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Sylvie de Gil on Muck Rack

Sylvie de Gil

Verified
Washington, D.C.
Covers:  • Business innovation • AI—business/societal impact • Future of work/workplace • Leadership/management • Entrepreneurship/models • Longevity economy • Transatlantic business trends
Doesn't Cover: Product press (the promotional angle) Political commentary (even though I follow politics) Breaking news outside business context Crime, sports, celebrity/entertainment
Journalist & analyst covering AI, future of work, and business innovation. Published in Forbes France. 2026 NeoCon Business Impact Juror. #FutureofWork

Interview

What was your first job as a journalist?

I don't recall a "first job" as a journalist. It's been a journey. It started with personal blogs on fashion and nutrition and evolved into editorial work on Medium and Forbes.

Have you ever used a typewriter?

That's true. I wrote my first poems on a typewriter as a teenager. It was slow and noisy, but each word felt purposeful. I wasn't a fan! Now, I can't do without my computer.

How is social media changing news?

Social media enabled the voices of the long-left-out to be heard. But it also amplifies noise more than nuance. The challenge now is to slow down and listen to what matters.

Who's your favorite fictional journalist?

Tintin. Always crossing borders, always asking questions. As a bilingual columnist, I admire his fearless curiosity and his instinct to give a voice to what others overlook.

What does it mean to be a journalist?

Be able to : Reflect—Understand—Inform

What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?

Probably #FriYay

How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?

By email with a clear subject line and a thoughtful, short paragraph related to leadership, business, entrepreneurship, visibility, and transformation.

What tools and software do you use to do your job?

Notion for organization, Google Docs for writing, LinkedIn for research and visibility, ChatGPT for brainstorming, and my intuition...always!

What's your favorite social network?

LinkedIn is more than just a platform; it’s a stage. It reveals how people choose to present themselves, which tells a deeper story than most bios ever could.

Who do you wish followed you?

I write for someone who feels invisible and suddenly realizes they have a voice. That’s who I write for. That's the kind of person I'd want to follow me.

What story are you most proud of writing or working on?

I'm proud of two: one on the longevity economy, reframing aging as opportunity, and another on how difference, including neurodiversity (as an autistic columnist), can drive success.

What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?

Journalism is about understanding, not just reporting. Take the time to learn, think, and delve deep in order to inform people.

When's the best time to pitch you?

Mornings on the East Coast (Washington, D.C.). That's when I'm most focused and open to thoughtful and relevant pitches.

What's the best pitch you ever got?

The best pitch I received wasn’t the loudest. It was thoughtful, clear, and deeply human. It aligned with my writing about transformation, visibility, and identity.

What's your favorite drink?

Japanese green tea. It is powerful and clear, much like the best writing:)

When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?

I’m an avid reader. I read books, signs, faces, and between the lines:)

Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?

Harvard Business Review is clear, deep, and strategic, helping me refine ideas about leadership, decision-making, and transformation.

What's the most common misperception about your beat?

My writings are about more than personal development or soft leadership; they're about entrepreneurship in its deepest form: building, transforming, and becoming visible despite obstacles and life's vagaries. Entrepreneurship and leadership have profound origins and a perspective. It is the individual behind the aspiration to prosper.

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