Meet Sandra Macedo | Pet Influencer & Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sandra Macedo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sandra, how do you think about risk?
I am a first-generation Mexican American college graduate. My parents came to this country seeking a better life for themselves, my siblings, and me.

They put their dreams aside so that I could pursue mine.

They came to a country where they didn’t know the native language and with little to no money.

No risk that I have taken is as great as the one they took so it has motivated me to take risks in my life and career without fear.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My creative journey has been a rollercoaster, to say the least!

I graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in Biology. My first job out of college was at an aquarium manufacturer in International Sales and Technical Support. I was doing a lot of domestic and intertantional travel within the first few months.

February of 2020 I was scheduled to go to Spain. The day before my trip the CEO of the company called me to tell me he was pulling the plug on our trip to Spain. I was devastated because I had never been to Spain or Europe for that matter.

Fifty percent of my job responsibilities came to a halt. In an attempt to keep myself busy I asked my supervisor if there was a way for me to help in other ways. She asked if I wanted to help manage their social media accounts. I accepted and my life changed forever from there on out.

I took my iPhone and started taking photos and videos of the many aquariums we had at the office, and began posting them to the company’s social media accounts. I then incorporated products and explained how to use them, the difference between them, and when to use what product. Within a few months, the company’s Instagram had grown from 4k to 26k.

Soon, I found myself creating marketing campaigns, product release videos, and managing all of their social channels.

This all started with an iPhone. I found such a passion for creating engaging content and constantly improving my skills.

I have since learned how to use Photoshop, Lightroom, and FinalCutPro.

The biggest lesson I learned when I started was that it’s not about what you have but how you use it.

I am now a full-time content creator and own my own Marketing Company.

Today, Ryder (my dog) and I have a quarter million followers across all platforms. We post funny, relatable, dog content and do our best to share our journey in an authentic way including our struggles and successes. We have been featured on Yahoo, Forbes, CNN, and Fox News and have partnered with some amazing brands such as Petsmart, Toyota, Bounce, IHG, VCA Animal Hospitals, and many more.

It’s been an incredible journey and I’m so proud of how far we’ve come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I LOVE Atlanta so much so this is such a fun question.

I would absolutely take them to Krog Street Market, Ponce City Market, and The Atlanta BeltLine! As a foodie, the belt line is a must!

Atlanta also has so many great dog-friendly breweries that I’d take them too including NewRealm, SweetWater Brewing, and Monday Night Brewing.

A personal favorite hangout spot is Fetch Park Buckhead. You can find Ryder and me there multiple times a week and I would take any dog lover there.

Piedmont Park is a must. I think people who are not from Atlanta are always pleasantly surprised at how many green spaces Atlanta has. Piedmont Park has so much to see and do from farmers markets to pop-ups. I am a big fan of the Atlanta Dogwood Festival and would take my besties to any seasonal festival there may be should it line up!

We also love Stone Moutain. Ryder and I paddleboard there frequently in the summers and love showing friends and family around there, I think it’s such an underrated spot!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give my fiance a HUGE shoutout. He has been my biggest supporter throughout this entire journey. He constantly reminds me why I took this leap in the first place and he pushes me to better myself every day!

I am also extremely thankful for our online community. The amount of support we have received has been so amazing. I couldn’t do this without them and I am here because of each and every one of them.

I first began Ryder’s social media accounts to connect with other dog owners and have since found some amazing and life long friends.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryderdalmatian/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-macedo-133b7a1a5/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085303844402

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj4F48oTPBorXwFIFRntr2w

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryderthedal