Vanessa Wakeman

CEO 

The Wakeman Agency  

New York, NY   

Hometown: New York, NY

“The future of work reflects a place that normalizes and prioritizes the human experience, understanding that removing the barriers that keep people from feeling unable to show up fully."

Vanessa Wakeman is founder and CEO of a PR firm solely dedicated to the social change sector.  Not only is she one of a handful of Black women to lead an agency like this, she’s also deeply immersed in the work. She has been at the forefront of innovative campaigns such as She Roars, a thought-leadership program exclusively for women working in social change and the Narrative Justice Project (NJP), which provides free media training to communities of color and many more. With Covid-19 disproportionately hitting communities of color and the surge of racial reckoning washing through the country, Wakeman’s voice is now stronger than it’s ever been.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? 
Founding and leading an agency that reflects my commitment to social change.

We're at a pivotal moment on the future of the office and how we work. How would like to see 'office/work culture' evolve?
We have to shift how we think about work. Culturally, we have assigned so much value to what a person does, and this one singular expression of success, that we have forgotten that there is more to life than work. During the pandemic, we saw so many struggle with the expectations of business as usual- people traumatized if their children interrupted a Zoom call. I think the future of work reflects a place that normalizes and prioritizes the human experience, understanding that removing the barriers that keep people from feeling unable to show up fully, is what creates a healthy work culture.

What makes you most excited or proud to be part of the PR industry? 
I am always excited that PR plays such a critical role in shaping perceptions.

What are your fears/concerns for our industry? 
I am concerned that young professionals of color will continue to exit the industry because they don’t believe there are opportunities for them.

What inspires you? This could be a person, place, activity, etc.
Knowing that I am my ancestor's wildest dreams.

What are you thinking about most these days? 
A proper vacation. I am overdue!

What is your idea of happiness?
Being present. Even in those situations that aren’t the most pleasant, to just be in it, whatever the “it is,” is a gift.