The Tech Product Marketing Manager Who Broke Stereotypes and Applied to SI Swim Search

The 2022 Swim Search winner, Mady Dewey, returns to the SI Swimsuit Issue as a rookie.

Mady Dewey.Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images

Mady Dewey is defying stereotypes for all women in the tech industry. The Santa Clarita, Calif., native grew up in Silicon Valley, a hub for science, technology, engineering and math.

The 25-year-old is so much more than just the winner of the 2022 Swim Search. Dewey, who self-identifies as a “daughter, sister, entrepreneur and cat mom,” is also the CEO and founder of metrics-free social media app Herd. Dewey, who calls herself “creative, sexy, beautiful and kind,“ returns to the franchise this month as an SI Swimsuit rookie.

“One of the biggest reasons why I did this was because I felt like [as] someone who works in a tech environment, I didn’t see people that were going after their creative dreams or their dreams outside of just their career,” she shares. “You had to be placed into this box—like you could only be someone who was smart or career-motivated. I did this because I want women to see that they can do everything that they want. They can break the stereotype of what a person in their industry looks like. I just hope I can be that person for other girls.”

Dewey hopes to serve as tangible inspiration and proof that you really can do it all. The Discord product marketing manager is a firm believer that you can go after all your dreams. You don’t have to pick and choose and you don’t have to conform to what someone else’s career path looks like.

The Socially Well podcast host has great advice for people who are debating applying for the Swim Search open casting call—and her message applies to anyone in any industry facing a new opportunity. She suggests staying positive and looking at success as the “journey” rather than just achieving one specific end goal.

“I think it’s so easy to get in your head before you even apply, saying like, ‘Am I gonna get it?’ ‘Am I worthy?’ ‘What’s going to happen?’ that you stop yourself from putting yourself out there,” she says. “Even going and applying is a win—taking that first step and saying, ‘I’m gonna do this. I’m gonna go after what I want.’ That’s a win. And then everything from there is just a bonus. And it doesn’t matter what happens as the outcome.”

Meet Mady Dewey—read the 2023 SI Swimsuit rookie’s full feature profile here.

Get ready for the hottest event of the year! The 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue is just around the corner, and you won’t want to miss the Swimsuit Issue Launch Party. Secure your tickets now and join us for an unforgettable weekend of glamour, beauty and fun.

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