Elaine Welteroth, the former Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue gives us an unfiltered look at her career journey, and her journey into herself. Elaine was not only the youngest EIC at Teen Vogue, but also the second Black EIC at Conde Nast. Climbing many career ladders from a very young age, she never lost sight of her determination to create spaces for all the racialized girls that had never seen themselves on a magazine.

She recounts all the profound lessons she learned since her childhood that helped her refine her purpose. She notes the different struggles in her life, from how to fit into two different worlds as a biracial woman, how to handle issues of racism which still permeate American culture, how to advocate for yourself in front of an intimidating boss (i.e. Anna Wintour), how to persevere through heartbreaks in your 20s, how to highlight the voices of marginalized youth while working for a corporate castle, but most importantly, she recounts how in each and every experience, there is a choice to stay true to yourself, and stay on the path to your purpose.

Rather than feeling defeated by the life circumstances that were often difficult for her as a woman of colour, she persevered in a way that reminded her she was placed in those situations to make a difference, and so she did. Influencing millions of people, she turned Teen Vogue into a publishing powerhouse that covered topics on LGBTQ+, racial injustice, intersectional feminism, gender fluidity, environmentalism, and representation. She singlehandedly (and with the help of her team, of course), revolutionized the media industry and put emphasis on the voices that she knew mattered. She teaches us of the everlasting ray of light that shines when a Black woman steps into her destiny.

Her story is one that is dynamically ground breaking, inspiring, and filled with beautiful gems of wisdom that are essential for any woman building their career. By intimately retelling her experiences – her joys, pitfalls, and adventures – she reminds us that we are more than enough, that we must claim space for who we are, no matter what anyone says.