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January 7, 2026 24 mins

Cosmopolitan is one of the most recognizable brands in media with more than six decades of history. So what does it take to evolve a legacy title for a completely new generation of readers and platforms?

In this episode, we sit down with Willa Bennett, the editor in chief of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen, to talk about the real work that goes into modernizing a brand that people think they already know. From redefining the core editorial mission to building platform-specific content to navigating rapid shifts in media, Willa shares how she approaches reinvention without losing what made Cosmo iconic in the first place.

They get into:
• What it means to lead a legacy brand through a cultural shift
• How Cosmo balances reinvention with its long-standing identity
• The editorial strategy behind connecting with multiple generations
• Why curation, storytelling, and POV matter more than ever
• How Willa thinks about leadership, mentorship, and building a creative team

If you have ever wondered how major brands stay relevant or what it looks like to lead through change, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the strategy, focus, and intuition it takes to evolve an icon.

Tune in for a conversation about reinvention, vision, and the future of women’s media.

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