Her Story
About Sydne
Sydne Pennybaker is the Manager of Customer Relations for the Indiana District at the United States Postal Service. With about 10 years of experience in the Postal Service, she has progressed through roles including manager of consumer affairs, where she handled small business and residential customers as well as congressional matters. In her current position, she oversees a team of 12 that includes business lead development specialists focused on revenue generation, complaints and inquiry clerks serving residential and small business customers, three BSN team members managing large business accounts generating $250,000 or more in revenue, and two customer relations coordinators who organize business webinars and events through the Postal Customer Council. She is Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certified and has pursued self-improvement through supervisor training and leadership programs, having trained over 500 people on customer service satisfaction. She attributes her success to maintaining work-life balance, staying driven and accountable, and serving as a role model by always doing the right thing.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sydne
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to work-life balance, being driven, being accountable for my actions, and trying to stay a role model to my employees by always doing the right thing.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to not stay in the same place or don't be in the same place you were last year. Keep growing.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Coming into the Postal Service is a great avenue. Take the knowledge that you have from each department and apply it every day, and the more you apply it, the higher you can go. Networking is important because it's not about who you know, it's about who knows you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges include customers being upset about issues and trying not to take things personally because they are mad at the situation not at me. Opportunities include advancing to Director of Customer Relations, then Senior Director, and maybe VP.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Work-life balance is a big one because my job can get very stressful. Being driven and being accountable for my actions. Trying to stay a role model to my employees and always doing the right thing.
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