--- title: "Team Spotlight: Cydney Hayes, Head of Content at Balloon" description: Get to know Balloon's head of content, Cydney Hayes image: https://blog.getballoon.com/hubfs/Cydney%202-1.jpeg --- [Balloon\_Logo\_Dark](https://getballoon.com/) - [Product](https://getballoon.com/product) - [Templates](https://getballoon.com/templates) - Resources - [The Insight Blog](https://blog.getballoon.com) - [Customer Stories](https://blog.getballoon.com//tag/case-studies) - [Pricing](https://getballoon.com/pricing) - Log In - [Log In](https://balloon.app/login) - [Book A Demo](https://meetings.hubspot.com/balloon/demo) - [Product](https://getballoon.com/product) - [Templates](https://getballoon.com/templates) - Resources - [The Insight Blog](https://blog.getballoon.com) - [Customer Stories](https://blog.getballoon.com//tag/case-studies) - [Pricing](https://getballoon.com/pricing) - Log In ![](https://blog.getballoon.com/hubfs/Cydney%202-1.jpeg) # Balloon Team Spotlight: Cydney Hayes, Head of Content Written by [The Balloon Team](https://blog.getballoon.com/author/the-balloon-team) December 10, 2020 **What is your role at Balloon?** I’m the Head of Content at Balloon, which means I write—or edit, at least—nearly every piece of content that we publish, from blogs, to emails, to the words you see on our website. I also have a big role in developing and executing our content strategy, brand voice, general bizops duties, and a ton of upcoming projects that are in the works at Balloon. **What’s your background?** Journalism! I started reporting for local newspapers and magazines when I was 15, and I recently graduated from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University with a specialization in long-form work. Even though there are (obviously!) big distinctions between journalism and content creation, there’s also a lot of overlap between the two: You have to know how to interview, use language to convey certain tones or evoke certain emotions, and craft compelling narratives, no matter what you’re writing about. **Why did you want to join Balloon?** Working at an early-stage startup offered me an opportunity to have a direct hand in building something new and impactful. I get essentially endless opportunities to be creative and experimental, and I find that really energizing. On top of that, Balloon is a genuinely fantastic platform, and truly believing in the product your company produces is crucial for me! **Why is Balloon’s mission important to you?** Journalism is such a hierarchical industry, so I’ve definitely dealt with a few managers who used their status to talk down to me, cut me off in meetings, and really make me second guess myself and my skills. Balloon gives everyone a chance to contribute and share ideas, even opposing ones, regardless of their rank or identity or the volume of their voice. I can think of so many times throughout my career where Balloon could’ve been so helpful, and I know I’m not alone in that—so the least I can do is try to let it help as many people as possible now. **Describe something outside of work that you’re passionate about.** ![Latte art](https://blog.getballoon.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_0028.jpeg?width=95&name=IMG_0028.jpeg)Coffee! When I first moved to San Francisco, I worked as a barista for about six months, and I learned all the best methods to make pretty much every variation of coffee and espresso you can think of. By the end, I was also able to do some pretty impressive latté art! (I also really feel for current baristas who still have to deal with Starbucks’ bastardization of the macchiato—it is truly a tragedy.) **What do you consider your greatest achievement?** Moving to San Francisco—a notoriously expensive city—after college without a full-time job and making it work. **What is your greatest fear?** Climate change.  **Who are your real-life heroes?** Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Joan Didion, and Jia Tolentino. **What do you hate?** Cilantro. Hating it is such a headache, too, because it's in Mexican, Indian, Thai, and Chinese food—pretty much all the best cuisines. **What is your current state of mind?** Energetic and productive. There are so many exciting projects I’m working on at Balloon, and I’m ready to get some shit done! ### Tags - [Team](https://blog.getballoon.com/tag/team), - [Leadership](https://blog.getballoon.com/tag/leadership) ### The Author The Balloon Team ## Keep Reading [Back to Blog](https://blog.getballoon.com) - ### Balloon Team Spotlight: Ray Wakiyama, Head of Customer Success 1 min read — - ### VICE CPO Daisy Auger-Dominguez is revolutionizing DEI 2 min read — - ### Kat Cole repaves the path to success in her new flight template series 2 min read — ### Make your team faster, smarter, tighter. 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