Eduardo Holguin moved from the Dominican Republic to the United States for college, studied advertising and branding, and spent years building a visual language that other people would eventually pay attention to. He did the work quietly, then New York happened, and the rooms got bigger.
In 2026, Forbes put him on their 30 Under 30 list in the social media category. He found out because people were already congratulating him before the notification arrived. That detail tells you everything about how he operates — building in public, earning trust before the credentials catch up.
At 26, he leads By Holguin, a content studio whose client list runs from Ogilvy and BBDO to L’Oréal, Ferragamo, Pinterest, and Crocs. He shoots, directs, and thinks in brand strategy simultaneously.
Q&A
You are part of Forbes 30 Under 30 class of 2026. Tell us what led you there.
I got on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for the social media category this year, and it was something very beautiful and unexpected. Just because it was driven by people, right? They were already congratulating me before I even knew I was on it. It emphasizes the beautiful thing about being on something so big.
Does age matter in this industry? What are some of the opportunities you see for young talent in this space?
Something that I think is very beautiful about my age — I’m 26 — is the way that I’ve been able to insert myself in a room. Old or young, forget your age and understand that you are your talent and your experience. Sometimes my experience can be shorter than other people’s experience, but it’s very important to learn from those people. Understand what they have to bring to the table, and what you as a young person — as a new visionary that’s more fresh on what’s actually happening day to day — how can you work in tandem with these experienced voices and create a community together?
Tell us your content creator story.
I was born in the Dominican Republic and I grew up there. I moved to the US for college — advertising and branding — and I was always fascinated with the visual world that brands create. When I was creating content with other people, I was like, you know what, I should probably do this for myself. I have a lot to say. I have a lot to show. I have a visual eye, and I want people to see my Instagram and be inspired. Then I moved to New York City, where I think my world just opened. And it’s things like Forbes that re-give me that credibility of — I’m doing the right thing, and I’m where I need to be.
How does creative marketing work in the fashion industry?
Nothing will move the needle more than having a spokesperson speak about their genuine experience with a product. Say you’re working with a beauty brand known for clearing out acne or hyperpigmentation — two skin conditions that are actually very hard to get rid of. By working with that brand, people are regaining their confidence. So it’s not only about what the product does for you, it’s how the product makes you feel. Advocacy and influence are very big from a brand’s perspective — where you’re not only tapping macro creators that will sell, you’re tapping the advocates who are actually using the product every day. You’re leveraging them. You’re putting them on your channel. You’re reposting them. You’re interacting with them. You’re surprising and delighting them with product. You’re catering to those smaller creators that are consistent in their stories, versus having just a macro person that speaks about it once and then it’s gone.
One last message for your viewers?
Being a Latin American myself, I felt a lot of intimidation when I moved to the US. Thankfully, places I’ve worked and currently work are very prone to promoting diversity. Unfortunately, in the current climate, it’s very hard to understand that we have a voice. But now more than ever is when we need to go out and say — whatever my accent is doesn’t matter. If you understand what I’m saying, that’s what I need you to understand. My experience is global. My experience doesn’t have any language. My experience is here. No one can take what you know.
Watch his full episode here.