Budget Management & Optimization at Vox Media

Challenge — When I took over management of the IT & Media Production Technology (MPT) budget at Vox Media, it was previously handled by my SVP who was too far removed from day-to-day operations to effectively manage it. As the second largest operational budget in the company (behind only Product and Engineering), it was critical to understand both spending patterns and business justifications, especially as the media industry became increasingly volatile and cost cuts became necessary.

Approach — I developed a comprehensive budget management and optimization strategy:

• Created a master spreadsheet tracking all vendors, costs, contract renewal dates, purpose, and business owners

• Assigned clear ownership of each system to appropriate IT/MPT leaders

• Made business owners responsible for both contract negotiations and user management

• Analyzed spending patterns to identify areas of potential consolidation and cost savings

• Consulted with operations leaders across the business to understand needs and pain points

• Negotiated with top vendors like Google and Airtable to optimize contracts

• Implemented quarterly reviews with the COO and CFO to ensure alignment on contract renewals

Results —

• Saved the company over $1 million during my two years in this position

• Consolidated redundant applications to reduce costs and complexity

• Created transparency around technology spending across the organization

• Established a sustainable process for ongoing vendor and contract management

• Built stronger alignment between Finance, IT, and business operations

Business Impact — I brought strategic oversight to technology spending, transforming it from a cost center to a strategically-managed investment. My approach not only delivered immediate cost savings but also created sustainable processes for ongoing optimization. By connecting technology spending directly to business value, I helped the organization make more informed decisions about resource allocation during a challenging period for the media industry.