Entrepreneur

I have spent 15+ years operating at the intersection of media, technology, and consumer brands—driving impact inside some of the world’s most influential companies, including Twitter, Google, CBS News, MTV News, and Vox Media. Now in my fourth year bootstrapping The New Savant, an indie fragrance brand, I am proving that a modern CPG company can scale profitably through brand resonance, community, and operational excellence—without an over-reliance on advertising budgets.

Before launching my own business, I spent years developing high-quality information ecosystems at scale. At Google (2016-2019), I led global efforts within Google News Lab to combat misinformation, working closely with product teams to elevate high-quality journalism across Google’s platforms. My work took me around the world—Singapore, Hong Kong, Brazil, France, Germany, and the UK—where I collaborated directly with journalists, translating their needs into product solutions. I was also a co-organizer of the historic Google Walkout.

At Twitter (2011-2015), I was one of the company’s first 300 employees, pioneering its journalism efforts and shaping how the platform intersected with global news. I spearheaded the creation of satellite long codes, allowing journalists to Tweet from war zones and worked on strategic platform efforts from the acquisition and integration of TweetDeck to the scaling up of Dataminr for Newsrooms. I also experienced Twitter’s IPO, and founded the company’s internal LGBTQ+ employee group.

Earlier in my career, I worked for Katie Couric at CBS Evening News, helping integrate Twitter into her routine, and covered the 2008 presidential election for MTV News Choose or Lose as part of the Street Team ‘08.

An Indiana native, I hold a B.A. in journalism from Indiana University, with minors in political science and religious studies. I also competed in the school’s famed Little 500 race. Today, I live in New York City, where I continue to push boundaries in brand-building, operations, and digital strategy.

As a  LGBTQ founder, I am committed to building inclusive, forward-thinking businesses that challenge industry norms and create lasting impact.

With just $30,000 of our own money, Ingrid and I have built an indie fragrance brand with resonance.  In its first four years, The New Savant generated millions in sales, entirely through word-of-mouth. We are members of The Fragrance Foundation, and in summer 2024, we were awarded Innovator of the Year by a national fragrance trade group.