Ed Lewis TOPICS: Entrepreneurship Media / Broadcast / Print Publishing Diversity Civil / Human Rights FEE CATEGORY:* Contact for fee schedule TRAVELS FROM: New York Profile Request This Speaker

Ed Lewis: Profile

As chairman and CEO of Essence Communications Inc., a diversified, multi-million dollar corporation, Edward Lewis heads one of the most successful and diverse African American-owned communications companies in the U.S. His rise to prominence began in 1969 when he co-founded Essence magazine with Clarence O. Smith. Essence has evolved into one of the leading lifestyle magazines for African American women, with a paid circulation of one million and a readership of 7.5 million.

"Before Essence magazine, no one had ever examined the black woman's contribution to her race, her society, and her country," notes Lewis. "Unlike any other publication, Essence has consistently addressed the intelligence, experience, and beauty of black women." Lewis has worked to make Essence more than just a fashion magazine by dealing with topics of particular concern to African American women such as single parenthood, child abuse, AIDS, abortion, and welfare.

Lewis expanded his publishing realm with the acquisition of Income Opportunities in 1992. At the time, this magazine for people starting new businesses had a circulation of 400,000. The Essence takeover of the magazine represented a rare case of a minority company buying a white-owned business. Three years later, Lewis entered into a joint venture to publish Latina, the first bilingual lifestyle magazine that exclusively addressed the interests of Hispanic women in the U.S.

In 1997, Essence Communications received a special tribute for its quarter century of success in Black Enterprise's article "Marathon Men: 25 years of Black Entrepreneurial Excellence." Since its inception, Essence Communications has appeared on all 25 listings of Black Enterprise's Top 100 Black firms. In 1997, Lewis was named chairman of the Magazine Publishers of America, the industry association for consumer magazines. He became the first African American to lead this trade group, which represents over 700 magazines.

Although Essence Communications has enjoyed tremendous success, Lewis is determined to expand the organization. "I want to be like Time Warner," he told the New York Times. "If Time Warner can employ over 30,000 people, I want Essence Communications to employ over 30,000 people." While acknowledging his success, he recognizes that black publishing organizations still face many daunting challenges. "We've come a long way," he noted in the New York Times. "We've got a long way to go."

Lewis graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor's degree in political science and international relations. He enrolled in the Georgetown University Law School, but left after one year to participate in the executive training program at First National City Bank in New York City. He further enhanced his business skills by taking courses at the Harvard University Business School.

Lewis was well on his way to becoming a loan officer when his career took a dramatic turn after he attended a conference on African Americans in business. One of the topics discussed at the conference was the concept of a fashion magazine for African American women. Lewis saw the potential of such a publication, and within six months had left banking to become the co-founder of Essence magazine. The first issue of Essence was published in May of 1970, with a print run of just 50,000 copies.

Lewis is a strong advocate of community involvement and contributes both personal time and financial support to a number of civic, educational, and arts organizations. He has also established scholarships in political science, journalism, and communications at his alma mater, the University of New Mexico. For several years, Lewis has lectured at the Stanford University School of Publishing. In 1998, Lewis became the first African American to receive the Media-Bridge-Builder Award from the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding. The Center focuses on religion and conflict resolution, religious pluralism in the workplace, and religious pluralism in primary grades.

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