2024 40 Under 40: Hannah McClelland Ruder

Hannah McClelland Ruder says she used to view her age as a weakness, but today it’s worn as a badge of honor. The 25-year-old graduated college at age 19 and started her social media management company at 22, now working with over 50 local businesses.

She says she defied the odds by betting on herself, even at the discouragement of a former employer: “My business has grown by more than my previous annual salary every year I have been in business.”

She says her company works with clients like Dr. Randi Green of Springfield Smile Doctor and Dr. Bharat Shah of Shah Plastic Surgery. Through strategic planning, innovative campaigns and staying at the forefront of industry trends, she says: “I’ve had the privilege of showcasing their brilliance to the world, ensuring they receive the recognition they deserve.”

She also supports area nonprofits, serving on young professionals’ boards for Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, Missouri Inc. and Girls on the Run, among others.

Your proudest moment? Getting my bachelor’s at 19. All the late nights, missed social events and endless sacrifices were worth it.

Your professional aha moment? Realizing that when people hire me, they want me. I don’t need to try to be more intelligent, more professional, more mature, more polished. They hired me for my personality and my strengths, and to pretend to be someone else is to sacrifice the person God made me to be.