New York-based Samantha Barry's Instagram feed is enviously glamorous and glossy.
New York-based Samantha Barry’s Instagram feed is enviously glamorous and glossy.
The Ballincollig woman, who was appointed Glamour magazine’s editor–in-chief last year can claim Amal and George Clooney as close friends along with Vogue’s Anna Wintour who described her as ‘fearless.’
Red carpet appearances and being front row at fashion week are all in a day’s work for her at the helm of one of the world’s biggest fashion and beauty media brands.
But as well as sizzling style, there’s plenty of substance behind the 37-year-old who is regarded as a game-changer in the media world.
Samantha has close links to West Cork as her mum Mairead is originally from Bere Island and now lives in Bantry with her dad. And she recently gave an Instagram shout out to Beara’s Ocean Bloom (organic seaweed skincare made on the island) to her 28,000 followers which, naturally, the business was thrilled with.
As editor-in-chief, she has taken 79-year-old Glamour digital in 2019 – a decision which made worldwide headlines when announced and which she says she didn’t make lightly.
Known for her keen eye for growth in the media industry she has previously said: ‘We are investing in areas the audience and revenue can continue to grow and that’s digital.’
Her CV needs no embellishment. She joined Glamour from CNN Worldwide, where she served as executive producer for social and emerging media. Under her leadership at CNN, the network became the most followed news organisation in the world.
She joined CNN from BBC World News in London, where she served as a social media producer and journalist, focusing on using social media as a tool for both news gathering and audience building.
Previously, the UCC graduate worked as reporter and producer for RTE and Newstalk in Ireland. She spent time in Papua New Guinea with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and has worked as a social media and technology trainer for the US State Department, the United States Institute of Peace and Internews.
She has worked in 25 countries, reporting and training other journalists in broadcasting, technology and social media. But she insists she never set out with a deliberate career plan and says where she’s at is within anyone’s reach.
‘I think it takes a magical mix of an awful lot of hard work, ambition and believing in yourself.’
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