United States from a poor village in Colombia at 20 years old, knowing no one. She worked hard, built a life from nothing, and never forgot where she came from, even when she had little, she gave to others.

She taught me everything about resilience and grace. When I was pregnant, we talked every week for an hour or more. Those conversations changed me. I asked her how she’d did it, how she’d navigated a new country, a new language, a life so far from home. She showed me that strength isn’t about never struggling; it’s about moving forward anyway.

My daughter was six weeks old when my grandma passed away. I carry her with me, in the way I approach challenges, in the kindness I try to show others, in the life I’m building for my daughter.
She was the most beautiful soul. I miss her every day.

Website: https://www.hmh-marketing.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenhannon/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JenHannon_HMHMarketing

Image Credits
yes they are my images