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Tech Updated August 19, 2025

Steph Smith

Steph Smith is a writer and researcher known for her popular online essays and newsletters. She explores topics like productivity, technology, and internet culture.

Born

July 15, 1995

Known For

  • Writing about technology trends
  • Building online communities
  • Creating viral internet content

Social Media

Notable Facts

Career Highlights

Background

Steph Smith graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Information Systems. Her early career was rooted in product management and growth strategy, with roles at companies like Teespring and HubSpot, where she focused on scaling user acquisition and improving product-led growth frameworks.

Major Contributions

Steph Smith is best known for her work in digital content creation and online education. She authored the book 'Doing Content Right', which outlines strategic frameworks for content marketing. She was a key contributor to the growth of The Hustle newsletter and subsequently became a Director of Marketing at HubSpot. A significant contribution is her role in founding and growing the Trends community, a subscription-based platform offering expert analysis on emerging business and technology trends, which was later acquired by HubSpot.

Impact on their Field

Smith's impact is primarily in the domains of content strategy and community-led business growth. Her analytical, data-driven approach to content creation has provided a replicable model for marketers and entrepreneurs. The frameworks published in her book and through her online essays have been widely adopted to improve content ROI. Her work with Trends helped pioneer a new model for niche, subscription-based business intelligence, demonstrating the viability of community as a core product.

Current Work/Relevance

Currently, Steph Smith is a Director of Marketing at HubSpot, focusing on corporate strategy following the acquisition of Trends. She continues to author long-form essays on topics spanning technology, business, and productivity on her personal website, which maintains a substantial audience. Her work remains relevant for professionals seeking data-backed insights into market trends and effective content distribution strategies.

Personal Story

Steph Smith is a writer, researcher, and digital creator who has carved out a unique space online by exploring the themes of productivity, technology, and the future of work. Originally from Canada, she built her career not through a traditional corporate ladder, but by leveraging the internet to share her insights and build a dedicated audience. Her journey from a curious student to an influential online voice is a modern story of self-directed learning and digital entrepreneurship.

Why they matter

Steph’s significance lies in her ability to turn deep research into accessible and actionable content for a massive audience. A key achievement was her role as a writer and researcher at The Hustle, a popular business and tech newsletter, where her work reached millions of readers. She later became a Director of Content at Trends, further cementing her influence. Perhaps her most notable professional milestone was joining the investment firm a16z (Andreessen Horowitz) as a Content Partner, where she continues to explore and explain the forces shaping our technological future to a savvy audience.

What they’re known for

Steph is best known for her prolific and high-quality writing. Her popular essays, such as "Why You Should Create Art for the Internet" and "The Lifecycle of a Technology," have been widely shared for their clarity and thought-provoking nature.
She is also the author of the book "Doing Content Right," a guide that demystifies the process of creating valuable online content.
Beyond writing, she is recognized for her detailed, long-form research projects and her engaging presence on social media platforms like Twitter, where she shares her findings and connects with her community.