In this episode of Clocking Out, we meet Vanessa K. De Luca, a journalist and media executive whose career has been defined by bold pivots, perseverance, and a commitment to amplifying Black women’s voices.
Vanessa didn’t start in publishing. She spent seven years in retail management before answering the pull she’d always felt toward storytelling. Trading stability for possibility, she took an NYU summer course, built her writing chops, expanded her network, and eventually landed an entry-level publishing role at Glamour. From there, she climbed the ranks; first at Life magazine, then Essence, where perseverance paid off after being passed over twice for Editor-in-Chief. In 2013, she finally took the helm, transforming the brand digitally and launching bold initiatives like the Woke 100 and Black Women in Hollywood.
Her leadership journey didn’t end there. Vanessa went on to serve as Editor-in-Chief at ZORA and later at The Root, cementing her place as a powerful voice in Black media. But as the industry shifted, she found herself further from the creative spark that first drew her in. The mounting pressures of business, investors, and rapid change forced her to reflect on what she truly wanted.
Now, Vanessa has returned to her roots in storytelling through platforms like Substack, reclaiming the freedom to write, mentor, and experiment without the weight of corporate pressures but with the joy of storytelling. In this conversation, she opens up about the courage to pivot, the lessons in perseverance, and what it takes to return to the work that feels most authentic.
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