Long before I joined Valnet, I was living by the “hungry and humble” ethos. I have lived many lives as an actress, museum curator, executive director of a historic site, and an ad-rep at a local newspaper. I was always chasing after an innate desire to keep myself busy, while doing something that was not only meaningful to others, but something that captured my own passion.
In 2020, when the pandemic shuttered Hollywood and the series (Apple TV’s Swagger) that I was working on was put on hold, I made the jump into yet another career field. While an undergraduate degree in Historic Preservation and a graduate degree in Anthropology doesn’t necessarily seem like the educational make-up of an entertainment journalist, anyone who knew me knew that I sat around reading Washington Post and New York Times reviews, tracked the Nielsen ratings of my favorite shows, and had the tenacity to chase down leads. To make a long story short, I spent a decade inadvertently preparing for my career at Collider. And it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional career.
How Collider Shaped a Bonafide Newshound
I joined Collider in June 2021, shortly after Valnet acquired the brand. My journey here has been defined by continuous growth, boundless opportunity, and a culture that truly champions the people who make this team so great. I began my tenure as a Weekend News Writer, grinding through as many articles as I could to make my goal. There is an emphasis there on my goal. The targets I was given seemed far too low, and I set my personal goal for a higher number. When I breezed past that goal, I pushed myself further. Unsurprisingly, as I honed my craft and deepened my understanding of our audience, I transitioned into a daily News Writer.
By the following year, and with many thanks to the incredible support system within the company, I was given the space to steadily advance through the editorial ranks. I naturally moved from Weekend News Editor to News Editor, onto News Lead, and ultimately to my current position as Deputy News Editor. This evolution would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Valnet’s leadership. They have consistently fostered my creativity and invested deeply in my professional development. Their guidance went far beyond day-to-day operations, as they have actively shaped me into a stronger team player and a more capable, empathetic leader. Today, I have the profound honor of leading a robust and incredibly talented team of writers. The exceptional leadership I experienced firsthand taught me how to identify and nurture their unique passions, encouraging them to thrive in this fast-paced industry.
Working the news desk isn’t for the faint of heart. News doesn’t take holidays, sleep, or take weekends off. This means I had to develop a team of writers and editors who care as much about the news cycle as I do. Under my leadership, I have built a news team that is consistently able to deliver over 11M unique visitors a month, topping the charts as one of Collider’s most-read verticals. Over 80% of my team has been with Collider 3+ years, and have been given opportunities to interview talent like Willem Dafoe, Jack Reacher creator Lee Child, and visit the set of the Academy Award-winning animation studio Aardman. I strive every day to pay forward the mentorship Valnet has given me, ensuring my team feels the same level of empowerment and investment that I received. There’s no greater pride than to see a writer you’ve mentored achieve their dreams.
Sometimes, You Have to Make News Happen
There’s an old adage in journalism that a journalist should never ever become the story, but there’s nothing stopping us from going out and making news happen. In 2023, I began to carve out a role that has become one of my favourite parts of the job. As a lifelong fangirl, I knew that conventions are where news happens every weekend, and like a tree falling in the forest — if there was no one there to report on it, it’s almost as though it never happened. So I embarked on an adventure to establish myself in the convention circuit as a trusted moderator, bringing Collider directly to the source of so much breaking news.
Through this, I became a proud ambassador of not just the Collider brand, but Valnet as a whole — and all that it has to offer. This venture has taken me coast-to-coast, and across the globe, showcasing what it means to be humble and hungry. I think perhaps the most “pinch me” moment came when I was asked to moderate for Lucasfilm Publishing at Star Wars Celebration… in Japan! The panel I moderated was broadcast live, around the globe, providing me with my largest stage yet.
In addition to developing our partnerships with conventions across North America, I have also spent the last year investing time in our original video programing, lending my industry connections to our Collider Behind the Scenes channel. It has been a joy to work alongside our incredible team of creatives to deliver high-quality and engaging glimpses behind the scenes of our favourite films and television series. Through Collider Behind the Scenes, I am able to utilize all facets of my personality — the newsie, the historian, the actress, and the fan — to bring world class programming to our viewers.
The Past Always Informs the Future
Looking back at where my journey started — from historic preservation and set work to grinding out weekend articles — I see how every detour led me directly to where I was meant to be. What began as a leap of faith during an uncertain time transformed into a career-defining home where personal ambition is met with endless organizational support. As I look to the future, I remain as “hungry and humble” as the day I started, deeply proud to lead a world-class news team and represent a company that truly invests in its people. I am endlessly grateful for the growth, the community, and the work we’ve built together at Collider, and I can’t wait to see where this momentum takes us next.
