Name: Hannah Løffler Schmidt
Age: 39 years
Current occupation: Co-founder of Phanta Enterprises and agent for Pernille Teisbæk


What did you dream about as a child?

I wanted to be a CEO kind of type. I didn't know for what, and I probably didn't know what it entailed, but I always knew I wanted to be where the decisions were made. I was also student council president for most of my school years and enjoyed sitting at the table with the adults. It has followed me throughout my career that I have not been afraid of making decisions.

What key experience impacted you to move in the direction you are moving today?

It must be when I met Pernille Teisbæk at an Easter lunch 10 years ago. I never dreamed of working in the fashion industry. Until that day, I had worked in the TV industry for most of my adult life. But we had special chemistry from the first moment, and when she asked me to be her agent, I had no idea what I was getting into. It turned out to be the start of a 10-year career so far in something I was obviously good at. I discovered that I was good at helping others build careers, and that was decisive in where my career has gone.

”It has always been easy for me to make decisions and choices if my gut feeling is razor-sharp”

What choice you’ve made in your life are you most proud of, and why?

As for my personal life, I am proud of my little family and totally proud of my children. That daily pride in your children is hard to compete with. In my work, I'm incredibly proud of what we, the whole team, accomplished with my former company Social Zoo, where we contributed to shaping Copenhagen Fashion Week into a more international direction, as well as helped create and shape the entire influencer industry here at home. I'm proud to see everyone I've been an agent for succeeding at what they do. I am so proud of what Pernille and I have accomplished with her brand over the last 10 years. The latest thing I'm at least as proud of is my company Phanta Enterprises, which I created with Louise and Stinne, and how much we've accomplished with that brand in a short period while still having fun. 

What choice has been the easiest, and why?

It has always been easy for me to make decisions and choices if my gut feeling is razor-sharp. Then I don't have any doubts, and I'm very energetic. Like when we very impulsively decided together to close Social Zoo at the top in 2020. It was very sad to close down a child of our hearts, but we were touchingly in agreement that it was the right thing to do for all of us.

What has been the hardest choice you’ve taken, and why?

It’s been hard to end collaborations with influencers I've been an agent for. As an agent, I've always been very invested in the people I work with and have formed close bonds and friendships with many of them. It's a very special dynamic you develop in these kinds of working relationships, where they trustingly put a lot of their career in my hands, and it has often felt like a bit of a breakup if that relationship had to end.

How do you find inspiration and confidence to step out of your comfort zone?

I have a lot of experience with stepping out of my comfort zone. When you're self-employed and have been for many years, you're used to taking chances and somehow knowing that you're going to make it. I've tried most things, so I know that most risks are worth taking - even if they don't turn out the way you expected.

What personal characteristics do people most often use to describe you?

I don't really know. I think it's very mixed, depending on who you ask.

"I've tried most things, so I know that most risks are worth taking - even if they don't turn out the way you expected."

What is your best advice to others who would like to feel more comfortable about making personal choices?

Listen to your gut.

 

Follow Hannah on Instagram @hannahloffler

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