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Lindsay Peoples Wagner          

Editor-in-Chief at The Cut, Forbes 30 Under 30, Founder of Black in Fashion Council

One of the nation’s few Black female editors-in-chief and a 2020 Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, Lindsay Peoples Wagner, the Editor-in-Chief at The Cut, offers a profound perspective on women’s empowerment, marketing to GenZ, elevating your brand in the era of Black Lives Matter, hiring for diversity, and leading multi-million-dollar brands with an editorial mission centered on inclusivity.

Prior to assuming her role at The Cut, a New York Magazine style and culture site in 2021, Peoples Wagner was Editor-in-Chief at Teen Vogue -- the youngest editor-in-chief of a Condé Nast publication and one of the few Black journalists in leadership roles within the company. It was also during this period that she co-founded the Black in Fashion Council, an initiative that collaborates with the Human Rights Campaign to promote inclusivity of Black employees. Under Peoples Wagner's direction, the Council launched an Equality Index Score to evaluate companies across the fashion and beauty industries, as well as media entities that cover them.

Earlier in her career, Peoples Wagner contributed five years as an editor at both The Cut and New York Magazine, following her beginnings as a fashion market reporter at Style.com. During her first stint at The Cut, she authored the critically acclaimed article, "Everywhere and Nowhere: What It’s Really Like To Be Black And Work In Fashion," which gathered insights from over 100 people of color on diversity in the fashion industry.

Her accomplishments include winning the 2017 ASME Next award for magazine journalists under the age of 30 and being named in the Business of Fashion's BoF 500 in 2019. Additionally, she was recognized on the 2020 “Root 100” list of the most influential African Americans.

Peoples Wagner shares her personal and professional experiences, branding expertise, and leadership knowledge, providing honest, authentic advice that not only inspires but equips audiences with the insights and tools necessary to take action. Her contributions, particularly towards inclusivity in hiring practices and workplace diversity, spotlight her commitment to enhancing industry standards and corporate practices.

Speech Topics

Inclusivity at the Forefront

Diversity has become a buzzword that is too often thrown around and used to check a box, but inclusivity, really digging deep to make sure that people are included and thought of and considered on every level takes real effort. Peoples Wagner likes to deep delve into ways brands, companies, and schools can take a different approach to inclusivity, and find ways to not only allow people to the party as they say, but ask them to dance and truly feel like they have a seat at the table that allows them to use their voice.

Women’s Empowerment the Modern Way

For Peoples Wagner, the harsh reality is that there isn’t someone who looks like her that she can look up to, but what she has found often by being the only black person and only woman in the room, is a way to encourage and empower young women. "As someone who has been to all the conferences and read all the typical advice of leaning in, I know all too well how hard it can be if you don’t come from a wealthy background, or have the right connections to truly make an impact as badly as you want to," Peoples Wagner says. Sharing her experience from being the only black female editor-in-chief in the United States, to running a multi-million-dollar brand, Peoples Wagner provides honest and authentic advice that has not only inspired women and women of color, but gives them the tools and resources to take action.

Dangers to Diversity: Referral Hiring & Other Practices that Derail D&I

In the age of Black Lives Matter, customers, employees and other stakeholders are demanding more than just words. They’re demanding real action and accountability on diversity and inclusion. In response, Lindsay Peoples Wagner, an outspoken voice in a predominantly white industry, co-founded the Black in Fashion Council. The council has enlisted the support of the Human Rights Campaign to provide benchmarking around corporate policies and practices that are pertinent to the inclusivity of Black employees and establish an Equality Index Score. “You have to be willing to hire different kinds of people who will challenge you,” she says, “And that could mean totally revamping your hiring practices.” In her thought-provoking talks, Peoples Wagner walks audiences through the components of this index and flags practices such as referral hiring, only hiring within your industry, only hiring people of color that “won’t speak out too much” and others that can derail any organization’s D&I efforts. She also provides actionable steps to increase inclusivity and make employees of color feel truly seen and heard.

The Time Is Now for Brands to Change

Black Lives Matter and other social movements have totally raised the bar for brands. Consumers, especially young consumers, now embrace or reject brands based on how they align with their own values and social conscience. They’re calling companies to task, demanding action, and holding them accountable. “You just can’t hop on the Black Lives Matter bandwagon,” says Lindsay Peoples Wagner. “A corporate statement and an MLK quote aren’t going to cut it anymore. People want real, systemic changes that promote inclusivity.” In this eye-opening presentation, Peoples Wagner, who has shaped the Teen Vogue brand to be a model for inclusivity, social values and community, shares her view of the new societal landscape. You’ll learn what brands must do (and not do) to authentically reflect and connect with customers, employees, stakeholders and their communities.

The Pandemic & Black Lives Matter: How Young People Are Building A New Normal

Adults yearn to get back to normal. Young people, on the other hand, see issues that generations before them have failed to change. In this time of crisis and social upheaval, they also see an opportunity to start over and collectively build something new and better, whether it be about Black Lives Matter, climate change, #MeToo or human rights. According to Lindsay Peoples Wagner, it has to be younger people who drive lasting change because they are the ones most affected. “You see that with Greta [Thunberg], you see that with Malala [Yousafzai] and so many of those that have appeared on Teen Vogue’s covers,” says Peoples Wagner. “Young people—especially young people of color— are starting a revolution and saying that things aren’t good enough. We’re refusing to accept what older people are willing to give us because it’s unacceptable.” In this inspiring speech celebrating the power of young people to create real and lasting change, Peoples Wagner rouses audiences to action and provides powerful insights for adults and educators. “This is the only way change is going to happen,” she says. “We just have to keep doing it.”

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