Rachel Ghiazza Loves Stories that Help Us Understand Each Other

Rachel Ghiazza joined Audible as senior vice president for our content acquisition and development teams in 2019, and in 2020 became the head of US content. During her tenure, our production of original content has doubled each year, including a massive expansion of our Words + Music catalog. Ghiazza has also overseen the curation of Audible Plus, our first all-you-can-listen streaming offering that launched in August 2020, and has driven multi-project deals with entertainment icons and thought leaders while shepherding Audible Originals to TV and film.

Before joining us, Ghiazza held leadership roles on content teams at global media companies like Viacom and Yahoo!, and was a key contributor to Spotify’s global growth and success. It’s not a trajectory she could have charted, or even guessed, when she started her career in computer science. Below, she answers some questions about her unusual trajectory, what kinds of storytelling draws her in, and the band she would most love to bring to our Words + Music program.

How would you describe your approach or philosophy to leading content at Audible?

I try to think through three lenses: what will surprise and delight our customers, how we can set ourselves apart as the company to work with, and how we make sure we’re amplifying voices across the human experience. I love all of our content, and I find storytelling to be a compelling way to help us understand each other. When I hear a story that I didn’t know before or learn about a topic from a different perspective, I get excited and it makes me proud of the work we do and all the talented people who bring it to life. I hope that’s everyone’s experience with our amazing content.

Looking back, what would you say has been the overarching thread in your career journey?

Learn, build, grow: Learn as much as you can in your role, build your network, and seek ways to grow.

If you could go back and give advice to your younger self when you were first starting your career, what would it be?

This computer science background will take you to some great places, you’ll see! Just keep learning, stay open to opportunities that come your way, but don’t take anything for granted. You’ll work hard and get a few big breaks; don’t forget that, but enjoy the good that comes and make sure you look for others to develop along the way.

Who would you invite to your dinner party of your dreams?

Invitations are open to anyone living or dead, real or fictional. Frida Kahlo, Wes Anderson, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Murray, Dolly Parton, Mindy Kaling, and President Obama.

If you were casting for any Audible project you wanted, what would it be and who would be the cast of your dreams?

I would do a Words + Music with my all-time favorite band, The National. I love everything they do, and it’s such an incredible format.

Lightning Round

• Coffee or tea? Coffee. (A great oat milk latte can’t be beat!)
• Morning person or night owl? Morning person.
• Where are you working from currently? My apartment in Brooklyn, unless it’s a Tuesday or Wednesday, then I’m in the office!
• How long have you been with Audible? Just over four years.
• Who is your biggest inspiration, career-wise? Curiosity. I love solving problems and diving into something new.
• Dine in or take out? Dine in. I love to cook, and it’s easier for me and my husband due to our dietary limitations.
• Favorite weekend activity? Heading upstate. I love being outside hiking, biking, or just playing in the dirt.
• Favorite Audible listen, go. This is a tough one! So much to listen to. But I love Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth.