Sophia Newby Women to Watch Award 2026

Sophia Newby

Flare Media Agency

Senior Paid Media Strategist

Greenville

After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Sophia Newby joined Flare Media, where she's spent the past five years growing into her current role as a senior paid media strategist. Today, Newby leads the planning and execution of paid media campaigns, partnering with clients to achieve their goals with clear strategies. In her free time, she enjoys working with GirlUp GVL, mentoring and supporting young women in the community.

What makes you an effective leader? What are you still working on?

What makes me an effective leader is how I show up for the people I work with. I bring a positive, supportive energy and focus on keeping things clear, while giving others the space to take ownership and figure things out. At the same time, I’m still working on delegation — learning to step back more and trust others without feeling like I need to be involved in every detail.

What one thing have you learned that has served you well over the years?

One thing I’ve learned that’s served me well is getting comfortable with making mistakes. Early in my career, I put a lot of pressure on myself to get everything right, but I’ve realized that growth comes from trying, adjusting, and improving over time. Letting go of that mindset has made me more confident in my decisions, more willing to trust myself, and more open to learning along the way.