Career Highlights

FOUNDER AND CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, CULTUREWAG

CultureWag

December 2020 - Present

I’m building a future-oriented content company that creates recommendation newsletters, insights, and podcasts for cultural influencers. Our goal is to develop brand-to-brand partnerships, scale a premium business via subscriptions, and develop an optimal ecosystem for targeted advertising. Since CultureWag’s inception, our audience has tripled in size and installments of our audio series, 3 Glorious Things, transmitted via the Embershot platform, reach an audience 10 times the size of the average Spotify podcast listen. As we grow, we will add additional editorial verticals under the Wag Industries banner, extend our footprint across social media channels, and create collectible NFT products with brand partners.

PRINCIPAL, CORE STORY CONSULTING

November 2021- Present

I consult and assist in editorial and business development for corporate, entertainment, and private clients. Those projects include helping Embershot/Shoot.to, the premier platform for sharing protected content in Hollywood, launch initiatives that reach more than 350,000 entertainment industry professionals. I leverage a deep network of industry contacts to create partnerships with established brands, including L’Oréal, Warner Bros. Discovery, and NBC Universal,

I also help private groups and individuals plan, execute, and promote books and multimedia projects.

EDITOR IN CHIEF, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Meredith Corporation

June 2019-December 2020

I revamped a legacy brand touching 29 million influencers across print, digital, audio, social, and video. I grew audience by 20%, transforming EW into the youngest, most affluent brand in the Meredith portfolio, and innovated partnerships during the COVID-19 pandemic, driving more than $5 million in revenue. I oversaw brand vision and positioning, launched key business development initiatives, as well as handling pivotal public relations, speaking, and moderating roles. Selected accomplishments:

  • Overhauled mission statement, editorial perspective, and staffing to incorporate values of diversity, equity, and inclusion

  • Retooled content strategy and reorganized editorial staff, reinventing flagship magazine as a deluxe monthly product alongside new digital and audio offerings

  • Launched digital e-newsletters to super-serve audience, boosting subscription base by 10%

  • Created bi-weekly Awardist digital mini-magazine for Hollywood insiders and Apple Newsstand

  • Built more than 40 cross-platform franchises focused on BIPOC, LGBTQ, and female consumers

  • Drove partnership strategy of virtual and real events such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Sundance

    Film Festival, the Emmy Awards, the Academy Awards, the Cannes Lions International Festival of

    Creativity, AFI Fest, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards

  • Led interviews, panels, and conversations with the world’s most influential culture makers

  • Cultivated multi-platform engagement for brands and agencies such as Netflix, P&G, and Starcom

  • Created a 2020 Pride Month print, audio, and video content initiative, securing EW its first main stage position at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

  • Developed What to Watch podcast for Unilever; shaped EW programming slate for Sirius

DEPUTY EDITOR IN CHIEF, PEOPLE

Time Inc.
(acquired by Meredith Corporation, Feb 2018)

July 2016- June 2019

Because of my success transforming operations and creative franchises at People (see below), I was appointed Deputy Editor, managing all entertainment verticals across platforms at the country’s largest entertainment news brand, reaching 1 in 3 U.S. adults (62 million American women), with 36 million readers in print, 65 million monthly unique visitors, 37 million social followers, and 2 billion video starts in 2018. While serving as the most senior editorial executive in the West Coast office of Meredith Corp., I focused on developing new business and creative opportunities for People, EW, and other brands. Selected accomplishments:

  • Oversaw five top editors with a combined team of more than 50 staff and contributors

  • Responsible for two-thirds of People covers; the bulk of traffic reaching an audience of 40 million was generated by my content teams

  • Spearheaded a partnership-based sales strategy for the entertainment group, building audiences and revenue by tying content to the goals of clients such as Twitter, Facebook, Warner Bros., Turner, and Netflix

  • Collaborated with Disney, ILM, and Lucasfilm for exclusive coverage of the Star Wars franchise across all platforms (generating $1.8 million annually)

  • Recruited, hired, and promoted more than 50 creative professionals in this and previous roles. More than 90 percent female and more than 50 percent BIPOC

  • Brokered partnerships with Disney Studios and Marvel for exclusive OTT streaming coverage

  • Produced OTT documentary Oprah’s Daughters (Webby Award winner; >15 million views)

EXECUTIVE EDITOR, PEOPLE

Time Inc.
(acquired by Meredith Corporation, Feb 2018)

April 2010- July 2016

I led the overhaul of People’s entertainment teams, synthesizing print and digital operations into a single, content-first organization. By organizing reporters around a news agenda, we broke down barriers to productivity, and spiked growth at People.com, making it the leader among entertainment news sites. As the top editor, I set the creative brief, steered major talent negotiations, and represented the brand in the media. Selected accomplishments:

  • Developed People’s vertical editor system, in which print and digital editors were unified by beat, rather than segregated by platform. The move transformed People from a weekly magazine into a 24/7 news operation publishing hundreds of articles a month for an estimated 96 million consumers

  • Served as a key player in a brand-wide reorganization with McKinsey & Co., which modernized People’s editorial operations while preserving editorial integrity.

  • Launched an award-winning series of print, digital, and video portfolios tied to the Academy, Emmy, and Grammy awards, as well as the Cannes and Sundance film festivals, which drew major corporate partners including Facebook, Dunkin’, Reynolds, and L’Oreal.

  • Recruited, coached, and promoted talent for a new media paradigm: digital-focused, ethical, and able to negotiate complex deals with talent

SENIOR EDITOR, PEOPLE

Time Inc.

September 2002- July 2010

I was hired by People in June of 2002 as a journalist covering news and human interest stories and within a year was promoted into a management role, overseeing that section as well as coverage of the royal family. My work included coordinating coverage of major elections, royals news, and developing important cover packages. I then assumed leadership of the film team. Selected accomplishments:

  • Oversaw evolution of royals coverage toward a digital focus, created and edited major books (including the bestselling The Royals: Their Lives Loves and Secrets). Negotiated access with Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.

  • Oversaw breaking entertainment news in a high-pressure environment, coordinating coverage in New York, Los Angeles, London, and other locations around the world.

  • Negotiated sensitive stories with Hollywood’s biggest entertainers, including several of the bestselling covers in People's history.

  • Hosted red carpet telecasts and other events on behalf of the brand that drew global audiences.

SENIOR WRITER, US WEEKLY

Wenner Media

February 2000 to June 2002

I was part of the editorial launch team for Us Weekly, the most buzzed-about magazine brand of the early 2000s. My work included interviews, editing, and news coverage. Ultimately, I was promoted to Chief of Correspondents in May 2002.