Meet Christine Bradshaw and Sierra Madison Brown-Rodrigues, the dynamic duo behind See You Next Tuesday Media (SYNT). These University of Toronto (U of T) alumni, who have been friends since grade 6, are shaking up the media scene with their innovative platform that's all about amplifying diverse voices and creating opportunities for women. Forget stuffy boardrooms and old-school media empires – Bradshaw and Brown-Rodrigues are building something fresh, exciting, and empowering.
How it Started: U of T’s Influence and Childhood Passion
Bradshaw, a 2021 graduate of U of T’s Rotman Commerce program with a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Management, credits her academic background for shaping SYNT’s strategic and innovative vision. Reflecting on her time at U of T, she explains: "My education gave me a solid foundation in strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and business development, which have been instrumental in shaping the vision and operations of SYNT." Courses in business design, marketing, and organizational strategy equipped her with tools to identify growth opportunities and align creative processes with long-term goals. Her minor in Economics also sharpened her analytical skills, enabling her to interpret market trends and develop targeted content strategies.
Brown-Rodrigues, a 2021 graduate who double-majored in Book & Media Studies and Cinema Studies with a minor in Creative Expression and Society, shares that her U of T education allowed her to immerse herself in various creative fields. She explains, "While in university, I spent my free time freelancing as a digital marketer and social media manager, which taught me the technical skills I needed to shape SYNT’s creative identity and marketing strategy." This hands-on experience complemented her academic pursuits and laid the groundwork for SYNT’s distinctive voice, adding, "My time at U of T was transformative. The community helped me figure out who I am, which has been the foundation of everything I've built since."
Bradshaw’s love for print media began early, with childhood subscriptions to magazines like Chickadee and Owl Kids evolving into a teenage fascination with TigerBeat and Teen Vogue. By high school, she was an avid reader of The New Yorker and actively blogging on Tumblr while engaging with online magazines like RookieMag and Dazed. She recalls, "Media, especially text media, has always been a space I’ve loved and felt passionate about. So, when Sierra approached me about joining SYNT and building it into a business, it felt like the most natural next step."
For Brown-Rodrigues, her passion for media and writing also started in childhood, fueled by a love of YA dystopian novels and magazines like Teen Vogue. "I was a die-hard fan of RookieMag, Dazed, and Nylon," she says, describing how her early experiences on the internet and her love for print inspired her to launch SYNT in 2020. She adds, "In my last year at U of T, I spent a lot of time pitching to editors and found it extremely difficult to get published without connections. I decided, rather impulsively, to start SYNT to help emerging writers get their start in the industry."
More Than a Platform: A Community of Women
At its core, SYNT is all about empowering women. "Our team is 90% women, and at least 75% of our content is created by women," Christine proudly shares. "We're not just giving women a voice; we're giving them a platform to shine." One shining example is Sydney De Vega, an undergrad who landed her first byline and ongoing mentorship with SYNT after submitting an op-ed originally written for a women’s studies class.
Brown-Rodrigues emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for women to express themselves: "We encourage bold, thought-provoking content. SYNT is a space where women can experiment creatively and share their truths without fear."
Looking Ahead: SYNT's Bold Vision
Within five years, SYNT aims to become a global media leader, expanding into digital publications, podcasts, and live events. Their goal, says Bradshaw, is to "empower women by amplifying their voices…while providing mentorship opportunities." For Brown-Rodrigues, success means staying true to SYNT's mission: creating a safe space for young creatives, especially women, to share their stories.
Failing Forward, Building Your Own Table
Bradshaw's advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs? "Allow yourself to be bad at what you want to do so that one day you may become great at it." Brown-Rodrigues adds, "Sometimes you don't need to fight for your seat at the table—you just need to build a new table to sit at."
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As we celebrate International Women's Day, Bradshaw and Brown-Rodrigues' journey with SYNT is a testament to what's possible when women are empowered to lead and given the space and resources to create and innovate. They're not just building a media platform; they're building a community, a movement, and a brighter future for women in the media industry.