Willa Bennett

Willa Bennett is the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen. She is notable for injecting fresh, digital-savvy energy into legacy magazine brands while maintaining a strong editorial vision — earning multiple industry awards and building meaningful engagement with Gen -Z readers.

Bennett graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a degree in digital journalism and communications. She launched her media career at Seventeen, where she created the publication’s queer vertical, and then moved into audience development roles at Bustle Digital Group. She later led social media strategy at GQ before being tapped as editor-in-chief at Highsnobiety. There, she oversaw a transformation that netted four National Magazine Awards, three Webby Awards and three Muse Awards.

In September 2024, Bennett was named editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen. Under her leadership, she’s worked to have both titles reflect modern interpretations of love and relationships.

Bennett is also known for her personal style — often in tailored suits and ties — which has become a hallmark of her professional identity, reinforcing her position as a tastemaker for younger audiences. As editor of mass-reaching titles, she now influences millions of readers monthly across platforms, particularly shaping Gen-Z media consumption.

By marrying traditional editorial values with cutting-edge engagement tactics, Bennett is redefining what it means to lead in today’s magazine landscape — championing both heritage and innovation.

Before joining Hearst Magazines in this role in September 2024, Willa served as editor-in-chief of Highsnobiety where, under her leadership, the publisher was awarded the National Magazine General Excellence Award (ASME).

She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 Honouree and a published author and graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a degree in digital journalism and communications.