40 under 40: Macy Sirmans Holmes

Congratulations to Macy Sirmans Holmes (ABJ ’13), on being named a 40 under 40 honoree by the UGA Alumni Association.

Macy Sirmans Holmes serves as the Travel and Home Marketing Director for Condé Nast in London. Additionally, Macy leads a digital marketing cohort in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp through Generation Aid. As an active member of the UGA London Alumni Chapter, she serves as the vice president.

What experience during your time at Grady College had the biggest influence on where you are today?

During my final years at Grady and UGA, I took introductory and advanced screenwriting classes with Dr. Nate Kohn. This class further established my love and appreciation for digital storytelling. Although I’m not a screenwriter by trade, the fundamentals I learned from Dr. Kohn and my incredibly creative peers inspire me as I produce online content today.

What would you tell your 20-year-old self?

If my 20-year-old self knew that I’d somehow find my way to a life in London by way of NYC and snag a job straight out of my Devil Wears Prada, 13 Going On 30-dreams – you’d have to pinch her. The truth is, the series of events that led me to the contentment I’ve found today were all perpetuated by leaning into my passions – only signing up for classes I was genuinely interested in at UGA, only fostering friendships and relationships that made me feel full, only investing in hobbies that helped me grow and only pining after jobs that I really, really wanted. So, I’d tell my 20-year-old self – and all 20-year-olds – trust the compass of your heart and soul. Ignore the background noise and eliminate the negativity. By following your passions, the rest of your life will fall magically into place.

What accomplishment or moment in your career are you most proud of?

In February of 2020, right before COVID turned the world upside down, I set off to the UK to produce a couple of videos for Food & Wine magazine with my team. The idea was to create point of view-style digital narratives that allowed visitors to navigate their way through a gin distillery and sparkling winery. This concept was intended to showcase the vibrancy of the UK’s beverage and culinary scene in an effort to turn negative perceptions about British food on their head. At the time of filming, I was happily living in New York City and working for Dotdash Meredith (now People Inc.), traveling around the world to create content for magazines like Travel + Leisure and Southern Living. The trip across the pond was unparalleled for so many reasons; we captured compelling footage in beautiful locations and, as fate would have it, I met my now husband in a queue during one of my final days in London. The videos were published early in the pandemic (see here), when the phenomenon of “armchair travel” reigned supreme because folks couldn’t indulge their wanderlust during lockdown. For this reason, the content ended up on the awards circuit in 2020 and 2021, which was an overwhelming honor. Long story short – within a couple of years of producing the content I’m most proud of, I ended up getting married and moving to London. In totality, this was an experience that moved my career forward and changed my life in all of the best ways.

How do you get inspired?

I’m a runner. When I’m feeling uninspired or overwhelmed, a run along the Thames past historic landmarks like Big Ben, Saint Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge stimulates my energy and creativity.

Are you currently working in your “dream job”?

Working at Condé Nast for the biggest global magazines and with the most brilliant minds in media? Creating content for Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, Vogue and GQ? Traveling all over the world to co-produce award-winning video content? This is 100% my dream job – and I give so much credit to Grady and UGA for putting me on the right path to snag it.

Favorite Podcast?

Sentimental Garbage, hosted by author Caroline O’Donoghue. If you’re a girlie like me who subscribes to the lore of Taylor Swift, Sex and the City and inimitable 90s rom coms, give it a listen.

One job-related tool you can’t live without?

A thesaurus

Favorite restaurant in Athens?

Call me cliché – but to this day, my mouth still waters when I think about the praline chicken and red velvet cake from The Last Resort.

Favorite place you’ve traveled?

For work, Australia and Thailand. For personal travel, I don’t think you can beat a sunny afternoon sipping a mojito on a beach in Mallorca. And a rainy walk in London, a Saturday brunch in New York and a weekend of sanctuary in the mountains of Northeast Georgia where I grew up aren’t half bad, either.

Item on your bucket list?

Start a family, write a novel and run the Boston Marathon.

Editor: Lily Alarcon, lia52467@uga.edu

Friday, Sept. 5 • 10 a.m. • Peyton Anderson Forum

40 under 40 Coffee and Conversation

Join us for a panel conversation with our Grady College 40 under 40 honorees as we discuss what they wish they had known as students about life after college. See our Events listing for more details.