Elaine Welteroth has accomplished several milestones in her lifetime.
In 2017, she was was named editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, making her the second person of African-American heritage in Conde Nast’s 107-year history to hold such a title. Her promotion to editor at age 29 makes her the youngest in Condé Nast history to become editor. When she became beauty director of Teen Vogue in 2012, Welteroth was the first person of African-American heritage to serve in the role.
It seemed as though the trail blazer had hit a pregnant pause when she announced her decision to resign as Teen Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief and we all waited with bated breath, anticipating what her next move would be.
In this Thrive Global podcast conversation with Ariana Huffington, co-founder and former Editor-in-Chief of Huffington Post, who also resigned after a 12-year journey with the media house, they both drop several gems that we can all apply to leading a more successful life. Ariana who is another female power-house has been listed by Forbes as the 52nd most powerful woman in the world so when she’s speaking, heaven knows, we’re definitely taking notes.
Welteroth, whose interests range from activism to fashion is an interesting hybrid. In describing her life post-Teen Vogue, she describes it as liberating. She is able to continue to interact with the young audience she helped buold during her stay at Teen Vogue through a variety of channels from TV to spearheading conferences. From inciting conversations around black consciousness with the help of history makers such as Hilary Clinton and Michelle Obama to taking advocating digital breaks with speakers like Amandla Stenberg who gave up using a smart phone because she wanted to take breaks from Social media; she’s become somewhat of a conduit for conversation for Generation Z.
The self-acclaimed phone addict who admittedly gets shocked when she receives phones calls and would rather text, also spoke about the emergence of experiental activations and the need for physical conversations that extend beyond digital.
Read below for some of the self-care tools and life gems Elaine Welteroth and Ariana Huffington dropped in the conversation. We were never ready
Be gentle with yourself
The obnoxious voice of judgement in our heads, she is very intense, Ariana explains. But luckily for me she isn’t very welcome as much anymore, she goes further to add. Welteroth says she’s really learnt to take it easy knowing how much she multi-tasks and how ineffective it is. She’s learnt to understand that she can’t be everywhere at the same time and has learnt to be ok with that.
Meditate
‘I get into a zone at work where I forget to eat and I could stay up all night and at some point, just crash. I am so supercharged and I would make anything happen if I take it on. I did this for years’.
Elaine who says that her mom mentions that even as a 10-month old baby, she wanted to walk so badly. The minute she was put on the ground in pink sneakers, she seemed to just walk without thinking or hesitating. That has been the trajectory of her life, the goal-getter explains.
I recognise the need to catch myself, someone asked what my hobby was and I didn’t know what I liked or what I like to eat. That was when I decided that a change had to be made. Someone invited me to a meditation class where we had to be still and silence our thoughts. It was obscure and I loved it.
Get an Accountability partner
For Welteroth, that’s her fiancé, Jonathan. Huffington who challenged her to purchase an alarm clock and not sleep with her phone, asks that she be held accountable and Welteroth volunteers that if she tells her fiancé, he’ll ensure she gets it done because he holds her accountable to her decisions.
Engage with like minded individuals
Welteroth consistently mentions Film producer and Director, Ava Du Vernay, throughout the conversation, stating that she’s someone she’s always admired. She also admits to discussing her decision to quit her job with her. She ackowledges the importance of surrounding yourself with individuals who see beyond the ‘now’ and equally have big vision.
Be authentic
“You are absolutely, refreshingly authentic,” Huffington says to Welteroth. Welteroth pays homage to her parents and the manner in which she was raised for this. “I could be working at a bowling alley and my mother would ask if that made me happy and if I said yes, she would be happy for me. I never feel the need to perform for my parents’ love or affection and that has transitioned into everything I’ve done.”
Dont be an eye candy, be soul food.
Other fun facts we learned from the interview
1.When she interviewed for a job with Ebony Magazine, Welteroth created a mock-up of her own magazine with herself as the cover, and a table of contents and a portfolio of her work. That won her an internship with the magazine which would begin her quick rise in the media sphere. She’s always been thirsty, she admits.
2. She met her fiance at church and she had known him in passing for over 12 years and was initially into bad boys but she remembered that he made her feel safe. She remembers taking her New York city boyfriend to church and seeing Jonathan and she thought, ‘that’s a really upstanding man’. They did coffee and she liked herself around him. They built a friendship which then transitioned into a relationship much later. She needed to go through all the heartbreak before him to truly appreciate him.
‘You marry the person who feels like home, not the person you spiral about.’
3. She has no musical ability and is the only one in her family who doesn’t as all the others are able to play an instrument. She concedes that she’s a pretty good dancer though. She credits her family with never placing any pressure on her to fit into a mould.
4. How Ariana knew it was time to make a change moving from Huffington Post to Thrive? She recounts that it was a really scary experience and she actually agonised about it down to the day before her big announcement. “It’s not about pros and cons, You know it’s right when you never look back when you jump.” She says. Elaine chips in to also agree to this, sharing the story of meeting up with her mentor, Ava Du Vernay, who encouraged her to take the leap.
“I think the universe is calling you to be bolder,”Du Vernay said to Welteroth.
Elaine Welteroth and Ava Du Vernay
Welteroth admits that she was set free when she quit her job. She remembers receiving yet another tempting offer and contemplating deleting it before even looking at the package deal because she had made up her mind.
5. Her advice for the person contemplating taking a similar leap is simple and concise. “If you feel like your mission is accomplished or you feel like your mission cannot be accomplished within the space you are in, give yourself permission to move on.”
There was so much knowledge being shared in this interview but then again, that’s what happens when two incredibly intelligent women have discourse that is not only thought-provoking but impactful as well. Congratulations and a huge thanks to Ariana Huffington for letting purpose show the way and for following its guiding light which allowed for her to provide us with this platform.
Powerful things sure happen when passion and purpose collide.
