About Me

On any given day you can find me mapping concepts out on a whiteboard or with sticky notes (best case scenario: both). I'm a visual thinker and I'll take any opportunity to collaborate in a real, physical space. I've led brainstorms to fuel product features, address gaps in process, build positive team cultures and solve business problems.

I'm comfortable working at every altitude, from the big strategic picture to detailed product requirements. I move quickly, lead with empathy and I've never shied away from a room full of executives or a hard problem without an obvious answer.

Leading a protest landed me on the front page of the school newspaper. I quickly learned the power of journalism and pivoted my career explorations.

I discovered news product and crafted my own curriculum to study news product management, innovation and the business of journalism.

Before graduating, I completed product internships at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune (2022), Star Tribune (2023) and Texas Tribune (2024).

I learned about NPA in 2022 during a training at Mizzou. Since then, I've presented at two NPA summits and completed the NPMC program.

Soon after I started full-time in 2024, I began leading product for elections and Strib Varsity and created our first product internship. I still run all three. 

When I'm not in the office, I spend as much time as I can outside. I love hiking, road trips and car camping. I'm currently on a mission to visit all 63 national parks in the U.S. (I have 17 crossed off so far). I also climb, do yoga, play spike ball and volleyball and bike. 

If I'm not in the office or outside, I'm probably watching women's basketball or volleyball. I'm a big Minnesota Lynx fan and make it to as many University of Minnesota women's sporting events as I can. 

Ask me about: my 2025 national park road trip, my current coffee order, the best bagel I've ever had in my life, my favorite Survivor player or when the Lynx will win their next championship.

Think of this like the recommendations section of my LinkedIn profile.

"Sydney consistently builds alignment, fosters inclusion, and strengthens collaboration across teams. Beyond product work, Sydney contributes to efforts to strengthen processes, culture, and engagement across the company, and collaborates with others across the industry to help strengthen the broader community. Sydney's collaborative approach strengthens both outcomes and the people around her."

- Manager in a company-wide email, 2026

"I was very impressed with how you showed up in the Strib Varsity meeting earlier this week. There  was a lot coming at you ... you showed great poise handling the incoming questions/comments/concerns. You kept your composure, actively listened to all stakeholders and were honest and transparent in explaining your responses and next steps. Tremendous leadership."

- C-suite member in an email, 2025

"I'm not exaggerating when I say that in my nearly 20-year career, I have never worked with a young journalist of Sydney's caliber, intern or otherwise. Sydney is a leader. She's confident, curious, and incredibly smart. She has cleared project logjams and developed solutions, dug deep into data and is so well-versed in our work that she can present her own ideas in meetings that include top editors and sales vice presidents."

- Manager in a recommendation letter, 2022