Margaret Easterly '12

Margaret Easterly '12 has taken her passion for creativity and fashion and built a remarkable career in brand management and social media, beginning with an early love of writing she discovered at GPS. Margaret started at UTC and later transferred to UTK, where she initially felt uncertain about her major until she realized her skill in writing, inspired by her English classes with Mr. Cook. Combining this strength with her interest in fashion, she majored in English and minored in Retail and Consumer Science. Throughout her college years, Margaret landed roles at Village Exchange and Anthropologie, where she even completed an internship in window displays—an iconic part of the Anthro brand.

As a senior at UTK, Margaret was living with a fellow GPS alumna and came across a job posting for Spanx in Atlanta—a position requiring her exact mix of interests in writing, fashion, and humor. She landed the role six months before graduating and worked with Spanx for five years as a brand coordinator.

Following Covid, Margaret started vaguely considering a change and went to update her résumé, portfolio, and LinkedIn profile. A two-year-old message from an Abercrombie employee immediately piqued her interest. “I noticed I had a missed message asking me to interview for a position with Abercrombie. I emailed the girl back, and luckily she was still working there,” Margaret says. “While the initial role had obviously been filled, there was a similar position open with Hollister and Gilly Hicks.” It was straight to Columbus, Ohio, for Margaret from there! (Admittedly, she didn’t originally see a move to the Midwest in the cards, but she’s loved every second!) Now three and a half years into her role as Copy Manager, she focuses on social media and copywriting for campaigns like “Cozy Girl Season” and "Fall Fit Check."

Margaret describes her creative journey as dynamic and challenging. She loves collaborating with designers to bring her ideas to life on social media platforms and in-store signage. “I’ve had to learn how TikTok works, figure out what goes viral, and adapt as social platforms change,” she explains. Outside of work, she keeps busy with her jewelry brand, Hi Strung, creating bracelets for sensitive skin, which grew from a personal project to a small business. (Find her on Insta @histrungco!)

Reflecting on her time at GPS, Margaret cherishes the friendships she formed and the support from teachers, which she credits with preparing her for life’s pressures. Her advice to students is heartfelt: “It’s not that deep—don’t put so much pressure on yourself. My best relationships with friends and teachers shaped me, not my grades. GPS taught me the importance of those connections.” She hopes to one day become a creative director, continuing to pursue her passions in both professional and personal pursuits.