We’re looking forward to introducing you to Janey Hawley. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Janey, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Honestly, my proudest moments lately sneak up on me in everyday life. The other day I was in a strategy session with my team and realized halfway through that the conversation had flipped. Everyone was building on each other’s ideas and I was not leading, just watching it unfold. It hit me that I had built a space where creativity thrives without me needing to drive it. That was a proud moment.
For laughter, my dogs always deliver. The second I open a Zoom call, it is like they hear the starter pistol for a competition. They wrestle, chase each other, and make as much noise as possible while I am trying to look professional on camera. It is chaos but it is also hilarious. They are like furry comedians who know exactly when mom is on a meeting.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Janey Hawley, the CEO and Crayon Evangelist behind Fat Bird Marketing, a boutique fractional marketing firm that thrives on creativity and straight talk. We are not a one size fits all agency. Instead, we step in as a partner to help businesses find their voice, sharpen their strategy, and actually enjoy the marketing process.
What makes us unique is the way we mix strategy with humanity. We keep things fun, a little cheeky at times, but always grounded in results. I built this company because I saw too many businesses drowning in cookie cutter marketing that did not reflect who they really are. At Fat Bird, we make sure every piece of work feels true to the brand and actually connects with people.
Right now, we are working on projects that range from tech events to health and wellness campaigns, all with a goal: to spark growth without losing personality. That balance of creativity and clarity is what keeps us excited every day.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a scrappy and creative kid who knew how to turn a sheet of Chiclets into a small business empire. I was a girl who loved her cat more fiercely than most people, who scribbled into journals about heartbreak, crushes, friendships, and survival. I was the version of myself that did not yet know the weight of expectation but carried a natural instinct to create, connect, and keep moving forward even when life was messy and painful.
I grew up in circumstances that could have easily hardened me, but instead they made me sharper. I knew instability, loss, and what it felt like to be overlooked, but I also knew how to make something out of nothing. That girl was resourceful. She was resilient before she even knew the word. And she never stopped trying to find beauty and laughter, even in the middle of chaos.
That younger me did not have a roadmap, but she had a spark. And that spark is what I still carry with me today. It shows up in my work, in the way I build spaces for creativity and honesty, and in how I choose to tell the truth even when it is uncomfortable. The world has tried to tell me to be quieter, smaller, and more polished, but the truth is I was never meant to be any of those things.
I was meant to be loud, curious, and unafraid to build something that feels real. That is who I was before the world told me who I had to be, and it is still who I am now.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. Building a business is not a straight line and there were times I questioned if I had the energy to keep going. In the early days of Fat Bird Marketing I was working long hours, juggling clients, and trying to figure out how to scale without losing my sanity. There were moments when cash flow was tight, when projects felt overwhelming, and when I wondered if I should just walk away and go back to something more predictable.
What stopped me from giving up was the reminder of why I started. I wanted to create a business that mixed strategy with humanity, one that showed clients they could have marketing that actually felt like them. Every time I thought about quitting, something small would pull me back. A client telling me our work gave them confidence. A team member bringing an idea to life. Or even the simple truth that I could never see myself thriving in a cookie cutter role again.
Those almost quit moments ended up shaping me. They forced me to get clearer about what mattered most, to put systems in place, and to build a team that could share the weight. Looking back I am proud I did not give up because those were the seasons that built the kind of resilience and creativity I lean on today.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say that what matters most to me is people. I care deeply about connection, whether that is in my personal life, with my team, or with clients. They would say I fight for the people I love, that I show up when it counts, and that I do not settle for surface level relationships.
They would also say that creativity matters to me. Not just the kind that shows up in business or marketing, but the everyday creativity of building a life that feels true. I have always believed that laughter, storytelling, and honesty are what keep us human, and I try to weave those into everything I do.
At the end of the day my friends would tell you I value loyalty, truth, and making something meaningful out of the chaos. And they would probably add that I will always make room for good food, good wine, and a little bit of fun along the way.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
What people will probably misunderstand about my legacy is thinking it was about the business stuff. Yes, I built companies and brands, but that was never the whole point. The real point was people. Creating spaces where they could show up as themselves, laugh, get a little messy, and still do great work.
If someone looks back and only sees the logos or the campaigns, they will miss the truth. My legacy is not about the finished product, it is about the way I showed up, the way I cared, and the way I tried to spark something in others.
I do not want to be remembered as the person who checked all the boxes or built the perfect machine. I want people to remember that I told the truth, I pushed for creativity, and I made people feel like they mattered.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fatbirdmarketing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatbirdmarketing
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fat-bird-marketing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FatBirdmarketing/
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