Jessica Hawthorne-Castro

Chief Executive Officer

Jessica Hawthorne-Castro is the CEO of Hawthorne Advertising, a national leader and pioneer in performance-driven marketing. Under her direction, the agency has redefined results-based advertising by uniting compelling storytelling with advanced data science. Through proprietary tools, analytics, and neuroscience principles, Jessica ensures every campaign—from creative and production to media and strategy—delivers measurable impact and lasting brand value.

Jessica is deeply involved in guiding Hawthorne Advertising’s multidisciplinary teams to envision, develop, and execute high-impact campaigns that drive measurable results and build enduring brands. Her hands-on, responsive leadership style fosters trusted, long-term partnerships with a wide-ranging roster of clients—from emerging disruptors to Fortune 500 powerhouses.

Throughout her tenure, Jessica has prioritized innovation and accountability. She has championed company-wide initiatives that emphasize excellence. Hawthorne Advertising is proud to be a certified woman-owned business (WBENC), a Great Place to Work® and a multi-year Inc. 5000 honoree.

A recognized thought leader, Jessica contributes regularly to top-tier publications including Forbes, AdAge, AdWeek, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and the American Marketing Association, with hundreds of articles published to date. She is also a sought-after speaker on the intersection of technology, creativity, and marketing trends.

Jessica’s work has earned her numerous industry accolades, including:

EY Entrepreneur of the Year – Transformational Leader, Greater Los Angeles
Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Elite Marketer” and “Women’s Summit Award” nominee
Direct Marketing News’ “Marketing Hall of Femme” – Women to Watch
L.A. Biz’s “Woman of Influence”
Stevie Awards – “Woman of the Year” and “Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year”
Marketing EDGE’s “Rising Star Award”
CEO Today’s “Global Award” and Finance Monthly’s “Game Changer Award”

In addition to leading Hawthorne Advertising, Jessica is active across several professional and philanthropic networks. She has served on the ANA ECHO Board of Governors and is a member of the Forbes Agency Council, TED International, Vistage and YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization). Within YPO, she has held key leadership roles including Chapter Chair of YPO Los Angeles and Executive Board Member of the Pacific U.S. Region.

Before joining Hawthorne Advertising, Jessica launched her career in Hollywood as a television literary agent at William Morris Endeavor (WME). There, she represented acclaimed writers, producers and directors, packaging and negotiating deals for top network and cable series on ABC, NBC, FOX, HBO, USA, Bravo and more. Academically, Jessica earned her Cum Laude Bachelor’s degree from UCLA’s School of Arts and Architecture and graduated Magna Cum Laude with an MBA from Loyola Marymount University. She has been honored as a distinguished alumna at LMY Entrepreneurship Wall of Honor and is an M.S. in Business Business Analytics (MSBA) Advisory Board member. Outside of her professional life, Jessica is an avid world traveler—having explored over 50 countries—and enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.