Create things that matter.
Co-founder and CEO of THE NEW SAVANT.
Former Google, Twitter, MTV News, CBS News, Vox Media/New York Magazine.
Experience
Read: Erica Anderson's Going Low Tech, IU Media School, May 12 2022.
Erica is an entrepreneur. Following an illustrious career shaping technology's impact on media, in 2020 she closed the chapter and followed her nose to an industry she's always loved: fragrance and air care.
In New York City in the midst of the pandemic, THE NEW SAVANT was born. The name pays homage to the self-made path in life, most notably honoring her co-founder, Ingrid Nilsen. A college dropout-turned beloved YouTube creator and culture maker, Nilsen has consistently created space for underrepresented voices and continues to do so now with scent.
An indie scent studio that develops analog experiences for digital natives, TNS just completed their second year of business. In 2022 alone, they did more that $500,000+ in sales with $0 CAC.
Previously, Erica spent 15 years in content and technology in a variety of companies focused on information and influence. Working in cross-functional capacities, she worked at the intersection of product marketing, data, and strategic communications to unlock new ideas and product growth. Specifically, she focused on the future of the news industry.
At Google (2016-19), Erica led global News Lab efforts to combat misinformation. In partnership with product, Erica helped design solutions to elevate high-quality journalism across Google's numerous products. Her work took her around the world, to Singapore, Hong Kong, Brazil, France, Germany and the UK, where she met with local journalists and fact checkers to better understand use cases and bring them back to Google. She was also a co-organizer of the historic Google Walkout.
At Twitter (2011-15), where Erica was one of the first 300 employees, she pioneered the company's journalism efforts. Her work included the inaugural best practice program, Twitter for Newsrooms, and the development of satellite long codes to enable journalists to Tweet from war zones. She produced the first Twitter Town Hall, where she nudged President Barack Obama to post his first Tweet with the initials "-B.O.". During her five year tenure, she advised business development teams on acquisitions and experienced the company's IPO. She started Twitter’s internal LGBT group (“Twitter Open”) by pursuing community and organizing the queer identifying employees.
Prior to Twitter, Erica had the opportunity to work for Katie Couric at the CBS Evening News. Her main focus was integrating social media, and specifically Twitter, into Katie's routine.
Erica also covered the 2008 Presidential election for MTV News Choose or Lose, Street Team ‘08. She graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in journalism and minors in political science and religious studies.