Rising Stars: Meet Caroline Edwards of Atlanta, GA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Edwards.

Hi Caroline, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Wow! This is a big question. I guess I’ll start by saying that I’ve always loved writing and storytelling. It’s a creative outlet that is necessary to my existence (and sanity). I graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism. However, I knew I didn’t want to do anything political or sports-related. What was left was every little girl’s dream: magazine editor. I grew up watching E! News (RIP) and Bravo with my mom and, of course, my canon event—seeing The Devil Wears Prada in theaters. So, that is what I set out to do, but I didn’t want to leave home. I come from a divorced family, and leaving didn’t feel right. So I found opportunities in my backyard.

I interned for three semesters at Modern Luxury, a nationally recognized media company with titles from California to Chicago, New York, Boston… and Atlanta! Unfortunately, they didn’t have a position for me when I graduated. So, I moved to Charleston, SC, which was starting to get notoriety in 2018. I did odd jobs—working retail at a King Street boutique, bartending, babysitting all the time—and looking for a way to break into Garden & Gun, which is notoriously difficult. I started interning at Charleston Magazine first, which was my gateway to moving there. The magazine was quaint and sweet, and it was interesting to see how a small local mag was run. It had a lot of heart. About a month or so later, I finally got my résumé in front of someone at G&G and was brought on as a merchandising intern. Did this have anything to do with my degree? No, but I jumped at it.

I learned so much that summer. I worked alongside the buying team for G&G Fieldshop, curating what went in the online store vs. the Dewberry Hotel store, wrote online product copy, stocked, restocked, and wrapped. I even got to tag along on the Holiday Gift Guide styling shoot, which is always a big annual production. Watching the “science” of product styling and how a shoot runs was incredibly valuable for my future career.

I would have stayed in Charleston forever, but love (and my career) brought me back to Atlanta. One afternoon, while visiting my boyfriend, I got a call from my previous boss at ML, Stephanie Davis Smith (@twosidedsouthern). She said they had an opening for an assistant managing editor! I was thrilled but also heartbroken because I knew that meant I needed to come home. Lesson learned: always keep in touch with previous bosses—if it’s a “no” now, it doesn’t mean a “no” forever.

That role started my real career and first paid job. I worked as an assistant managing editor, then managing editor, and finally editor-in-chief at 24. I’ll never forget putting “editor-in-chief” on my vision board that January, and then it actually happening. While at ML, I worked with Lauren Finney Harden (@laurenfinneyharden), who became a mentor and friend. Both she and Stephanie had held the EIC position of The Atlantan, Interiors Atlanta (now Interiors Southeast), Weddings Atlanta, Atlanta Charity & Social Datebook, and Modern Luxury Atlanta Medicine + Doctors prior to me. The six years I spent at Modern Luxury can’t really be summed up in words. I learned how to juggle a billion things simultaneously, speak on stage, run events, and handle difficult people and situations gracefully. The skills I gained from that job are the reason I am where I am today.

Fast forward to current day: I work at The N2 Company (@then2co), a magazine franchiser that prides itself on fostering and spotlighting communities, providing a fabulous work-life balance, top-of-the-line benefits, and an employee-centric company culture. My current title is Content Marketing Specialist, and I help various teams create visual and written content to optimize our franchisees’ success. I’ve never worked at a company like N2, and I feel truly blessed every day that I get to clock in as an employee.

Working at N2 has also given me the opportunity to develop my side hustle: Dorsey Interiors, an interior design firm I started alongside my mom, Christi Hill. We work within our niche, introducing our regional projects to small, boutique design, textile, and décor firms brimming with talent. We use our mother-daughter dynamic to blend a variety of design styles and mix old and new generational ideas. It has been such a pleasure developing this business over the past year, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings. Please follow us on Instagram (@dorseyinteriors)!

On the side, I am also a freelance copy editor and email marketer for Daniela Ezratty, owner and founder of Ezratty Integrative Aesthetics in Virginia-Highlands. Daniela is one of the most driven, impressive, empathetic, and inspiring people I know. I optimize her content and organize channel flow to provide the most impact for her businesses. If beauty, skincare, and lifestyle interest you, follow us and subscribe to The eia Way Substack—and follow Daniela (@danielaezrattyaesthetics) on Instagram. If you need an injector, you won’t find a better one in Atlanta. She’s the only one I trust with my face.

Last, but certainly not least, working at N2 has also allowed me to develop my own personal passion project, Caro Curated. This is a lifestyle Substack where I share fashion, beauty, and home picks, tips, and finds. As a former editor, I spent much of my career curating content for an audience, and I see Caro Curated as both an extension of that and a way to honor my editor days.

That was a lot! But that is who I am. I’m always busy and thrive on wearing a thousand different hats at once.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road—though I think most people would agree that life and career rarely are. Both can be tough, but they’re absolutely worth it. Along the way, I’ve dealt with poor leadership, competitive and unkind colleagues, and being taken advantage of in systems not designed to work in my favor. Still, through it all, I’ve learned the value of professionalism and the importance of never, ever burning a bridge.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At my core, I’m a storyteller. I love taking an idea, a space, or a brand and shaping it into something that connects with people. Whether I’m working on a marketing campaign, designing a home, or pulling together a brand voice, I’m always looking for the details that make something feel personal and memorable. What I’m most proud of is building a career that lets me be both creative and strategic, and doing it all while keeping strong relationships at the center. What sets me apart is that I don’t just “do the work,” I tell stories that make people feel something, and that’s what keeps me excited to show up every day.

How do you think about happiness?
My husband, Charlie, golden retrievers, the beach, seashells, changing seasons, Pinterest, collaborating with brands, clothes, antiquing, finding a deal, my mom, working with women entrepreneurs, cowboy boots, well-written books, etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dorseyinteriors.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinebentleyedwards/
• Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/dorseyinteriors/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://theeiaway.substack.com/
• Other: https://carolineperrott.substack.com/

Image Credits
First Primary Photo + Dorsey Interiors Photos By Kathryn Anne Waller Step and Repeat Photo: By Kim Evans All others courtesy of the subject