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Alice Hunsberger
Champion of customers & community
Professional Background
Alice Goguen Hunsberger is a versatile leader in the realm of Customer Experience, Community Management, and Trust & Safety. With over a decade of extensive experience, Alice has significantly impacted two of the world's leading dating applications, playing a pivotal role in nurturing and enhancing community engagement while ensuring a safe and authentic environment for users. Her career trajectory exemplifies a strong commitment to cross-functional collaboration, demonstrating her effective approach in streamlining processes and developing comprehensive policy frameworks.
Currently serving as the Senior Director of Customer Experience at Grindr, one of the foremost platforms connecting diverse communities, Alice has honed her skills in fostering customer loyalty and satisfaction through innovative strategies that prioritize both user safety and community integrity. Previously, at OkCupid, she excelled as the Director of Customer Experience, where she transformed the company's customer support efforts and spearheaded the development of Trust & Safety initiatives, significantly improving user experiences and trust in the platform.
Alice’s journey began with foundational roles at OkCupid, where she progressed from a Trust and Safety Analyst to the Director of Customer Support. Her deep understanding of the importance of a customer-centric approach has shaped her professional ethos, making her an advocate for inclusive and equitable practices within community frameworks. In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, Alice has been an instrumental figure in implementing best practices that resonate with ethical standards while addressing the diverse needs of users.
Education and Achievements
Alice holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Antioch College, a robust educational background that has equipped her with essential skills in effective communication and community engagement. Throughout her career, she has been an active participant in discussions surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). As a self-proclaimed DEI squeaky wheel, Alice encourages professionals across industries to prioritize these values in their workplaces, emphasizing that creating an inclusive environment is a collective responsibility.
Her roles in various capacities within established media organizations such as Vice Magazine, Liberty Kid, Leopard Films, and MTV Networks highlight her diverse skill set that spans content creation and editorial work. Alice's experiences were honed early in her career as a Production Assistant for Dave Chappelle's Block Party, where she developed a keen eye for storytelling and production—skills that she seamlessly integrates into her community-focused initiatives today.
Achievements
Alice's notable achievements are deeply rooted in her commitment to empowering teams and nurturing future leaders. By fostering an environment where team members can grow and thrive, she has consistently demonstrated that mentorship is a core facet of her leadership style. Alice actively seeks to share her wisdom and experiences with others, contributing to the professional development of Customer Experience and Trust & Safety leaders by providing valuable career advice and insights acquired throughout her career in some of the tech industry’s most dynamic environments.
Her contributions extend beyond her immediate professional scope as she continuously advocates for user-centric solutions and practices that uphold safety and inclusivity within digital communities. Alice is passionate about building authentic connections and engaging conversations around the significance of transparent community interactions, making her a sought-after mentor and collaborator in the fields of Customer Experience and Trust & Safety.
With each position, Alice Goguen Hunsberger has solidified her reputation as a leader focused on fostering human-centered, inclusive, and authentic interactions within global platforms, ensuring those who partake in digital spaces feel understood, supported, and valued.
Highlights
🔗My go-to links and resources to help you think through what's next for you in your career: (Whether that’s just keeping organized with your current work, figuring out what you love to do, or planning for a new role)
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My quarterly project planning spreadsheet: https://lnkd.in/gAc6iGci
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My NEW Notion template for career planning: https://lnkd.in/gdHvysie
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I save all the t&s news and resources I find at alicelinks.com (also powered by Notion)
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My guide to networking: https://lnkd.in/gbRgkmm6 (because talking to others helps you figure out what you want to do and how to get there!)
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Recommended bonus reading:
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Why “brag documents” are the best https://lnkd.in/gUFTd_wv
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A guide to documentation for teams (focused on policy but would be helpful for many kinds of teams) https://lnkd.in/gJsmX86r
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Prioritization matrix: https://lnkd.in/g4AN985i
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Full guide and commentary in the Trust & Safety Insider newsletter with Everything in Moderation — sign up at everythinginmoderation.co so you can hear from me every week!
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What works for you?
Today I released my free "Ultimate Guide To T&S Networking" 🎉 Here are my tips for conferences, just in time for TrustCon:
Be open-minded about who you talk to. The serendipity and spontaneity of in-person events means you can talk to people that you weren’t expecting to and have never met before.
I’ve had really insightful conversations with everyone from interns to CEOs, and everything in between. Don’t judge a person or conversation before it happens.
If — like me— you feel shy in larger groups of people who you don’t know, here are a few tips:
● Go with a friend (preferably one who is more outgoing than you): When I go to conferences I usually have a couple of friends who kindly offer to be a “home base” for me, so if I’m feeling awkward I go find them.
● Volunteer at the event: Not only does it give you something to do, but it also provides an opportunity to get to know other volunteers, which is a great way to stay busy and feel helpful.
● Dress for success: Here’s a stellar piece of advice from Pearlé Nwaezeigwe “Wear a stand-out piece of clothing or shoes that makes you feel your best, but can be a conversation starter.”
● Create a list of questions before you go: The first few small talk questions are the hardest, and from there the conversation usually gets easier. Don’t overthink this part: simple questions are fine.
Here are a few to get you started:
○ Have you gone to [event] before? ○ What’s your favourite panel/ speaker been so far? ○ What do you do for work? ○ What are you hoping to get out of [event] today?
