Georgie Holt: Redefining Media, Investment, and the Future of Creator-Led Enterprises
In the rapidly shifting landscape of modern media, few leaders stand out as powerfully as Georgie Holt. With a career spanning over two decades across publishing, podcasting, and investment, Holt has become one of the most influential figures shaping the way stories are told, communities are built, and intellectual property is scaled into thriving ventures.
As the CEO of FlightStory and Co-Founder of FlightStory Studio, she has positioned herself at the very forefront of a global movement where creators evolve into entrepreneurs, and influence is transformed into long-term equity. From guiding legacy publishing brands to steering cutting-edge podcast networks, Holt embodies a rare balance of vision, execution, and resilience.
This article explores Georgie Holt’s journey, her role at FlightStory and The Studio @ FlightStory, her earlier ventures such as Telling Media, and her wider contributions to organisations like Chief. It also examines how her education and experiences prepared her to become a transformative leader in the creator economy.
Early Life and Education
The University Foundation
Georgie Holt pursued a BSc in Politics at the University of Southampton between 1998 and 2001. This academic grounding equipped her with a strong understanding of governance, systems, and cultural trends — knowledge that would later prove invaluable in navigating the media and publishing sectors.
University life also sharpened her analytical and leadership skills, enabling her to manage teams, interpret complex data, and influence stakeholders across industries.
Professional Journey
Breaking Ground in Publishing
Holt’s career began in traditional publishing, where she worked with Mail on Sunday, Mail Newspapers, and ESI Media. In roles ranging from Business Development Manager to Client Sales Director, she developed a deep expertise in advertising, commercial partnerships, and strategic brand development.
Her rise was fuelled by her ability to blend creativity with commercial insight, qualities that became hallmarks of her leadership.
Leadership at Hearst UK
At Hearst UK, Holt flourished as Group Advertising Director, Commercial Strategy Director, and later as Publisher of Cosmopolitan. This period was pivotal: she steered some of the world’s most recognised media brands through the challenges of digital disruption, ensuring they remained relevant in an era increasingly dominated by online content.
The Stylist Group
From 2017 to 2020, she held senior positions at The Stylist Group, including Group Publishing Director, Publishing Director, and Executive Director. These roles expanded her influence across lifestyle media, giving her experience in building cross-platform ecosystems where editorial content and commercial strategies aligned seamlessly.
Global Impact at Acast
Managing Director UK & Ireland
In 2020, Holt joined Acast, the global hub for independent podcasting. As Managing Director UK & Ireland, she drove growth, empowered creators, and ensured Acast’s dominance in one of its key markets.
Managing Director Americas
Her success led to promotion as Managing Director Americas, based in the United States. This role placed Holt at the heart of the global podcast boom, where she not only supported creators but also helped steer Acast through its IPO. Her leadership was widely recognised, and she was even named by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the most influential figures in podcasting.
Founding Telling Media
In 2023, Holt co-founded Telling Media, a podcast media agency for brands. The company specialised in helping direct-to-consumer and B2B businesses scale through podcast advertising. With clients including the BBC, Telling Media showcased Holt’s ability to connect storytelling with commercial growth.
Telling Media also developed advisory services, introducing innovative monetisation models and exploring new technologies to optimise podcast growth. This experience laid the groundwork for her next big leap: FlightStory.
FlightStory: A New Era in Media and Investment
The Vision
In January 2025, Georgie Holt became CEO of FlightStory, a media and investment company co-founded with Steven Bartlett. FlightStory’s mission is bold: to elevate stories, build communities, and support founders who inspire a healthier, happier humanity.
Turning Influence into Equity
At the core of FlightStory’s model lies the transformation of creator intellectual property into equity. This approach redefines the creator economy by moving beyond sponsorships and one-off campaigns into building long-term, scalable ventures.
FlightStory is best known as the home of The Diary of a CEO, the second-largest podcast in the world, boasting over one billion streams and more than 10.5 million YouTube subscribers. For Holt, this show represents not just a media success but a proof of concept that creator-led content can evolve into globally valuable intellectual property.
The Studio @ FlightStory
Scaling Creator-Led IP
In February 2024, Holt co-founded The Studio @ FlightStory, headquartered in London with additional hubs in Manchester, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles. The Studio focuses on building and scaling influential creator IP, energising global fandoms, and using proprietary growth frameworks to maximise impact.
The studio’s methodology combines media production, entrepreneurship, and investment. It develops new shows, launches brand ventures, and builds product ecosystems around creator voices. This unified operating system ensures long-term commercial potential while maintaining the authenticity of the creator’s message.
The Diary of a CEO
One of the most significant achievements under Holt’s leadership has been the success of The Diary of a CEO, hosted by Steven Bartlett. The podcast has become a cultural phenomenon, attracting millions of listeners and viewers across the globe.
Holt’s role in scaling the show demonstrates her ability to blend editorial integrity with business growth. By positioning the podcast as more than entertainment — as a blueprint for creator-led entrepreneurship — she has proven that media can be both inspirational and highly lucrative.
Organisations and Networks
Chief
Beyond her corporate roles, Holt is a proud member of Chief, a private network designed to connect and empower senior women leaders. Membership reflects her commitment to inclusivity, leadership, and the promotion of women in positions of power.
Through Chief, Holt contributes to the development of future female leaders while strengthening her own influence in the executive world.
Leadership Philosophy
Holt’s leadership is characterised by a blend of creativity, commercial strategy, and people-first management. She champions the belief that creators are no longer just entertainers but founders and operators, with owned audiences acting as high-leverage assets.
Her career reflects an unwavering dedication to transforming industries by combining tradition with innovation. Whether in publishing, podcasting, or investment, she has consistently sought to redefine value and scale authenticity into global influence.
Conclusion
Georgie Holt stands as a defining voice in the next era of media and commerce. From her early days in publishing to her groundbreaking leadership at Acast, from co-founding Telling Media to steering FlightStory and The Studio @ FlightStory, Holt has consistently pioneered change in industries resistant to transformation.
Her work with The Diary of a CEO highlights how creators can transcend the role of influencer to become genuine entrepreneurs, building scalable IP with long-term equity. With over twenty years of experience, a global outlook, and a passion for empowering others, Holt is not only reshaping the podcasting and media landscapes but also laying the foundations for creator-led ventures that will define the future of business.
In Georgie Holt, the world sees not just a media executive, but a visionary architect of a more connected, authentic, and entrepreneurial age.
