Account Manager
Jake Townsend joins Wander Creative as a storyteller and strategist who brings a rare blend of creativity, clarity, and connection to everything he touches. With over a decade of experience helping media brands grow through meaningful content, Jake has built his career at the intersection of video, social media, and digital strategy, leading teams, crafting compelling narratives, and turning audiences into engaged communities. He is passionate about creating work that truly resonates, combining data driven insight with authentic storytelling to help brands not just reach people, but move them.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to pursue a career in social media management?
I started my career under a promo tent as a Promotions Director at WayFM in Fort Myers, Florida, handing out frisbees and chapstick to anyone who spun the prize wheel. Social media was still new, and we were figuring it out in real time, long before short-form video became what it is today.
Over the next 11 years, I worked my way up to leading the Social Media and Video team at Hope Media Group. That’s where I fell in love with social media. It’s where storytelling meets scale. It’s the fastest way to take an idea, shape it into a story, and put it in front of an audience with immediate feedback.
Now, I focus on helping brands and creators refine their message and grow their audience through story-driven content. Most people don’t have a content problem. They have a clarity problem. That’s the part I enjoy solving.
What does a typical day look like for you as an account manager at Wander Creative?
No two days are the same, but most of it comes down to three things: clarity, execution, and iteration.
Some days I’m building out content strategy, dialing in messaging, or reviewing performance to figure out what’s actually moving the needle. Other days I’m deep in production, working through edits, refining hooks, or helping shape campaigns before they go live.
There’s also a lot of communication. Aligning with clients, guiding creators, and making sure everything we put out feels intentional instead of reactive.
It’s a constant loop of testing, learning, and improving.
What do you find most challenging and most rewarding about your position at Wander Creative?
The most challenging part is that attention is earned every day. What worked last month doesn’t guarantee anything today, and audiences are quick to tune out anything that feels forced or repetitive. You have to stay sharp, keep testing, and be honest about what’s actually working versus what you want to work.
The most rewarding part is helping my clients find content they genuinely enjoy creating that also performs. When those two things line up, everything changes.
Watching them go from feeling disconnected from their social presence to being excited about what they’re making, confident in how they show up, and proud of the results is hard to beat. That’s what I love about what I do.
What is your favorite platform, and what trends on social media are you excited about?
Instagram is my favorite platform, especially when it comes to short form video. It’s where I see the most potential for storytelling right now.
What interests me most is the shift toward more honest, story driven content and less overproduced work. People are getting better at recognizing what’s real versus what feels manufactured, especially with the rise of AI.
The brands and creators that stand out are the ones that feel human, not corporate.
Outside of work, what are some of your personal interests and hobbies that help you stay balanced and inspired?
A lot of what I do outside of work still revolves around creating, just without the pressure of it needing to perform.
I spend a lot of time taking photos, usually of nature, small towns, or just whatever I notice when I’m outside. It gets me out of the apartment and forces me to slow down and pay attention in a way I normally wouldn’t.
I also write and read quite a bit. I’m drawn to stories that feel honest and grounded, the kind that stick with you after you finish them.
It all helps me stay present and pay attention, which is where most good ideas come from.
