Podcast

A Founder's Life:

Balancing Entrepreneurship, Family, Health, & Fun​

Podcast

A Founder's Life:

Balancing Entrepreneurship, Family, Health, & Fun​

Balancing Motherhood & Leadership - Haley Hunter - S4 - E11

How do you build a successful creative agency while raising two kids and finding joy in the chaos? For Haley Hunter, it all started with saying “yes” to opportunities, even when she didn’t feel ready. As the Co-Founder of Partyland, Haley leads an award-winning creative agency specializing in comedy, culture, and big ideas.

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, she shares her unconventional path from intern to founder, the lessons she’s learned in leadership and balance, and why loving what you do is the ultimate entrepreneurial advantage.

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Guest Info

Haley Hunter is Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at Party Land, comedy’s greatest ad agency.

A rare blend of strategic growth mind, operational wizard, and cultural architect, Haley has dedicated her career to building environments where creative talent thrives. She’s held leadership roles in every agency department (except creative), including talent recruitment, production, operations, and account management, at Fallon, 72andSunny, and BBH.

Under her leadership, Party Land has delivered some of the industry’s boldest and most effective creative advertising rooted in humor and entertainment, partnering with brands like Liquid Death, JanSport, Men’s Wearhouse, Google, Urban Decay, Netflix, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Wholly Veggie, and more. All while maintaining a near-perfect talent retention rate and client repeat rate.

As one of the <1% female agency owners in advertising, Haley is frequently sought out to share her perspective on new agency models, talent, culture, and business leadership. She has championed a new agency model built with empathy, generosity, and trust at its core. That model extends to how the agency operates: LA-based with a remote culture and talent all over the U.S. Her philosophy that creativity is only sustained in a culture of individualized support and wellbeing has been fundamental to Party Land’s momentum.

Party Land has been recognized as an Ad Age Small Agency of the Year (2x), an Adweek Breakthrough Agency of the Year finalist (2x), one of Adweek’s 100 Fastest Growing Agencies (#9), and a member of the Inc. 5000 list of top-growing private companies. Haley herself has been recognized as a founder who empowers growth, being named to Inc.’s Female Founders list and Campaign’s Inspiring Women.

Show Notes

About this Episode

How do you build a successful creative agency while raising two kids and finding joy in the chaos? For Haley Hunter, it all started with saying “yes” to opportunities, even when she didn’t feel ready. As the Co-Founder of Partyland, Haley leads an award-winning creative agency specializing in comedy, culture, and big ideas.

In this episode of A Founder’s Life, she shares her unconventional path from intern to founder, the lessons she’s learned in leadership and balance, and why loving what you do is the ultimate entrepreneurial advantage.


Highlights

Early Career: Started as an intern at 72andSunny before exploring industries from real estate to hospitality.

Big Challenge: Transitioning from employee to founder while raising two kids.

Turning Point: Launching Partyland with her partner and carving a niche in comedy-focused advertising.

Personal Growth: Practicing daily gratitude and redefining “balance” as presence, not perfection.

Business Success: Built a nationally recognized agency producing culturally relevant and entertaining work for top brands.

Future Vision: Continue building culture-driven creative work that connects brands with audiences through humor and heart.

Resources

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Haley Hunter

• Website: https://www.partyland.co/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hihaleyhunter/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partylandla

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