Latraviette Smith-Wilson is one of Corporate America’s most sought-after executives. With 25+ years of global experience helping some of the most well-known multinational businesses succeed, she builds brands and reputations rooted in purpose, social impact, and inclusion. With a trademark drive and transformative mindset, her career has spanned journalism, marketing, communications, diversity & inclusion, and business strategy. Whether successfully navigating newsrooms, agencies, Fortune 100 companies, or entrepreneurial enterprises, she is a trusted leader, partner, and problem solver with an impressive track record of growing businesses and communities through innovative strategies and initiatives. She has received numerous recognitions for her accomplishments including Advertising Week (Future is Female), PRWeek (Women of Distinction), Campaign US (Top 40 Over 40), Cynopsis (Top Women In Media), Black Enterprise (Next Generation Women of Power), Ebony (Women Up), Forbes (Black WomenLeaders to Follow), ColorComm (Black Women in Communications Making History Now),Café Mocha (Powerhouse Award), and more. Smith-Wilson is currently Chief Marketing and Equity Officer for Horizon Media, the largest media agency in the U.S. and the world’s largest independent. In 2022, she made history in this industry-first role, leading a unified Marketing and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team charged with establishing a model that drives growth and innovation by operationalizing DEI as an enterprise-wide business function. She also serves on Horizon’s executive board and global task force and leads its marketing committee. Formerly, Smith-Wilson was Chief Strategy & Engagement Officer for ESSENCE Communications, including ESSENCE magazine and the ESSENCE Festival. She played a key role in its growth transformation following its acquisition from Time, Inc. — leading sales, marketing, content, creative, experiential, video, communications, and partnerships. She also served as Chief Communications & Strategy Officer for ESSENCE’s parent company, Essence Ventures. She played a pivotal role in launching the $100 million New Voices Fund and Foundation and global franchises including the ESSENCE Full Circle Festival and Global Black Economic Forum: Africa. Prior, Smith-Wilson served in the Office of the CEO as Senior Vice President of Communications & Strategy for Sundial Brands, maker of SheaMoisture. She led corporate identity, communications, brand launches, national media creative, and issues management, among other areas, and guided the company through some of its most critical times — including private equity investments, international crises, global expansion, and its 2017 acquisition by Unilever. Previously, she was Senior Advisor to Marc Morial, the President & CEO of the National Urban League – the nation’s largest urban advocacy, civil rights, and economic justice NGO. There, she served on the Executive Cabinet, led strategy and CEO communications, and consulted on crisis/issues, government affairs, and key initiatives. Smith-Wilson launched the $100 million Jobs Rebuild America effort, co-wrote the first joint federal policy agenda endorsed by all major civil rights groups, and was executive editor of the State of Black America (2014-2016). Prior, she was Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion at American Express, where she led an international HR/diversity team across Asia, Australia, and Europe, including women’s initiatives globally, Black employee initiatives (U.S.), employee networks, talent segmentation, unconscious bias, and cultural intelligence efforts. Smith-Wilson joined American Express from Edelman, the world’s largest PR firm, where she served as Senior Vice President, Global Communications – leading internal and external communications, brand identity, and marketing across the firm’s 52 offices, including its annual Trust Barometer, goodpurpose study and New Media Academic Summit. Prior to this role, she led the Multicultural Practice and began her Edelman career in Corporate Affairs. Smith-Wilson also worked at Deloitte in National Marketing and began her career in journalism. She serves on the boards of The Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis), a nonprofit educating young people and organizing for justice, equity, and training; Harlem United, a $42 million community-based organization providing medical, social, and supportive services; and Reisenbach Philanthropies, a nonprofit incubator and venture philanthropy focused on New York City. She formerly served on the boards of retailer Ashley Stewart, Inc. and the PRSA Foundation. She received her bachelor's degree as a double-major in English and Communications from Wake Forest University and her master’s degree in Journalism from New York University.