Lesley Jane Nonkin Seymour[1] (born January 4, 1957)[2][3] is an American editor, author and entrepreneur. She was previously a senior editor of Vogue and editor-in-chief of many women's magazines, including YM, Marie Claire, Redbook and More. After More ceased publication in 2016, she returned to school, and later founded CoveyClub, an online community for professional women. She has spoken at conferences for women entrepreneurs,[4][5] and has contributed to LinkedIn and HuffPost.[6][7]
Lesley Jane Seymour | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lesley Jane Nonkin January 4, 1957 |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation(s) | Editor, author, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse | Jeffrey Seymour |
| Website | coveyclub |
Career
editSeymour attended Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts, graduating in 1974.[1][8] She then attended Duke University. In an interview with Duke Magazine, she said that she started as a biology major, but did not want to be a pre-med. She changed to English and interned for Durham Herald-Sun and Seventeen. She worked as a reporter for Women's Wear Daily and graduated in 1978.[9][10] She worked at Vogue from 1982 to 1992 where she originated the "Upfront" section and served as senior editor in books, fashion, and features. In 1993, she joined Glamour magazine as a beauty director, and became editor-in-chief of YM in 1997.[11][12]
In 1998, she joined Redbook as editor-in-chief[11][12] She was editor-in-chief of Marie Claire magazine from 2001 to 2006, during which the magazine was nominated for a 2006 National Magazine Award. She was replaced by Joanna Coles.[13][3][14]
Seymour was named editor-in-chief of More magazine in January 2008.[15][16] During her tenure, the magazine was named to Mediaweek's 2010 Hot List, and dubbed 'The Vanity Fair for Women' by marketers.[15][17] While Seymour was editor-in-chief, former First Lady Michelle Obama guest-edited their July/August issue, and was the first First Lady to do so.[18]
In February 2016, Meredith Corporation announced that More would cease publication. A spokesperson said that the magazine was "particularly hard hit during the recession of the late 2000s".[19][20] Seymour said that "you didn't have to be a rocket scientist to know this is not a stable business."[21] Seymour returned to school where she got a master's degree in sustainability from Columbia University. In February 2018, Seymour founded CoveyClub, which CNN described as "an online club connecting women 40 and older through content, connections and events." She says that readers of her previous writing reached out to her and "encouraged" her to "do something else to reach women over 40."[21][22][23][24]
Personal life
editSeymour is married to Jeffrey. They live in Larchmont, New York, and have 2 children, Lake and J.J.[24][25] She is one of the trustees at Dana Hall School.[8]
Books
edit- I wish my parents understood: a report on the teenage female (Freundlich Books, 1985) ISBN 9780881910186[26]
- On the Edge: Images from 100 Years of VOGUE by Vogue editors, (Random House, 1992) ISBN 9780679411611
References
edit- ^ a b "Lesley Jane Nonkin Seymour '74". Dana Hall School. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ Seymour, Lesley Jane [@lesleyjseymour] (January 4, 2019). "It's my birthday and I'm celebrating by offering YOU a chance to join these wonderful women! Come join us! https://business.facebook.com/lesley.j.seymour/posts/10155963092902314 …" (Tweet). Retrieved February 17, 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Seelye, Katharine Q. (April 19, 2006). "Marie Claire Appoints Top Editor". The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ She Leads Media (October 16, 2018). "Announcing 6th Annual She Leads™ 2018 Conference for Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders in NYC" (Press release). Retrieved February 1, 2019 – via PR Newswire.
- ^ Moskowitz, Michelle (April 3, 2017). "Women Leaders Ignite a Spark of Success in Greenwich". Greenwich Sentinel. Greenwich, Connecticut. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ Bowen, Jan (August 1, 2018). "A Conversation with Lesley Jane Seymour: Making a Difference by Helping Women". Jan L. Bowen. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ "Lesley Jane Seymour". HuffPost. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ a b "About Lesley Jane Seymour * CoveyClub". CoveyClub. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ Wilder, Sterly (September 19, 2013). "How Are You Forever Duke?". Duke Magazine. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ Holder, Christina (February 24, 2016). "A Niche Network". Duke Today. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ a b "Hearst Magazines Names Lesley Jane Seymour Editor-In-Chief of Redbook Magazine" (Press release). Hearst Publications. September 2, 1998. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ a b "Lesley Jane Seymour Named Editor of U.S. Edition of Marie Claire" (Press release). Hearst Publications. June 27, 2001. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ Bercovici, Jeff (April 18, 2006). "Marie Claire Announces New EIC". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ Ives, Nat (April 18, 2006). "Top Editor out at Hearst's 'Marie Claire'". Adage. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ a b "Meredith Corporation Editorial Media Kit – Lesley Jane Seymour" (PDF). Meredith Publications. 2015.
- ^ Designers, Society of Publication (January 1, 2011). 45th Publication Design Annual. Rockport Publishers. ISBN 9781610593380.
- ^ Clifford, Stephanie (August 23, 2009). "More, the Magazine for Older Women (but Don't Tell Advertisers)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ Tatum, Sophie (June 11, 2015). "Michelle Obama first, First Lady to guest edit magazine". CNN Politics. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ Feitelberg, Rosemary; Steigrad, Alexandra (February 25, 2016). "Meredith Corporation Folds More Magazine Citing Recession in the Late 2000s". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ Steigrad, Alexandra (June 6, 2016). "Ex-More Editor Lesley Jane Seymour on Losing Her Job in a Digital Age". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ a b Wallace, Kelly (June 19, 2018). "How women over 50 can reinvent their careers". CNN Money. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- ^ Muchnick, Jeanne (May 21, 2017). "Girl Power: Larchmont Editor Launches New Women-Only Site". Daily Voice. Mamaroneck, New York. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ Roepe, Lisa Rabasca. "Lesley Jane Seymour Explains How To Prepare For Your Second Career". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ a b Gouveia, Georgette (August 29, 2017). "Lesley Jane Seymour's splendid second act". Wag Magazine (published September 2017). Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ Morales, Tatiana (December 12, 2002). "At 40, Better Than Ever". CBS News (published July 16, 2002). Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ Nonkin, Lesley Jane (February 17, 1985). I wish my parents understood: a report on the teenage female. Freundlich Books : Distributed by Scribner Book Companies. OCLC 11518135. Retrieved February 17, 2019 – via Open WorldCat.