By Dave DeFusco
In an industry defined by constant disruption, Melanie Winer, who holds an MBA from the Sy Syms School of Business, has built a career not by chasing certainty, but by embracing change. As Director of Business Development at Hearst Newspapers, she leads partnerships and growth strategy across more than 70 local publications. But her path to this role was anything but linear. It was shaped instead by a simple, persistent instinct: say yes, stay curious and figure it out along the way.
That mindset took root early. After earning her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, Winer entered the media world at a time when digital transformation was still unfolding. Social platforms were nascent, subscription models were evolving and no one had a clear roadmap for what would come next. Rather than specialize too narrowly, she leaned into variety by exploring advertising, monetization, audience development and strategy across organizations like Bloomberg, Audible and Business Insider.
鈥淚鈥檝e always tried to raise my hand,鈥 said Winer. 鈥淓ven if I didn鈥檛 fully know what something would become, I wanted to understand it.鈥
That willingness to step into the unknown became a defining trait. It allowed her to build a career that spans the full arc of modern media鈥攐ne that mirrors the industry鈥檚 own evolution. At Business Insider, that philosophy was put to the test. She stepped into a newly created leadership role focused on newsletters and subscriptions, tasked with building a business line that didn鈥檛 yet fully exist.
The challenge was compounded by internal changes that reshaped priorities and reduced early support. But Winer persisted, developing strategy, aligning cross-functional teams and ultimately helping grow the company鈥檚 email product suite and customer base at scale. It was a lesson in resilience and in trusting the process even when outcomes are uncertain.
鈥淣o one has it all figured out,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 trial and error. You test, you learn and you adapt.鈥
That adaptability is now central to her work at Hearst. Operating from a central team, she develops strategies that can scale across dozens of markets, while still allowing for local nuance. Whether it鈥檚 content syndication, partnerships or new revenue streams, her focus remains on identifying where audiences are and how to meet them there in ways that drive sustainable growth.
Underlying that strategic clarity is a foundational principle she picked up early in her career: stay close to revenue. It鈥檚 a guiding idea that has helped her navigate an industry where business models are constantly shifting. Just as important has been her commitment to continuous learning鈥攕omething she formalized during her time at Sy Syms.
Winer was part of the second cohort of the school鈥檚 Executive MBA program, graduating in 2015. The program was small鈥攋ust six students鈥攁nd still evolving. Balancing coursework with a demanding full-time job wasn鈥檛 easy. Classes were held on Sundays, leaving little room for downtime, and she often had to make difficult tradeoffs between work, school and her personal life.
The experience, however, proved transformative. Without a formal business background, Winer had long relied on instinct and on-the-job learning. The MBA gave her structure鈥攁 deeper understanding of finance, marketing and strategy, with frameworks she could apply to complex, ambiguous challenges.
鈥淚t helped me build a foundation,鈥 she said. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e asked to lead something new, you need to know how to define success, how to model it, how to measure it.鈥
That blend of formal education and real-world experience continues to shape her decision-making. Just as important, her time at Sy Syms reinforced the value of adaptability itself. As a member of an early cohort, she contributed feedback that helped refine the program for future students. It was another example of stepping into something unfinished and helping to build it.
Outside of her core role, Winer extends that same ethos to mentorship and community-building. She serves as a strategic advisor to The Persistent, where she helps guide emerging media ventures. She also mentors early-career professionals, emphasizing curiosity, relationship-building and the importance of learning from others regardless of seniority.
That philosophy is perhaps most visible in the alumni network she founded for former Business Insider colleagues, now more than 350 members strong. What began as a way to stay connected has grown into a vibrant professional community, reflecting her belief that careers are built not just on individual achievement, but on shared knowledge and support.
鈥淟eadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating the conditions for discovery鈥攁sking questions, listening closely and remaining open to possibility,鈥 said Winer. 鈥淚n a media landscape where change is the only constant, that may be the most valuable skill of all.鈥
