2010 Conference Speakers

Mimi Valdés

Editor-in-Chief/Editorial Director, Latina Founder, Mimi Media Inc.

Mimi Valdés is an award winning editor-in-chief/editorial director, accomplished entrepreneur and noted speaker. Known for her ability to develop innovative solutions for enhancing competitiveness, growing revenues, and increasing audience engagement, she has cultivated a successful career across media in the areas of fashion, beauty, lifestyle and entertainment.

In September 2007, Valdés joined Latina Media Ventures as Editor-in-Chief/Editorial Director of Latina, the only lifestyle magazine for bicultural Latin women in the United States published in English. Leading a talented and diverse team of editors and designers, she has reduced costs by over 30%, increased digital revenue by over 35% and has markedly raised Latina's visibility with readers, advertisers, celebrities and investors.

Prior to her tenure at Latina, Valdés established a progressive career at Vibe/Spin Ventures that spanned over thirteen years. She began her career as an editorial assistant at Vibe in 1993. She was promoted to Assistant Editor in 1995, Style Editor in 1997 and in 1998 she was tapped to help launch Blaze, a hip-hop music and culture publication with 450,000 circulation and 3 million readership. Within two short years at Blaze she was promoted twice: first as Managing Editor, next as Editor-in-Chief. Then, in 2000 she was named to the Executive Editor post at Vibe and in 2003 became Editor-in-Chief. Under her leadership and direction, Vibe gained a newsstand sales increase of 10%; was nominated for a National Magazine Award for General Excellence (2005); co-won the American Society for Magazine Editors' Best Celebrity Cover (2006); and won more than 25 Society of Publication Designers medal and merit awards. In 2005, she led the development and launch of Vibe Vixen, a quarterly beauty and fashion magazine with a 450,000 circulation and 4 million readership. Never one to shy away from a new opportunity, Valdés jumped at the chance to serve as Executive Producer of the nationally broadcast Vibe Awards (2005, 2006) and the syndicated weekly television show Weekend Vibe (2001-2005).

Throughout her career, Valdés has secured interviews with and written features on the biggest stars of the day, including Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys. She has also given many artists their first shot at national exposure. Keyshia Cole, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, and many others credit her for helping launch their careers.

As the public face of Latina Media Ventures, Vibe/Spin Ventures and her entrepreneurial effort, Mimi Media Inc. (which creates cross-platform media content with a multicultural perspective), Valdés can frequently be seen offering insight and commentary on ABC's 20/20, MTV, VH1, E!, BET, CNN, PBS, online and in various newspapers and magazines. She also leads keynotes at conferences and seminars for colleges and universities, elementary and secondary schools, associations and foundations.

Valdés holds a B.A. in Journalism from New York University and currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband.