The daughter of Asian-American immigrants and a woman of color, from the beginning Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company, “checked all the right boxes” for journalism advancement: smart, innovative, tenacious, tireless, empathetic, and accessible.

Fast Company attracts a broad audience of younger, up-and-comers in the worlds of business, technology, innovation, and design. It is a gateway for many of its followers to more established business titles, including the Harvard Business Review, The Economist, and Fortune.

Among her many talents, Stephanie has mastered the 21st-century art of “live journalism” — conferences and workshops that translate the editorial ethos of a magazine or newspaper into effective, in-person or virtual events.

Stephanie is a newsroom leader in the true spirit of Fast Company’s commitment to eyeing the future and serving the most progressive movers and makers. The days of the imperious editor-in-chief are past. Today’s forward-thinking newsroom leaders are accessible, inclusive, and empathetic - just as are today’s forward-think CEOs and entrepreneurs.

This oral history, conducted by Dean Rotbart, editor-in-chief of NewsLuminaries.com, was recorded on October 16, 2020.

Photo courtesy of Fast Company