Photo credit: Michael Mallard
Full name?: Kelly Holt
Position / Job title?: Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Austin Phoenix
1. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Wait, which part of my childhood does this refer to exactly? Could it be the time when I wanted to be the founder of an environmental advocacy organization (to save the neighborhood trees), or the time when I wanted to be a Shania Twain protégé? Both were in elementary school and both were very… very serious.
The truth is that I wanted to be a lot of things. I wanted to be a singer, an artist, and a writer… the female version of Indiana Jones. The one thing that remains true today is that I have always wanted to do more for myself, for my family, and for the world.
2. Fast-forward several years/decades. How did you land (or create) your current position?
I thought of the idea for The Austin Phoenix magazine while I was working retail after graduating from college. I had a degree in Anthropology, and I love researching people and cultural patterns. To give myself a creative outlet I started a blog. Through my blog, I continued to explore my passion for writing, research and photography. The more I wrote, the more ideas I developed.
I decided to create The Austin Phoenix when I realized that I needed something that didn’t exist yet, and I could use my passions/talents to create it. I needed a publication that would inspire me to pursue my own passions, where people would share their success stories. All while allowing me to feel closer to the people in my city that are doing what I wanted to.
How did I do it? I built it from the ground up with the help of a team of college friends and scattered talent that I assembled over the following year. I was honest about what I wanted to accomplish, why it mattered to me, and how it could make a difference for others. People responded with support and positivity from the start.
3. Did you have to take on internships to get there? How important in general, do you think, are internships?
During college, I interned for a company that I’d never work for. They paid well and I had the right connections, but it didn’t align with my interests. I was never interested in working in an office. I found that participating in school organizations, volunteering outside of school, and working jobs in college proved most valuable for me professionally. However, I think internships can be incredibly powerful. The value of an internship depends on if you have a clear idea of what you want, and if you pursue a company that can offer you experience in the field you want, values your time, and gives you ample opportunities to participate. I recommend interning for small businesses. I also recommend paying close attention to the people who work at the prospective company. Are they who you want to work with?
In my case, I just wanted to explore as many different interests, meet as many new people, and gather as many new experiences as I could. My method for personal growth is to throw myself into as many uncomfortable and scary situations as possible. If I’m scared, curious, or uncertain it’s because I can’t predict the outcome, and if I can’t predict the outcome then it’s absolutely worth trying. I think that taking risks in your personal life makes it seem less scary in your professional life.
4. Tell us what a typical work day looks like for you. What is your job REALLY like, both the glamorous and not-so-glamorous parts?
I work a full-time job on top of The Austin Phoenix to fund the magazine’s production… do you want the unmitigated truth? It is exhausting! Is it worth it? Undoubtedly.
I spend my regular work hours developing brand strategies, generating and designing direct marketing campaigns, building strategic partners with local businesses, and writing articles. For The Austin Phoenix, I work with local businesses, delegate tasks, manage a team, design the layout, organize events, conduct interviews, write articles, edit articles, develop marketing strategies, and 15 other tasks. The list doesn’t end.
The truth about working in the magazine industry is: it’s not as glamorous as it appears. The most “glamor” you receive from a career in media is the pride you can take in how fabulous you make someone else look. Did I just design this bad ass magazine that people are actually interested in reading? Did I just write an article that got 200 views online? Did I just conduct a photo shoot that four uninvolved businesses are tweeting about? Yes. Check. SH-yeah I did! That’s your glamor.
5. What is the biggest career mistake you’ve ever made?
Great question! Every time I make a decision I wonder whether I am making a mistake. I make small decisions every day and have made many small mistakes. When it comes to the big decisions I think about the repercussions of my decision, evaluate my priorities, and consult with people I trust before I leap. I take my time because even if I don’t get the desired outcome, I can rest assured knowing I still made the best decision I could.
In my experience, being self-aware, recognizing your limitations, and maintaining a moral compass is the key to making confident decisions in business. I regret nothing. Some of the small mistakes I’ve made? Not being prepared. Not delegating responsibilities. Not resting when I needed to.
6. What is the single most important piece of advice you would give to other career-minded women?
Believe in yourself. Having a career and embracing a profession can be the most empowering thing you can do for yourself. I know from experience that believing in oneself can be hard as hell.
People will not be around to hold your hand forever. You have to start believing in yourself. You will never have control over your own happiness until you stop relying on other people and assume the responsibility yourself.
Careers aren’t easy. If you feel beaten down, there is no better encouragement you can give yourself than to look back at what you’ve accomplished, and realize how truly talented and strong you are. It is hard to see yourself for what you are truly capable of because then you have to make a choice. Once you know what you’re capable of you become 100% responsible for whether you reach your potential. Believe in yourself. You don’t need outside validation or 10 million reasons. Just do it.
7. Let’s talk about work/life balance. What does that mean to you? Is it important?
I am the type of person that has to have alone time. I realized this while I was working on the 4th issue of The Austin Phoenix. I was constantly on the go: in meetings, filming interviews, designing, strategizing, writing, researching, and working on the website. It took its toll on my energy, my positive attitude, and it affected the caliber of my work. Even if you love what you do, you need a balance. There is a fine line between being excited to go to work and dreading it. That line needs to be properly tended to. Find out what you love outside of your job and dedicate time to it. Negligence can destroy your professional spirit.
8. On that note, do you think women can have it all? Both the baller career, and the happy family?
Of course!
9. If you could look into a crystal ball and see 20 years into your future, what would you want to see?
I see The Austin Phoenix running local entrepreneurial publications in cities nationwide. I see travel, zest, and economic change. I see myself contributing to a fundamental conceptual change in the way start-up and entrepreneurial communities interact, support, and engage with each other nationwide. I see new ventures and I see lots of love and support.
10. Do you have any career role models? Who are they?
Amy Cosper. Seth Godin.
11. What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received – career-related or otherwise?
I’ll never forget something my dad told me when I was maybe 10 years old. I was a feisty child and dad was this strong, well respected figure that I could aspire to be. He always dropped nuggets of wisdom that made me really think. I was recounting a fight I had with a friend and was proud because I thought I’d won the fight when I got the last word. Cue nugget drop. Dad turns to me and tells me that I’m wrong, and that the person who walks away from a fight is always the stronger person. Now (and ever since then) I never let my pride compromise my ability to be the better person.
12. Parents love to say, “just wait ’til you have to face the real world…” When you were in college or high school, what did you think the “real world” looked like? What is the difference between what you thought and reality?
I never pictured the “real world” stereotype as anything to aspire to be a part of. Real life is what you make of it. I had no expectations and I’m not disappointed as of yet.
13. Should you work for the money, or do what you love?
What you love. Find a way to do what you love and be unique. Then, find a way to leverage your unique qualities to make money.
14. How important is money to you when considering a job?
Money is important. Don’t settle for less than what you deserve.
15. What is the single most important factor of a job?
When I think of a job, I think of a life-long commitment. You have to believe in the work you do. Loving it is important, but also knowing that you can grow with it and develop alongside it. You should appreciate your job for more than the money it gives you.
16. If you married a millionaire husband and didn’t have to work, would you? (Be honest.)
Hell yes.
Leave a Reply