The Women of Color Highlight Speakers

Rachel Hislop is a writer, editor, strategist, and public speaker whose knowledge of digital culture has aided in the growth of some of the biggest brands and celebrities to date. Most recently as the VP of Content of OkayMedia and Editor-in-Chief of both Okayplayer.com (the premier digital destination for music connoisseurs worldwide) and OkayAfrica.com (the largest media destination bridging African cultures across the diaspora), she revitalized their digital narratives to include a new, younger demographic and put forth an editorial strategy that bolstered both brands to never-before-seen figures. Before taking the helm at two celebrated cultural journalism entities, Hislop ushered in the unprecedented and now-historic growth of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s social media footprint. As the Digital Content Manager for Parkwood Entertainment—the management company founded by Knowles-Carter—she spearheaded content and social media strategy for the megastar’s self-titled album cycle, the visual opus Lemonade, The Formation World Tour, and the On The Run Tour. But what sets Hislop apart in her industry is her advocacy for others and a passion to reach back. As a former writer and editor for multiple publications—including but not limited to NYLON, GlobalGrind.com, and Refinery 29—she has made it her goal to support and cultivate the skills of other young journalists in the digital space. As a speaker/moderator at places like Instagram, Google, Global Citizen, AdWeek, and Stanford University, Hislop has shared a testimony that her success and growth are rooted in the lasting relationships she’s built by being a listener, a student, a connector, a mentor, and a mentee. For Hislop, people are always the point.