ESSENCE Power Players 2025

As ESSENCE celebrates 55 transformative years, we honor the boundary-breakers, dream-builders and culture shifters who are rewriting the rules of power—and winning

- By Kimberly Wilson

In a world that’s constantly trying to box us in, these luminaries are breaking down barriers, building bridges and creating entirely new spaces where we can flourish. They're the CEOs who remember where they came from, the artists who refuse to be silenced, the entrepreneurs turning their pain into purpose and the athletes using their platforms to uplift entire communities. Meet the visionaries who aren’t just changing the rules. They’re creating entirely new playing fields. ESSENCE presents its 2025 Class of innovators and power brokers who are reinventing the game.

Vanessa Wallace, Age: 48, Title: Chief Marketing Officer, Savage X Fenty

When Vanessa Wallace left Nike after 19 years, the previous Head of Brand Marketing and Marketing Director for the Jordan Brand made the leap to become CMO of Savage X Fenty, where she's reshaping what inclusive marketing looks like. The former University of Texas basketball player initially aspired to become a lawyer, before pivoting to marketing. This year, she's proudest of having led a brand evolution that deepened both cultural relevance and consumer connection while staying true to Savage X Fenty's unapologetic DNA. Her biggest challenge was leaving the comfort and familiarity of Nike to step into something completely new, but she knew that growth required evolution. Wallace's advice to the next generation: Own your voice; don't wait for permission to take up space; and as you rise, reach back to make room for others.

Telva McGruder, Age: 56, Title: Executive Director of Global Manufacturing Engineering, General Motors