Syracuse University alumna Diana Dapito ’03 now leverages all she learned about storytelling at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in her role as head of consumer content for North America at Audible.
Over the course of her 20-year career at Audible, Diana Dapito ’03 has leveraged the writing skills she honed as a magazine journalism major at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
“I learned a lot about being a writer and a storyteller,” says Dapito, now head of consumer content for North America at Audible. “Syracuse not only taught me those skills, but it sparked my curiosity and drive to continually learn and explore new possibilities.”
Dapito wasn’t an audiobook listener when she applied for a job at Audible, but the opportunity seemed too compelling to pass up. She got the job and has helped Audible transform from what she calls a “scrappy startup” to the leading creator and provider of audiobooks, podcasts and original audio content. Dapito attributes her accession at Audible to “raising my hand when opportunities came up and being willing to try new things.”
Dapito keeps the late Professor Bill Glavin’s guidelines for great writing on her desk and still refers to them daily.
Crafting a Strong Foundation for Storytelling
During her rise at Audible, Dapito has created editorial content, such as 'Best of' lists and feature reviews, which ties directly to her degree. She also helped shape strategies for Audible Original content, working with writers, performers, and producers to bring innovative stories to life in audio form. In addition, she has also written consumer-facing newsletters, project proposals and strategic business documents where her deftness with words has proved invaluable. “The strong writing foundation has been incredibly important,” she says.
Other skills Dapito learned at Syracuse University also have been critical to her success. “Several magazine classes focused on interviewing skills, which have been quite helpful throughout my time at Audible, from interviewing authors and narrators for features, to moderating panels at conferences such as SXSW,” she says. “Magazine courses also gave me the foundation to help establish Audible’s editorial department and the brand’s editorial voice, which aims to be warm and personable when helping customers find their next great listen. Being able to make that human connection with customers came from a style of magazine writing that I learned at Syracuse,” Dapito says.
Audible now staffs nearly a dozen Syracuse alumni, all of whom leveraged their strong network to discover roles that best suited their diverse skill sets.
Fostering Success Through Connection
Numerous Syracuse graduates now work at Audible. Dapito says the diverse disciplines available to the University’s students match well with opportunities at the company. “We’ve got about a dozen colleagues in different fields, from marketing to creative development to audio production and video production,” Dapito says. “Syracuse offers an impressive variety of communication majors, and Audible has a dynamic mix of career opportunities – a natural match for so many of us who are alumni.”
Another alumna is Jessica Shoffel ’08, who also majored in magazine journalism. After graduating, she worked in publishing before pursuing her long-time dream of joining Audible. Determined to make this a reality, she checked LinkedIn for Syracuse alumni at Audible and discovered Dapito. Shoffel sent her a cold email asking if they could meet for coffee, Dapito agreed, and the two bonded over their similar experiences at Syracuse University. When the right opportunity came up, Dapito helped Shoffel with her application, guided her through the process, and in the end, Shoffel landed the job. Over the last six years, Shoffel has risen to lead the U.S. PR team, and the two women work together on campaigns to highlight Audible projects like the forthcoming full-cast audio productions of a popular YA series.
Dapito and her family and friends visited the University’s campus in spring 2023.
Dapito has many fond memories of her academic years. She studied abroad in London, tutored at a local elementary school, interned at Teen magazine, built a house in Georgia with Habitat for Humanity over a spring break, helped cheer the Syracuse Orange to their first national basketball championship her senior year and worked as an editor for a weekly student-run news magazine, the Student Voice. “I got to have a lot of really exciting adventures with good friends,” says Dapito, “who are still my good friends today.”
Looking back at her time as a student, Dapito strongly encourages those selecting a college to seriously consider Syracuse University for the unique opportunities it offers. “It’s a beautiful campus and a great community, and there are so many opportunities to pursue your existing interests and try new things,” she says. “My advice is to have those experiences and to meet new people and to travel. And then post-graduation, there’s this incredible network of alumni to connect with.”
