Podcast Summary: Leap Academy with Ilana Golan

Episode: Inc. & Fast Company CEO: How Stephanie Mehta Redefined the Path from Editor to CEO (E144)
Host: Ilana Golan
Guest: Stephanie Mehta
Date: February 10, 2026

Overview

This episode features Stephanie Mehta, CEO of Mansueto Ventures (parent company of Inc. and Fast Company), sharing her journey from journalism to the C-suite. Mehta discusses pivotal career leaps, imposter syndrome, prioritization as a leader, and the seismic shifts affecting modern media and careers. The conversation delivers candid insights on reinvention, personal branding, work-life balance, and advice for those seeking to leap to bigger opportunities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovering Journalism & Early Career Choices

• Stephanie's Entry into Journalism ([03:03])
  • Initially considered English, book publishing, or law.
  • Became enamored with journalism after witnessing a classmate's story on the college paper's front page.
  • The immediacy and curiosity-driven aspects of journalism "hooked" her.
  • Pursued internships to test her dedication and passion.

"It was instant gratification because you weren't working on a five page term paper. You got to go and ask people impertinent questions which, who doesn't want to do that and to get rewarded for it?" – Stephanie ([03:45])

2. Navigating Imposter Syndrome & Career Development

• Wall Street Journal & Feeling Out of Place ([05:27])

  • Moved from a local paper to WSJ—felt like an outsider amid competitive culture.
  • Small Business beat didn't carry prestige but later became invaluable perspective on entrepreneurship.
  • Mentors provided crucial, nurturing support during early days.

• Realization About Moving Up ([07:05])

  • Recognized need to proactively seek out higher-profile beats and projects.
  • Importance of advocating for oneself to progress.

3. Understanding the Paths Within Journalism

• Different Roles ([08:39])
  • Good reporters: Source-driven, fact-focused.
  • Feature writers: Transform scant information into compelling narratives.
  • Editors: Organize complex ideas, identify holes and connections.

"I can see disparate information on a page. But I have that ability, and that's probably my strong suit, is the ability to say, here's how we need to organize the material... That's a third path, and journalism needs all of those things." – Stephanie ([09:11])

4. Making Lateral Moves & Leaping for Growth

• Move from WSJ to Fortune ([10:56])

  • Sought to grow storytelling skills amid magazine renaissance fueled by tech ad dollars.
  • Did not focus solely on title or pay; prioritized learning and skill acquisition.

• Privilege & Risk in Career Moves ([13:05])

  • Acknowledges privilege in being able to make lateral moves due to life stage and financial stability.
  • Promotions and recognition followed after the leap.

"Sometimes you need to go sideways to go on the right area." – Ilana ([14:54])

5. Knowing When to Move On

• Leaving Fortune After 14 Years ([15:32])
  • Stayed through seven years of industry decline; became fatigued by constant layoffs.
  • Left with no clear plan but trusted that fulfillment required change.
  • Took sabbatical to reflect and spend time with family.

"I loved every minute of it until I didn't. And... I was so lucky because I really, for 13 years and probably seven months... I still loved going to work every day. But it did hit a point where... I couldn't see the path forward and I was frustrated." – Stephanie ([15:32])

6. Mentorship, Collaboration, and the Culture Shift

• Contrasting WSJ and Fortune Cultures ([19:31])
  • Fortune characterized by unexpected collegiality and open resource-sharing.
  • Legendary mentorship from Carol Loomis and others.
  • The importance of learning "by osmosis" and direct, tactile feedback, especially in earlier eras.

"It is a privilege to do what we do." – Carol Loomis (as cited by Stephanie) ([20:11])

7. Fear and Uncertainty When Leaping

• Leaving with No Parachute ([24:30])
  • Primary fear: Losing sense of purpose and mission journalism provided.
  • Also concerned about future relevance in a shrinking industry.

8. The Power of Networks & Finding New Opportunities

• Landing at Bloomberg & Vanity Fair ([26:02])
  • Opportunities often come through informal networks and mentors.
  • Consulting project at Bloomberg Businessweek became her next full-time role.
  • Sat near Michael Bloomberg—valuable exposure to business-side operations.

9. Leap from Editor to CEO: Embracing Change

• Becoming CEO ([29:17])

  • Not a "CEO from central casting"; specifically suited to media leadership.
  • After four years as Fast Company editor-in-chief, sought new challenges.
  • Saw potential for culture change and navigating post-COVID hybrid work.

• The 'Hidden Market' of Opportunities ([31:35])

  • CEO roles (and game-changing opportunities) come from visibility and relationships within organizations, not job boards.

10. The Shift in Mindset Required for the C-Suite

• CEO vs. Editor ([34:16])
  • Must be comfortable with rejection and "losing" in business more than in journalism.
  • Managing a diverse range of professional personalities and disciplines.
  • Imperative to delegate and trust seasoned leaders.

"Trying to get comfortable with not winning all the time was something that, as a competitive person, I had to sort of get used to." – Stephanie ([34:23])

11. Securing Media Coverage and Building a Brand

• How to Get a Story into Major Outlets ([38:56])
  • PR, social media presence, direct networking.
  • Editors find compelling voices beyond traditional channels.
  • Encourage direct outreach via events, LinkedIn, and personal connections.
  • Courtesy and responsiveness are core editorial values.

"We are consumers as much as we are journalists. And so if we see somebody who's really compelling... that's certainly a way to catch a journalist's attention." – Stephanie ([39:43])

12. Modern Business & Career Strategies

• Standing Out and Prioritizing ([42:30])
  • Identify and clearly communicate priorities—personally and professionally.
  • Stick to trusted information sources; avoid digital overwhelm and context-switching.

"It's really important to know what your priorities are on any given day, on any given week, in a month, in a year." – Stephanie ([42:37])

13. Portfolio Careers & Future Work Trends

• Rise of Portfolio Careers and Side Hustles ([48:41])

  • Noted widespread adoption of multi-stream careers—even among executives.
  • Warned about decline in entry-level hiring due to automation/AI.

• Embracing Non-linear Career Paths ([50:43])

  • Media outlets and companies more open to diverse backgrounds and cross-industry contributors.

14. Identity, Family, and the Immigrant Experience

• Being a Child of Immigrants ([52:34])
  • Strong influence on work ethic, values, and sense of outsiderness in early career.
  • Shared relatable anecdote about her father's confusion about her profession.

15. Advice to Her Younger Self

• Rejecting Comparison ([55:57])
  • Urges against measuring oneself against peers’ timelines.
  • Says to enjoy the journey, trust the process, and focus on learning.

"Relax, enjoy the work. Enjoy what you're learning. You will get there." – Stephanie ([56:36])

Notable Quotes & Highlights

• On Imposter Syndrome:
  "I felt I had a little bit of imposter syndrome. When I first found myself at the Wall Street Journal in particular, because it was pretty early in my career." ([05:27])

• On the Leverage of Lateral Moves:
  "Sometimes the best moves are actually the lateral moves, or even you need to sometimes take a step back in order to grow in a tree that is more relevant for you..." – Ilana ([13:05])

• On Prioritization:
  "If family is a priority, you have to make it a priority." ([42:41])

• On Opportunity and Networks:
  "Every core opportunity you will ever find is most likely from a hidden market. It's the people who think about you when you're not in the room and bring the right opportunities to you." – Ilana ([36:47])

• On Being Present and Building a Brand:
  "In the trust economy, like a trust economy, if you will, your brand is your currency. So you have to build that brand." – Ilana ([41:29])

• On Non-traditional Pathways and Value of Experience:
  "Now, if they have something really interesting to say, any content that resonates with people, we're open to hearing what people have to say..." ([51:13])

Important Timestamps

• 03:03 – Stephanie’s discovery of journalism and first exposure to print media
• 05:27 – Early imposter syndrome at WSJ; need to "raise your hand"
• 08:39 – "The big tent" of journalism: reporters, feature writers, editors
• 13:05 – Lateral moves and how they enable growth
• 15:32 – Knowing when a chapter is done; leaving Fortune after 14 years
• 19:31 – Importance of collaboration and mentorship in career development
• 24:30 – The emotional risk in quitting; fears about fulfillment
• 26:02 – Networking and serendipity: the leap to Bloomberg
• 29:17 – The leap from editor to CEO; why internal relationships matter
• 34:16 – Adapting to rejection and unlearning old patterns
• 38:56 – Practical advice on getting stories placed in the media
• 42:30 – How to prioritize and cut through the noise as leader and individual
• 48:41 – Future of work: portfolio careers, missing entry-level paths
• 52:34 – Influence of immigrant upbringing on career and identity
• 55:57 – Advice for her younger self: "Relax, enjoy the work..."

Conclusion & Takeaways

Stephanie Mehta’s journey demonstrates the power of self-awareness, calculated risk, and lifelong learning. She highlights the importance of seeking out new challenges, recognizing when to move on, and staying rooted in personal values. Her candor about imposter syndrome, and her practical advice on networking and building a personal brand, make this episode essential listening for anyone seeking their next leap.

Connect with Stephanie

• Modern CEO Newsletter: Subscribe at Fast Company or Inc. by searching "Modern CEO"
• Contact: StephanieMehta@mansueto.com

For more transformative career advice and upcoming events, visit Leap Academy.