Bio

Vanessa K. De Luca is a creative leader, driven by finding innovative ways to tell human-centered stories, guide new conversations, and grow brands. She currently serves as Editor In Chief of The Root. This digital-first publication centers the stories of the Black community, from politics and social justice to culture, commentary and personal essays. Most recently she served as the Editor-in-Chief of ZORA magazine and helmed ESSENCE magazine. In these roles she oversaw the editorial vision and content creation across all platforms, including the magazine, digital, social, video and live experiences. In addition, she developed editorial concepts for new initiatives including video series and TV partnerships, e-learning platforms, e-commerce and licensing, podcasts and special events. Prior to this, her background focused on content strategy at publications such as Glamour and Life. Above all, her greatest satisfaction comes from storytelling and feeding her insatiable curiosity. As a trusted leader in all of her roles, she can assess the market, ideate new ways to achieve growth, build and cultivate strong teams, and reinvent a brand. An award-winning journalist and co-author of the bestselling beauty and empowerment book, Tyra Banks Beauty Inside & Out, she has been a featured guest on several national television networks, including NBC's TODAY Show; CBS This Morning; MSNBC's Morning Joe, AM JOY and PoliticsNation; CNN and more. When she is not immersed in editorial initiatives, she loves discovering new foodie destinations, taking fantasy vacations and enjoying the latest films. Specialties include: Creative Leadership, Creative Development, Writing & Editing, Storytelling, Content Strategy, Brand Development & Strategy, Brand Innovation, Digital Media, Multimedia Strategy, SEO, Brand Ambassador, Data Analytics, Revenue Forecasting, Operational Management, Hiring & Recruiting, Team Leadership