Written by: Alyssa De La Cruz
Edited by: Katie LeLasher
Cecilia Macris currently works for EAG Sports Management as a Senior Publicist and I personally it amazes me the work she does for her clients. Recently, I was able to catch up with Cecilia and ask her questions about how she obtained her current position, her accomplishments, her challenges, and her advice for others!
Macris received her BA in Political Science at Arizona State University and started her Public Relations in 2016. She plays a key role in managing athletes’ public image and their media presence. Also, their day-to-day responsibilities such as: drafting/distributing press releases, organizing media interviews, responding to media inquiries, and representing athletes at events and interviews. Additionally, Macris may be responsible for crisis management which includes: negative press or scandals that arise. But overall, Macris comments that she is “responsible for creating and managing a positive public image for my client in the fast-paced and often high-pressure world of sports.”
How did Macris receive this position you may ask? She started working in fashion PR in 2016 as a 26-year-old intern and after being a driven worker, she made up her mind to become a full-time employee for CLD PR. After two years with CLD PR, she decided to branch out to get more experience in a completely different industry which was mainly sports or entertainment. One day she was randomly looking through LinkedIn and that is when she found the job opening for EAG Sports Management and decided to apply for it within a week she was hired after being interviewed, and spoken to the CEO, and the rest of the staff.
Macris commented that she has always had a passion for sports, “I love attending football, basketball, and baseball games but never saw myself working in the sports industry because I have always thought Fashion or Entertainment was my go-to specialty.” She then explains how she at first didn't love what she did because “it was a completely new wheelhouse” for her and she was used to working with brands, not people. Fast forward four years later she now 100% loves what she does.
Macris has done a few achievements in her career for her clients, some that she felt left an impact were when she secured a print/digital feature in TIME Magazine and the Generation Leaders for a client’s foundation work in the Congo. One achievement that has really left an extreme impact on her and her client was when Solomon Thomas was nominated for the NFL Walter Peyton Man of the Year, which is known as one of the highest honors an athlete may receive. She explains how she believes “helping [Thomas] in securing media surrounding his philanthropy work in the mental health space and giving him the visibility he deserves helped get nominated by his team.”
Times Macris has felt overwhelmed doing her job “whenever a client has events during the season and off-season” because there are a lot of moving parts that go into these events and it can be stressful at times, especially if things don’t go as planned.
When women are trying to become a publicist Macris states her “advice would be to start by networking and building relationships with people in the industry. Attend industry events and conferences, join professional organizations, and connect with mentors who can offer guidance and advice. It's also important to gain experience and develop skills in media relations, social media marketing, and content creation. Internships or part-time jobs can all provide valuable experience in the field. Finally, it's important to be persistent and continue learning and evolving with the changing media landscape.”
*All photos were provided by Cecilia Macris personally*
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