Kenya Hunt, Editor-in-Chief, ELLE UK took to the stage and was interviewed by PPA CEO, Sajeeda Merali – she shared her career journey and wisdom with the audience. You can read a snippet below.

How did you find yourself in publishing?

“My gateway into publishing was my Mother’s and Grandmother’s coffee tables… reading their magazines made me dream of a world different to where I grew up.”

How have you navigated the pressure of being the first to do things, do you feel a representational burden?

“I’ve always led with my difference and have never shied away from being a Black woman. In an ideal world, I’d go to work and come home. It is tiring, but it also brings joy. There is pressure because you don’t want to mess it up for others behind you.

That’s why I founded R.O.O.M. Mentoring, a grassroots network that advocates for greater diversity within the fashion industry, with mentees securing roles at The Telegraph, Grazia, Vogue, Glamour, Refinery29, The Sunday Times Style, Farfetch, and more.

I’ve been very lucky throughout my career to have worked with people who have been very generous with their time. The mentor-in-chief of my life has been Bethann Hardison. Any Black person of note in fashion, she’s helped. Bethann opened doors for all of us. If she saw you, she would give you her time. Her impact is tangible. I can’t recommend the documentary about her life and career, Invisible Beauty, enough.”

How do magazines continue to innovate?

“Always listen to your reader and allow space to be creative and think differently. Pay attention to their habits, and don’t be afraid to try things they don’t know they want yet.

At the moment, there’s a lot of noise about AI – I think its impacts will be seismic, in the same way the internet was. I consume a lot of content about AI, but I haven’t used it yet, I don’t yet know how things are going to end up there.”

What is your go to current affairs podcast at the moment?

“There are so many. My top three recommendations are The Rest is Politics, Over the Top Under the Radar, and The Ezra Klein Show.”

You can learn more about the PPA Next Gen Awards and view the 2024 winners here.