Sara Barksdale

Meet Sara:

Sara McDonald Barksdale is a strategic communications leader with nearly 20 years of experience advising organizations on how to build credibility, strengthen brands and tell stories that inspire action. Her expertise spans media relations, executive communications, brand strategy, crisis communications, event management and integrated marketing across nonprofit, consumer, B2B, retail, higher education, healthcare and technology sectors.

Over the course of her career, she has managed communications for presidential events, nationally recognized nonprofits, Fortune 500 companies and some of the Southeast’s most iconic cultural institutions. She has partnered with nationally recognized organizations and iconic brands, including The Carter Center, The Fox Theatre, Fox Gives, Piedmont Park Conservancy, The Home Depot, The Home Depot Foundation, Kroger, Georgia State University and Georgia Tech. Whether launching statewide education initiatives, leading communications for high-profile nonprofit campaigns or managing media for nationally recognized events, she specializes in transforming complex ideas into compelling stories that build trust, engage audiences and drive measurable results.

Her work has earned coverage in leading national and regional media outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, The Washington Post, People, Southern Living, Town & Country, Real Simple, Reader’s Digest and Martha Stewart Living, helping clients expand their reach, strengthen their reputations and engage millions of people nationwide.

Among her career highlights are:

• Leading the national media strategy for The Carter Center’s Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song, overseeing red carpet media operations and coordinating more than 100 credentialed journalists and entertainment media during the landmark tribute honoring President Jimmy Carter.
• Directing communications and media strategy for Piedmont Park Conservancy’s Landmark Luncheon, generating significant local and regional coverage while helping build momentum for the organization’s first Comprehensive Plan in 25 years.
• Securing international media coverage for one of the nation’s leading public research universities.
• Developing integrated communications campaigns that have advanced nonprofit missions, strengthened legacy brands and delivered measurable business and community impact.
• Managing national media outreach for The Home Depot’s DIY and Do-It-Herself initiatives, earning broadcast coverage across major U.S. markets and expanding awareness of the company’s consumer engagement programs.

Known for her editorial instincts, collaborative leadership and calm approach under pressure, Sara excels at navigating complex communications challenges while building meaningful relationships with executives, journalists and community stakeholders. Her experience across both agency and in-house environments enables her to quickly understand an organization’s goals and develop communications strategies that resonate with the audiences that matter most.