Bailey Richardson
About Bailey Richardson
Bailey Richardson serves as the Head of Writer Success at Substack, where she has worked since 2021. She has a diverse background in community engagement and communications, having held various roles in organizations such as SFMOMA, Instagram, and People & Company.
Work at Substack
Bailey Richardson has served as the Head of Writer Success at Substack since 2021. In this role, Richardson has been instrumental in implementing Substack's first AI chatbot, which enhanced support and educational resources for writers. Additionally, Richardson led the strategy and execution of significant product launches, including Notes, Substack's first apps, and Chat. These initiatives involved overseeing the entire process from beta testing to final naming and messaging. Under Richardson's leadership, the email list at Substack expanded from 200,000 to over 2 million, highlighting community stories and engagement.
Previous Work Experience
Prior to joining Substack, Bailey Richardson held various roles in the communications and community sectors. Richardson worked as a Partner at People & Company from 2016 to 2021. Before that, Richardson was a Community Producer at Pop-Up Magazine and The California Sunday Magazine from 2015 to 2016. Richardson's experience also includes a position as Producer in Residence at IDEO in 2015. Earlier in their career, Richardson served as Community and Marketing Manager at Ugallery.com from 2010 to 2012 and worked at Instagram from 2012 to 2014.
Education and Expertise
Bailey Richardson studied at Stanford University, where they earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies, focusing on American Art and Spanish, from 2005 to 2009. This educational background provided Richardson with a strong foundation in cultural analysis and communication, which has been applied throughout their career in various roles related to community engagement and content creation.
Advisory Role at Beams
Since 2020, Bailey Richardson has served as an Advisory Board Member at Beams. In this capacity, Richardson contributes insights and guidance based on extensive experience in community building and communications. This role complements Richardson's work at Substack and reflects a commitment to fostering creative communities.
Early Career at SFMOMA
Bailey Richardson began their career at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), where they worked as a Communications Assistant for two months in 2009. This experience, along with an internship at SFMOMA in the same year, provided Richardson with early exposure to the intersection of art and communication, shaping their future career path.