From Beyoncé to the UN: How a Citi SVP leads with range

Sabrina Natasha Browne is a senior vice president of U.S. Consumer Cards Communications at Citi, where she leads communications for the bank’s rewards cards and loyalty portfolio. She oversees executive visibility, media relations and integrated storytelling around Citi’s premium cards, travel, dining and entertainment benefits.

Before joining Citi, Browne advised major brands including Bank of America, LVMH, Colgate-Palmolive and Walgreens Boots Alliance. Her work has earned recognition from PRWeek, Business Insider and other industry organizations.

Outside of work, she advocates for menstrual equity, serving as a board member of Menstrual Rights Global and working with the United Nations. She also runs The Taste of S, a luxury travel and lifestyle platform with nearly 100,000 followers.

What was your first role in communications, and was this your goal to be on the path you are on now?

My first communications role was as a junior account executive at Hunter Public Relations, working on the Post Foods business. I was ambitious, deeply curious, and eager to learn every part of the industry. I built media lists, drafted pitches and press materials, managed blogger outreach, supported product campaigns and celebrated every placement because each one sharpened my instincts. Hunter gave me the discipline, work ethic, and foundational skills that still guide how I lead today.

At the time, I could not have predicted the exact path from Hunter to Emerge New Jersey to Burson, and now serving as SVP, U.S. Consumer Cards Communications at Citi. I did know that I wanted a career with range, influence, and purpose. Every chapter expanded my understanding of what communications can accomplish, from shaping public opinion and protecting reputation to building cultural relevance and driving business results. I have always chased opportunities that challenged me, widened my perspective and placed me in rooms where strategic communications could make a meaningful difference.

Your role sits at the intersection of finance, culture and lifestyle. What drew you to this kind of work, and what keeps you energized about it today?

I have always been fascinated by what captures consumer attention and why certain brands earn a place in culture. Finance touches nearly every part of daily life, while travel, dining, entertainment and premium experiences shape how people celebrate, connect and create memories. Working across those worlds at Citi allows me to translate complex business priorities into stories that feel culturally relevant, aspirational and human.

The pace at Citi keeps me energized. Culture shifts quickly, consumer expectations continue to rise and communications leaders have to understand business strategy, media behavior, creators, talent, data and reputational risk at the same time. I love bringing those pieces together for our U.S. Consumer Cards business and helping Citi show up with confidence in moments that matter to consumers. In the last 12 months, I’ve led our major cards’ announcements tied to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour, Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball Tour, Ryder Cup, and Art Basel. That variety demands sharp instincts, bold ideas, and constant curiosity, which is exactly where I thrive. 

Your work spans corporate communications and advocacy around menstrual equity. How do those two worlds inform one another?

People are often surprised that my corporate career and my advocacy work exist side by side, but they’ve always felt deeply connected to me. Both require empathy, strategic leadership, and the ability to bring people together around an idea that matters. Whether I’m advising executives or working alongside NGOs, success begins with listening before speaking.

My advocacy work has given me perspectives that have sharpened my communications. Through my work with Menstrual Rights Global and advocacy at the United Nations, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with women’s health advocates, nonprofit organizations and global leaders to advance menstrual equity and expand access to menstrual health products. Those experiences have strengthened my ability to lead with empathy, navigate complex conversations, and understand the human impact behind every message. They remind me that communications carries real responsibility. The words we choose shape perceptions, influence decisions, and often determine whether people feel seen, heard, and included.

You have built a digital community of nearly 100,000 followers on your page, @TheTasteofS. What have you learned about creating trust and engagement online that might surprise people?

I launched The Taste of S because I genuinely love discovering beautiful places and sharing them with others. Whether I’m exploring a hidden cocktail bar in Singapore, a luxury hotel in Paris, a neighborhood restaurant in New York, or a new destination somewhere around the world, my goal has always been the same: help Millennials and Gen Z discover the very best places to see, sip, and savor. Watching that passion grow into a community of nearly 100,000 people has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. 

Audiences are incredibly perceptive. They can recognize genuine enthusiasm, forced partnerships, recycled language, and content created solely for reach. Building a community of nearly 100,000 followers has taught me that trust grows through consistency, discernment, and real engagement. People return when they understand your point of view and believe you will deliver an experience that feels thoughtful, elevated, and true to who you are.

That authenticity has helped me build credibility with my audience and with the brands that trust me to tell their stories.

Many professionals struggle with showing up authentically online. How have you navigated sharing your voice while balancing personal and professional identities?

I have learned that authenticity requires clarity. I know what I value, what I want my name associated with, and what deserves to remain private. That clarity gives me freedom to show up confidently across different platforms without feeling as though I have to reveal every detail of my life. My professional audience may see more of my leadership, communications work and advocacy, while my lifestyle community sees travel, dining, fashion and luxury experiences. My voice, standards and values remain consistent.

I also give myself permission to be multidimensional. I can amplify communications at a global bank, advocate for menstrual equity, speak at the United Nations, and create beautiful lifestyle content. Those parts of my life strengthen one another because they reflect the full range of my interests and experiences. Overall, I have built my reputation by bringing excellence, warmth, cultural fluency and a strong point of view into every room. 

What is one piece of media (TV show, movie, podcast, etc.) that has impacted your life and career, and how?

Jessica Pearson from Suits has had a lasting impact on how I think about corporate leadership. She entered every room with authority, read people quickly, and understood the consequences of every decision. Her composure came from preparation, sharp judgment, and a clear sense of responsibility. She knew how to push, when to listen, and to always protect her people.

Those lessons translate directly to communications. Senior leaders rely on us to understand the media landscape and offer counsel that serves the business and its reputation. Jessica Pearson also embodied a style of leadership that felt powerful and deeply aspirational to me as a leader. She was fabulous, elegant, strategic, and unapologetic about her standards. Her presence reinforced something I carry into my own career: leadership is shaped by how you think, how you decide, and how people experience you when the pressure is highest. 

Isis Simpson-Mersha is a conference producer/ reporter for Ragan. Follow her on LinkedIn.